NRA Sues Mayor Ray Nagin

[zoeyann]

Cajungal, I like your story about that woman. I have talked to alot of people and it seems the younger inexperienced people believe more in government responsibility, while it seems like some of the older generation believe more in personal responibilty. This is not always the case, but it does make me wonder if it is a matuity issue, experiece or simply a case of different generational thinking. Personally, if I am able to get out and protect myself I do not wait to be told or some else to formulate a plan. To me is is as simple as not wanting my children's or my life in danger, and even simple rescue missions can be risky, I do not want someone risking their life to save mine just because I was stubborn.

Rock you do have a good point about the gas. I evaced from the Houma area to Port Auther though and did not run into a gas problem however that was a concern. I was alone in an SUV with my kids so I did not run the AC. I always fill up at the gas station closest to my house and do not go anywhere until the situation is over in case I need to get out. Also a filled spare gas can is handy

[Audrey2Katrina]

Every time a hurricane or for that matter TS (the potential is there) approaches entry into the Gulf, the first thing I do is tank up... full tank will take me 500 miles from these parts, and as I don't use much gas on a daily basis, the next few days will tell me whether or not I'll have to make that move inland, or simply enjoy having a full tank for the next week or two.

A2K

[Pearl River]

ixolib, my sisters were two that were saying "she will turn". The Ivan evacuation was still in their minds - they felt we evacuated for nothing. I stood here in my living room literally SCREAMING at them. We couldn't find hotel rooms - well, fine then, I'll sleep in my car in a rest area but no way in HELL was I staying here with a major cane bearing down on us. They asked me, what are you going to do, just get in your car and drive? You can't do that! I told them to "watch me". When they realized I was serious, they were right behind me. We ended up in Atlanta at my niece's house.

You're absolutely correct Sunny. The Ivan evacuation was more than likely the biggest cause. Spending 10-15 hours in a car and then nothing happens, people then get the " it will turn " syndrome as the next one enters the gulf, and it's not just Ivan. Georges was another one headed for N.O. and turned.

[TSmith274]

ixolib, my sisters were two that were saying "she will turn". The Ivan evacuation was still in their minds - they felt we evacuated for nothing. I stood here in my living room literally SCREAMING at them. We couldn't find hotel rooms - well, fine then, I'll sleep in my car in a rest area but no way in HELL was I staying here with a major cane bearing down on us. They asked me, what are you going to do, just get in your car and drive? You can't do that! I told them to "watch me". When they realized I was serious, they were right behind me. We ended up in Atlanta at my niece's house.

You're absolutely correct Sunny. The Ivan evacuation was more than likely the biggest cause. Spending 10-15 hours in a car and then nothing happens, people then get the " it will turn " syndrome as the next one enters the gulf, and it's not just Ivan. Georges was another one headed for N.O. and turned.

Yep... that's what caught many New Orleanians. Crying "wolf" I guess.

[stormie_skies]

ixolib, my sisters were two that were saying "she will turn". The Ivan evacuation was still in their minds - they felt we evacuated for nothing. I stood here in my living room literally SCREAMING at them. We couldn't find hotel rooms - well, fine then, I'll sleep in my car in a rest area but no way in HELL was I staying here with a major cane bearing down on us. They asked me, what are you going to do, just get in your car and drive? You can't do that! I told them to "watch me". When they realized I was serious, they were right behind me. We ended up in Atlanta at my niece's house.

You're absolutely correct Sunny. The Ivan evacuation was more than likely the biggest cause. Spending 10-15 hours in a car and then nothing happens, people then get the " it will turn " syndrome as the next one enters the gulf, and it's not just Ivan. Georges was another one headed for N.O. and turned.

This is why IMO Federal rescue & shelter plans are so incredibly important - because no matter how good the evac plan, no matter how many buses trains and taxis you have, there will always be people who will decide to stay for their own reasons and who will need to be rescued if worse comes to worse. The Rita evac gave me new understanding for the people who chose not to evacuate after dealing with headaches for nothing in the past.....I'm not saying that riding a storm out is smart, but it is understandable, its a human thing to do, and people don't deserve to be abandoned for doing something that could so easily be anticipated.

Then there are the people who had infirm family members that they didn't want to move, or relatives in the hospital, or maybe immediate family members who had to work for one reason or another who they didn't want to leave behind. And then there is the pet thing - many people try to ride out storms because they don't want to leave their pets to die. Again, maybe not smart, but certainly understandable, especially for people who haven't lived through a big storm and know a lot less about them than we all do.

[artist]

stormie skies - why should it be the federal govt. responsibility??? It should ultimately be the state and local govt. responsibility for evacuation and rescue plans being made and implemented properly. Then the federal govt. should step in if these fail. I just don't get wanting the fed govt. to have their hands in everything - it takes away responsiblity from those that it affects directly that way. Would you want the your local govt. to be responsible for your childs behaviour? I think not - you have that responsibility. I know a strange analogy but all I could think of off the top of my head - hope you at least understand the point I am trying to make.

[stormie_skies]

stormie skies - why should it be the federal govt. responsibility??? It should ultimately be the state and local govt. responsibility for evacuation and rescue plans being made and implemented properly. Then the federal govt. should step in if these fail. I just don't get wanting the fed govt. to have their hands in everything - it takes away responsiblity from those that it affects directly that way. Would you want the your local govt. to be responsible for your childs behaviour? I think not - you have that responsibility. I know a strange analogy but all I could think of off the top of my head - hope you at least understand the point I am trying to make.

I absolutely understand your point, artist, and I agree when it comes to smaller events that the state has resources to handle. But there are a lot of events that the state just doesn't have the means to handle - thats why governors ask for the federal government to declare a state of emergency and why we have a federal response plan for catastrophic events. When it comes to something like a hurricane - and especially one as big as Katrina - I think it can be safely assumed that the local and state responses will be compromised by the sheer scope of the disaster. The federal government's default mode, then, should be to be ready to step in and save life and property as quickly as possible - just like the NRP says it should.

[artist]

That is what I did say in my answer - then if those fail for the fed. govt. to step in. Living on FL we have a working plan for hurricanes that IS imlemented - when there is more than we can handel the fed. govt. steps in to help but ultimately the first response should always be a WORKing plan from your state and local authorities. In my opinion that failed in New Orleans - the plans they had in place were not properly implemented.
If they had there would not have been as much loss of life.

[Ixolib]

That is what I did say in my answer - then if those fail for the fed. govt. to step in. Living on FL we have a working plan for hurricanes that IS imlemented - when there is more than we can handel the fed. govt. steps in to help but ultimately the first response should always be a WORKing plan from your state and local authorities. In my opinion that failed in New Orleans - the plans they had in place were not properly implemented.
If they had there would not have been as much loss of life.

I believe the N.O. officials - and everyone else for that matter - THOUGHT they had a "working plan". Unfortunately, the working plan didn't work in such an extreme event as Katrina.

I'd imagine that virtually EVERY major city has a "working plan" that will untimately and equally become compromised in the face an event similar to Katrina. Simple answer is that Katrina absolutely overwhelmed the response - and understandbly so, at least somewhat understandable

[artist]

from what I understand the nursing homes did not imp[lement their plans, nor was it checked to see if they were. There were many things within the plan that were supposed to be done before hand that were not.
That is my point. Yes federal response should be there for after the fact - but the state and local should do everything within their power beforehand to prevent as much loss as they can - waiting to declare evacuation also caused many many problems that would have been less severe if implemented in a timely manner.