On Fri, 02 Sep 2005 10:34:04 -0700, dunkthegeek wrote:

[snip]
Many CHOSE to stay? These are poor people without cars or poorly working
cars. They weren't offered a bus/train ride to a shelter above sea
level. The only ppl that could get away was well off people who could
pack up their SUV and go rent a motel room for 50$/night. I don't recall
too much warning over the levies breaking before Katrina hit. A few did
say it could. But it wasn't impressed on the population that they would
be underwater for several weeks.

Reports from those that lived in the area immediately prior to the storm
hitting state that at both the city and state level, local media made it
known that those that could not afford to leave would have transportation
provided. All they needed to do was either make a phone call to establish
a pickup point or go to one of the previously established pickup points.
With something as simple as a phone call, many, many people could have
been bussed to much safer areas before the storm ever hit.

The above information was tactfully repeated, by the head of FEMA in
several interviews. This is why aid is so slow because FEMA never
expected so many people to willingly choose to stay in the area. This is
direct from the head of FEMA.

Between hearing news reports from people that actually lived there and
hearing the head of FEMA state as much, I'm apt to believe things could of
been much, much better for everyone is people would have simply picked up
a dang phone.


Greg