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The situation in New Orleans goes from bad to worse

UK IMC | 03.09.2005 12:19 | Ecology | Social Struggles | World

In possibly the biggest natural disaster of US history, hurricane Katrina has left devastation in New Orleans and surrounding areas. Things have gone from bad to worse. Martial law is declared in New Orleans City. The National Guard is deployed, with the order to 'Shoot To Kill' in an attempt to 'stop looting'.

Updates on the hurricane disaster on New Orleans Indymedia | Coverage of the refugee situation on Houston Indymedia

Houston Indymedia Coverage: Video: 1 | 2 | 3 | Reports from New Orleans: 1 | 2 | 3
How to help: Donate: Red Cross | Second Harvest | Katrina Help Wiki

More Links: Weather Warning (28th August) | Democracy Now! reports (Aug. 30) (Aug. 31) (Sept. 1) (Sept. 2) | Explanation about Hurricanes (MP3) | Further analysis: 1 , 2 , 3 | Insane looting? - Not at all! | An analysis of the 'anarchy' in New Orleans' streets Commentary from the Newswire: Katrina open letter to radical/progressive community (From Houston) | In Praise of Looting | American Genocide in New Orleans | Michael Moore's open letter to Bush



However, reports say the National Guard is also blocking supplies getting into the affected area's. A group of 500 airboat pilots trying to support the rescue effort were stopped and sent back. It is estimated 300,000 people are still trapped by the water. In an interview, the Mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, lashed out at the Federal Authority, telling them to 'get off their arses'. Download interview. The US government is receiving a lot of criticism as rescue efforts have been chaotic and aid started to arrive only four days after the hurricane struck.

Priorities of a corporate empire: Bush cut $20-$40 million needed to strengthen levees - a 2004 project that was 80% complete. Needing troops, he sent 35% of Louisiana's National Guard to Iraq. Then he pushed to privatise disaster services including the N.O. disaster plan, and disabled FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

"Things were so crazy: it was all poor black people and old white people - the people who couldn't afford to get out." William Quigley, a Law Professor at Loyola University said: "They are estimating that it may take several days to evacuate these people. Water, electricity, food, security all will be gone by then." Indeed, enforced evacuations began on Aug 30, following a mass exodus from the city in advance of the hurricane - but initial estimates that expected them to be complete by the evening of August 30th were overly optimistic. And, while outside agencies struggle to help, thousands remain stuck - including inside hospitals [ 1 | 2 ]

Despite years old warnings that New Orleans was a major risk for flooding following a hurricane, funding was slashed and Louisiana State and US Federal rescue services have now been unable to cope with the developing tragedy in the wake of Hurricane Katrina earlier this week. Flood waters continue to rise, and more people are being threatened with their lives on an hourly basis: emergency evacuation centers - including the Superdome - are isolated and State governor, Kathleen Blanco has called for the complete evacuation of the city. Further claims state that it will be months before the city becomes inhabitable again.

Meanwhile, it appears that priorities were focused elsewhere: it seems the US is more concerned with oil - the price of petrol is rising and both Florida and Hawaii are trying to conserve their stocks, following on from the devastating effects of Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico; questions are also being asked if the National Guard is being stretched thin by Iraq War? And while Bush can't meet anti-war protestors, his plane is diverted over New Orleans. The irony doesn't stop...

UK IMC

Comments

Display the following 32 comments

  1. The Dark Side of Black People — Leighton Levy
  2. Levy vs levee — unimpressed
  3. "THE WATER IS RISING, PLEASE HELP" — pic
  4. Desperation has no Colour — Cat
  5. Nothing to see with race — gazubal
  6. A man-made disaster, not "natural" — Ned Keagan
  7. bush's multiple counts of robbery and deception — karl roenfanz ( rosey )
  8. High-Tech sonic weapons prototypes head to flood zone — gazubal
  9. Wrath of God? — DC
  10. Some reality — Simone
  11. Fuck off troll — simon
  12. No swearing in this comment — Simone's fairy godmother
  13. Southern Flood Blues — The blues is the soundtrack of reality.
  14. Bloody pathetic — anon
  15. unbelievable — 'nother yank
  16. No such thing as class? — Lee
  17. The Reasoning of the One Eyed men — Plain Joe Schmoe
  18. Reasonable argument — Lee
  19. again — anon
  20. Evidence — anon
  21. Lee....A reply... — Plain Joe Schmoe
  22. Clarification Please Anon — Plain Joe Schmoe
  23. Straw man — scared crow
  24. Thank You Scared Crow — Plain
  25. "Clever" — Scared Crow
  26. Schmoe — anon
  27. Not too clever by half — Plain Joe
  28. Pain Joe Shmoe — Scared Crow
  29. Bad to worse in New Orleans — Frank S. Kennett
  30. re — anon
  31. Mods - — *.*
  32. What are you doing?? — Ben

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