New Orleans mayor: 'Significant' number of deaths

[RedEarth]

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin warned of a "significant" death toll as the exact scope of Hurricane Katrina's wrath remained unknown in the Crescent City.

"The city of New Orleans is in a state of devastation," Nagin told WWL TV on Monday night. "We probably have 80 percent of our city underwater, with some sections of our city, the water is as deep as 20 feet." (Watch emotional account of devastation)

Katrina came ashore early Monday as a Category 4 hurricane, strafing New Orleans with 120 mph winds. (Full story)

New Orleans, a city of nearly half a million with a metropolitan area population of 1.3 million, was under a mandatory evacuation order over the weekend. However, many people defied that order and remained in homes and shelters. Thousands were shielded from the storm in the city's Louisiana Superdome. (Full story)

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/30/katrina.neworleans/

[Benhurst]

1. More ...

This does not look good.

http://www.wwltv.com/

[bluestateguy]

2. Did everybody in the Superdome pull through?

That was a real risk putting people there.

[Bridget Burke]

3. They are uncomfortable but alive.

And better off than if they had stayed home.

[Zynx]

5. A much smaller risk than having them be anywhere else in the city.

[jaysunb]

6. there have been 2 deaths reported

n/t

[pimpbot]

9. Not everyone..

Just watching CNN and a reporter inside said a man jumped from a 2nd story concourse.. She also said people are getting restless and wanting to find out about their families. They were asking to use her cell phone but she said it wasn't working. She was calling CNN on a land line the police had operational. People in the Dome were asking Bush to "send help now" No link yet..

Edit:

Reporters name is Susan Roesgen of WWNO. She also said toliets are overflowing.


For some reason my Thread was deleted. Oh well. Guess I'll post in this one?

[maddezmom]

10. not deleted moved to GD, here's the link

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4509510

[pimpbot]

11. Cool, thanks

Sorry didn't know exactly where to post such news. Thanks for sorting it to the proper place! :)

[maddezmom]

14. thank the mods

Probably was moved since it didn't contain a link. :hi: Kudos to all the mods keeping the boards flowing throughout this tragedy.

[Francine Frensky]

4. More deaths in coming days it appears

basing this on the reports on the news this morning..you've got 90 degree temps, no a/c, NO CLEAN WATER, you've got a dangerous situation with gas lines/power lines, water still rising by many reports, it sounded on CNN like they are abandoning rescue efforts in some areas because it's too dangerous (?) to get boats in certain places....they are having problems getting gas for boats... and you've got the potential for people being stranded for a long time in some places...I think there was a quote from an official saying "I don't know how long we can sustain life in the city"

[Kashka-Kat]

7. was there transportation provided for people to get out??

I really want to know the details and am not seeing much in media besides just that a lot of people refused to evacuate ... if you don't have car then what do you do w/ your pets & items which you don't want to part with? Humans are nesting animals and I know people who've lost all their possessions in a fire and it is a devestating and demoralizing kind of thing.. I can see why people might take a chance and stay. And where exactly do you go if you don't have friends outside of city or $$ for a hotel or campground?

Its so sad to see the feds now saying that $$$ and assistance is on the way-- where were they days ago when they couldve been more actively transporting and housing people outside the city -- maybe if the national guard weren't all ELSEWHERE??

Please let me know if I'm missing some info or jumping to false conclusions here.....

[maddezmom]

8. sounds like the mayor is preparing the citizens for very bad news

:(

[calimary]

12. Probably so. Sigh...

Just heart-breaking. And the fact is, they WON'T know an exact death toll for awhile. There are many places, and not just in and around New Orleans, where nobody can even GET TO devastated areas to survey the damage, search for survivors, or recover bodies. And I'm sure there are many victims who will probably never be found. As with the tsunami, they're probably washed out to sea. AWFUL. Just awful.

Did you hear CNN's Jeanne Meserve, getting literally choked up on the phone to Aaron Brown, as she described the devastation she witnessed? She was seriously shaken by what she'd seen and heard (people's voices crying out for help in the dark, marooned in flooded houses and other buildings, with rescuers in boats unable to get to them). She was so emotional she was burbling. I can only imagine the self-control she was trying to summon up within herself to avoid just blithering and crying on the air. If it were me, I don't know that I could have found even that much composure. I was crying by the time her report was finished.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[redsoxliberal]

15. 5-4-3-2-1... message deleted

why do you wish anyone death?

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[redsoxliberal]

19. they are PEOPLE!

[donheld]

24. LA may have voted for * but

I'll bet New Orleans Voted Very heavily Democratic.

[Coventina]

26. Yeah, I would bet my next paycheck that NO went blue

What a maroon!

:eyes:

[redsoxliberal]

29. Orleans parish went 78% for Kerry... and that's beside the point

People are people, and to wish death on anyone is cruel and heartless. Politics should stay civil. I appreciate disagreements and enjoy debate... And I think that my point of view as a liberal is right... but when I see stuff like that posted I absolutely cringe.

[RedEarth]

18. looking at all of your posts..a total of three....

you seems to have the same message in each of them..strange?

[Name removed]

20. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[RedEarth]

22. why don't you run back to your snake pit and play....see ya!!!

[Mike Daniels]

27. Replace cons and neocons with liberals and Democrats....

and you'd have a post that would be right on home on a certain site we're not really supposed to make comparisons to on this board.

Why, I'm not so sure as there are times (like your posts) where this board is just as ugly and venomous as FR.

[SoCalDem]

21. reading is fun-damental

[maddezmom]

23. or fundymental

:D

[UncleSepp]

28. What a horrible thing to say! Shame on you!

[nini]

17. Does the govt.. assist in evacuation?

Any level.. city, state or federal?

or is up to the individual?

If so, then it would seem it's a mighty 'fuck you' to those who do not have the means to get out.

I wonder how much the cost of fuel played a part in this too...

[maddezmom]

25. fuel, hotel costs

my bil and sil are in hattiesburg with their 3 children and my inlaws in a motel. If they can't get back into town for a week or so...can you imagine the cost. Let's just say if the price per room was $50...for a one weeks stay it's $700, plus food etc. Lots of the folks that stayed behind did not have the means to evacuate.

[RedEarth]

30. Here's a picture of New Orleans.....not a pretty site.....

[GoddessOfGuinness]

31. jeeeeeeeeze

Those poor folks...

[donheld]

32. Just stunning

I fear many dead. Much loss.