Why is Help So SLOW

[gk1]

to come to SE La. They will be plenty of blame to go around; but, being a resident a SE LA., I told my wife last Sunday (before the storm struck) that Mayor Nagin waited to long to ask residents to leave. Max Mayfield called him Sat. evening and he waited until late Sunday AM to ask residents to leave. You cannot do this enomous task in 12 hours. Still, help has been slow from the State and Local areas. I can only hope that we can rebuild our culture rich city. Thanks for all the donations from around the country. The out pouring from American Citizens is Unbelievable!!!!!!!!!!

[beachbum_al]

It is slow all over the Gulf Coast. I think part of the problem is that they didn't have enough for so many people and states ready to give out aide. I don't think they ever realized how severe and spread out the damage would be and the amount of people left homeless.

[artist]

and it still amazes me - I know some time back someone posted an article from the New Orleans paper talking about how it would take 72 hours for them to evacuate.

[huricanwatcher]

90,000+ sq miles............ just where do you start first.... ever think that is the problem?.......

sorry to side with the government, but they are trying...

[Tommedic]

Ultimately, the local and state government are responsible for requesting specific aide necessary. The thought is that people in Washington will have no real idea what specifically is needed. Usually, I question the government, but in this case, I'll have to side with them.

Maybe everyone will have to look at the whole system will need to improve.

[debbiet]

Agree Tommedic...As a paramedic working for a fire dept I find that we are some of the most super-critical human beings alive when it comes to what someone shoulda/woulda/coulda done...but in this case I have yet to run across a colleague/co-worker who doesn't feel frustration at all of the accusations of incompetence by FEMA/Federal Govmt. I'm not always supportive of things our government/leaders do, but in this case...I 'm embarrassed that our nation is being SO critical of this monumental effort. There will definitely be hard lessons learned and improvements made...but from where I sit...I think they've done an awesome job under incredible circumstances.

[mahicks]

90,000+ sq miles............ just where do you start first.... ever think that is the problem?.......

sorry to side with the government, but they are trying...

I agree with you, but at the same time, I have a serious question.

At first glance..I DO NOT SEE 90K square miles in the ENTIRE damage area. INCLUDING inland Missisippi, Florida Counties Damaged, AND inland LA.

I GUESSTIMATE this area to be around 40K Square miles...And this is being really loose...Where are the Other 50?? I know that who ever said this is probably correct, I just want some details on where they got this info...

[Ivanhater]

exactly, i have to side with the government this time as well, and i have no clue why this has become a race issue, but whatever side your on or whatever you think, there will be a time to discuss that, but now is not that time, lets focus on helping people and finding solutions, blame doesnt put food in peoples stomachs or shelter over their head, casting blame can come later

[SCHawkFan]

Despite all the hand wringing over the preceived slow response, the real problem in New Orleans was the city's inability to execute its disaster plan. Here is a great shot of all of the city school buses that shows exactly how they were used to evacuate people over the wekend.

<img src="http://tinypic.com/bijv9j.jpg">

[huricanwatcher]

90,000+ sq miles............ just where do you start first.... ever think that is the problem?.......

sorry to side with the government, but they are trying...

I agree with you, but at the same time, I have a serious question.

At first glance..I DO NOT SEE 90K square miles in the ENTIRE damage area. INCLUDING inland Missisippi, Florida Counties Damaged, AND inland LA.

I GUESSTIMATE this area to be around 40K Square miles...And this is being really loose...Where are the Other 50?? I know that who ever said this is probably correct, I just want some details on where they got this info ...

Federal disaster declarations blanketed 90,000 square miles (233,000 km²) of the United States, an area almost as large as the United Kingdom. The hurricane left an estimated five million people without power, and it may be up to two months before all power is restored. Disaster relief plans are in operation in the affected areas. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina

[debbiet]

Did they just fail to implement the plan for use of buses or did their emergency plan fail to account for the problems that would occur if all of their bus drivers evacuated themselves first? Perhaps drivers (which aren't among the highest paid public servants) decided not to risk their own lives in what would likely have been an effort in futility since the mandatory evaucations didn't start until the day before the storm.

[gofast]

:cry: Did they just fail to implement the plan for use of buses or did their emergency plan fail to account for the problems that would occur if all of their bus drivers evacuated themselves first? Perhaps drivers (which aren't among the highest paid public servants) decided not to risk their own lives in what would likely have been an effort in futility since the mandatory evaucations didn't start until the day before the storm.

A seventeen year old kid figured out how to drive a bus to Houston with no prior experience. I have to believe they could have found 200 more people willing to do the same.