Louisiana Blocked Red Cross Relief

[MDM4AU 338]

Report: Louisiana

blocked Red Cross

Relief trucks were positioned

to assist Superdome evacuees

The Louisiana Department of Homeland Security blocked a vanguard of Red Cross trucks filled with water, food, blankets and hygiene items from bringing relief to the thousands of hungry and thirsty evacuees stranded in the New Orleans Superdome after Hurricane Katrina struck, according to a Fox News Channel report.

The state agency responsible for Louisiana's security "told the Red Cross explicitly, you cannot come," said Fox News reporter Major Garrett in a radio interview.

Garrett told nationally syndicated talk host Hugh Hewitt that according to the Red Cross, the delivery was blocked immediately after the storm passed Monday.

The Louisiana governor's office of Homeland Security explained to the Red Cross that they didn't want the relief supplies, because they wanted the evacuees to leave, according to Garrett.

"At the very moment that Ray Nagin, the Mayor of New Orleans, was screaming where's the food, where's the water, it was over the overpass [nearby], and state officials were saying you can't come in," Garrett said.

Garrett acknowledged that floodwaters made access to the Superdome and nearby convention center difficult, but he pointed out that supplies could have been delivered before the levee broke. After that, the National Guard or military could have assisted.

In addition to its determination to remove the evacuees from the Superdome, the state also told the Red Cross the toxic floodwaters were not safe and they did not have the security situation under control.

Garrett said the decision was made and communicated to the Red Cross by the state department of Homeland Security and the state National Guard, both of which report to Gov. Kathleen Blanco.

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The Red Cross has posted a "Disaster FAQ" on its website which explains, "Access to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders."

The private charity says, "The state Homeland Security Department had requested -- and continues to request -- that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city."

If you would like to help victims of Hurricane Katrina, here are some of the best ways to do so.

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=46224

[AUloggerhead 2,547]

Criminal dereliction of duty. Clearly, she's in way over her head. The good citizens of LA elected her, though. I wonder how long before they wise up and recall the byotch?

[Ranger12 53]

IMO, this lady has looked lost and inept since the whole thing started. The NO mayor has not looked much better. It is sad to see so much more coming out on how the local and state governments failed their people. Now you got the NO mayor saying he is going to force evacuations and last I heard, the LA governor said she would not sign off on that. Great job working together there guys! I claim some ignorance when it comes to local and state jurisdictions, but does it require her to "sign off" on something that the mayor orders for his city in a situation like this? Can the NO mayor tell her where to stick her pen?

[Tiger in Spain 0]

The sweet smell of Louisiana politics! That place is nothing more than the US version of Kazakhstan.

[AURaptor 1,137]

Michael Brown isn't perfet, by any means. He may very well have screwed up some during the crisis following Katrina. But the more we hear about how the state/local authorities denied assistance and forbid the handing out of food/ water and other supplies, it becomes harder and harder to hold him responsible.

[Ranger12 53]

Michael Brown isn't perfet, by any means. He may very well have screwed up some during the crisis following Katrina. But the more we hear about how the state/local authorities denied assistance and forbid the handing out of food/ water and other supplies, it becomes harder and harder to hold him responsible.

179693[/snapback]

Well, it looks like Mr. Browns ignornace has caught up with him. The President has relieved him of his Katrina duties, which means he is about to be toast! Now, who is going to give the LA governor and NO mayor the axe?

Brown riding the pine

[AURaptor 1,137]

Now, who is going to give the LA governor and NO mayor the axe?

Are you kidding? Those 2 will become Left wing ICONS! That mean, evil Mr. Bush cut $$ to Louisiana that would have gone to fixing the levees so he could give tax cuts to his rich buddies and fight his personal war in Iraq so his BIG OLIL buddies could go over and make MORE $$.

That's how the Left will... IS trying to spin this right now. Never mind that LA gets more $$ than any state in the nation for Army Corps of Engineers to fix. The Left is despirate to hide the facts from the public because what happened in LA is the result of decades of rule in that state.

[SouthLink02 8]

Thankfully, she has cemented her chance of repeating as Gov.

Get out, Blanco.

You have been exposed

[AURaptor 1,137]

Get out, Blanco.

You have been exposed

And an exposed Blanco is the last thing any of us needs to see!

[SouthLink02 8]

If it is anything like her face during the Hurricane....