Racism, My Ass!

Published on September 11, 2005 By ADD Girl In Current Events

The Mayor of New Orleans is Black and according to the Louisiana State of Emergency Plan, he is the one responsible for calling the evacuations.

With just a few clicks on the key board, I found a 2000 census for Orleans Parish and the State of Louisiana.
O. P. State
White persons 28.1% 63.9%
Black or African American persons 67.3% 32.5%

I also found the Louisisna States Emergency Operation Plan. In the summary of the plan, it states that a category 3, 4, or 5 hurricane will be categorized as catastrophic.

The summary went on to say “it was not intended to replace or supersede any local plans, which are incorporated by reference, nor does it usurp the authority of any local governing body.” In my opinion, this statement means that the plan was written and even practiced, but clearly, it was never intended to be followed at the local level.

I continued to read the plan and found that there are three phases to the evacuation process: precautionary/voluntary, recommended, and mandatory. Nowhere in the plan did I find anything about when to implement each phase. However, I did run across a section titled “Situations”. This briefly explained possible levee breeches, tidal surges, evacuations problems due to the city grid and due to evacuation routes located near bodies of water. I know that State and Local Public Officials knew prior to hurricane Katrina, the possible effects that a storm of this magnitude could cause.

Under the section “Assumptions”, it states, “the primary means of evacuation will be personal vehicles. School and municipal buses, government-owned vehicles and vehicles provided by volunteer agencies may be used to provide transportation for individuals who lack transportation and require assistance in evacuating.” This part of the plan was followed by those who evacuated in their personal vehicles and the one person who stole a school bus and drove it loaded with refugees to the Astrodome.

The last item I want to bring up is the “Last Resort Refuge”. This section says that once the evacuation routes are closed and there is no other option, as a last resort, a shelter that will protect against heavy winds and rains will be provided. It goes on to specifically state “unlike a shelter, there may be little or no water or food and possibly no utilities. This just goes to show us that the State and Local Officials chose not to follow the plan and instead of using all available means (school buses) they let these people think that they were just going to ride out a storm in a strong building (Superdome). What were these officials thinking?

The State and Local Public Officials failed their people. This is not about race. This is about the breakdown of a system.

Here is a link to the Louisisana State of Emergency Plan

Comments

ParaTed2k

on Sep 11, 2005

Yet another person willing to read up on the local protocols before jumping to conclusions. Mayor Nagin had the authority to act, but he chose to ignore the plans in favor of rants for the press and blaming everyone else for not doing his job for him.

The other major mistake was, no one seemed willing to adjust to changing situations. The "Special Needs Shelter of Last Resort (The Superdome)" became a primary shelter. The Red Cross was there to help the people, but because it wasn't supposed to be a primary shelter, the idiots at the local level would rather see people starve, kill and get raped than make a sound decision.

If "racism" is now defined as "local incompetence"... yeah, it was "racism".

ADD Girl

on Sep 11, 2005

I toatlly agree!

Locamama

on Sep 11, 2005

I read somewhere that evacuation was to take place three days prior to the date of the storm. I think its easy to look back and see what went wrong but obviously if hindsight is 20/20 the mandatory evacuation should have been started three days prior. If they could not get the people without personal vehicles out they should have arranged bus or train transportation for them. If they could not bus them then they should have had security, food and water at the superdome. It's all just academic now. The worst has happened.

I do think that this shows everyone how important it is to vote even in local elections. I know so many people who only vote in national elections. This should clearly illustrate why local officials are just as important.

Rightwinger

on Sep 12, 2005

It's all just academic now. The worst has happened.

Very true, yes, but we can't allow those who wish to shift the blame to shift it where it doen't belong. LA's FEMA and the local government dropped the ball at roughly the same time, and when things got really bad, they tried to work the race card into it to in an attempt to "muddy the waters" and cover their own backsides.

Moderateman

on Sep 12, 2005

nice reporting! just do not expect the leftwing loons to pay this any attention.

Dr Guy

on Sep 12, 2005

Great Article. Thanks for the insight.

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