Hurricane Rescue Missions - Page 2

**gilliam** · #16 Aug 31, '05, 6:55 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peace-bwu

This is great, but as it says, they will be on their way within the next few days. My point is that many of the people there don't have a few days, Yes, it is important to assess the damages before action, and I am sure the coast guard is doing their best, but I also know that there are plenty of bases who have not been damaged by the hurricane and they need to be used right now. I think more could have been done yesterday to evacuate people out, if the powers that be had used more of our resources. I know alot of people are on alert at my base.

They may not need the specialties at your base right now. I don't know. This is being run by FEMA and the NO locals. But if they simply bring in more bodies without being able to feed, water and shelter them, we have more problems, not less.

This is a major catastrophe occurring in a major city. Believe it or not, it is playing out the way the models show such a catastrophe playing out.

It isn't pretty. And it will get worse.

Peace-bwu · #17 Aug 31, '05, 7:03 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilliam

They may not need the specialties at your base right now. I don't know. This is being run by FEMA and the NO locals. But if they simply bring in more bodies without being able to feed, water and shelter them, we have more problems, not less.

This is a major catastrophe occurring in a major city. Believe it or not, it is playing out the way the models show such a catastrophe playing out.

It isn't pretty. And it will get worse.

I know exactly what C5s do, hopefully they are using them out of Travis AFB. They can bring rescue helicopters within flying distance I'm not asking them to bring in more bodies, I am talking about evacuation that could have been done yesterday. It will get much worse with every passing hour. I haven't watched the news yet today, hopefully they have more rescue and evacuation operations going on today. I began this thread yesterday morning, so hopefully we able to do more today.

**gilliam** · #18 Aug 31, '05, 7:06 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peace-bwu

I know exactly what C5s do, hopefully they are using them out of Travis AFB. They can bring rescue helicopters within flying distance I'm not asking them to bring in more bodies, I am talking about evacuation that could have been done yesterday. It will get much worse with every passing hour. I haven't watched the news yet today, hopefully they have more rescue and evacuation operations going on today. I began this thread yesterday morning, so hopefully we able to do more today.

But you don't know what they are doing. Your visibility (and mine) is limited. I think we both know they are doing all they can think of doing. The frustrating part is NO city is ready to handle a situation like this without catistrophic loss of life.

By the way, the Mayor of NO told everyone in the city they had to leave yesterday (at least), people are just ignoring him.

Peace-bwu · #19 Aug 31, '05, 7:44 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilliam

But you don't know what they are doing. Your visibility (and mine) is limited. I think we both know they are doing all they can think of doing. The frustrating part is NO city is ready to handle a situation like this without catistrophic loss of life.

By the way, the Mayor of NO told everyone in the city they had to leave yesterday (at least), people are just ignoring him.

Yes, I agree, as I said I hope there are more evacuations going on than we are aware of with the news coverage.

They should have left before the hurricane, but there were many who evacuated to the Superdome and many in hospitals who couldn't leave. It can also be impossible to get flights for all the tourists right before the hurricane. Some people were too poor to leave. It's hard to have sympathy for those who stayed and were capable of leaving. My first hurricane, Opal, we were on the road for 4 hours and only covered 4 blocks. We had to turn back to our townhouse or be stuck in our car. Evacuation isn't always possible for everyone, and it is terrifying to be stuck in the middle of a hurricane unable to evacuate, Buildings right next to us were knocked down, roofs torn off. After that I headed north a few days early every time a hurricane came into our path, It can be exhausting and expensive!

If they were told to leave yesterday, how could they have left New Orleans yesterday, there isn't much of a way out? I am sure more is being done today. People are being evacuated out of the shelters by bus.

**Ani Ibi** · #20 Aug 31, '05, 9:47 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilliam

THE MUDVILLE GAZETTE has a massive roundup on the military response to Katrina, which is quite extensive.

also see:

FEDERAL RELIEF EFFORTS, including a Naval flotilla and 125,000 National Guardsmen, are on the way to afflicted areas, reports CNN.

I phoned my mp at his constituency office, parliamentary office, and his office at National Defence this morning. Canada is sending down medical supplies. But I also asked that some of our army engineers be sent down to help with repairing the levee and that our big search and rescue hovercraft be sent down. I read a coupla years ago that we had developed a very big state of the art hovercraft for search and rescue between Vancouver Island and Vancouver. Can't find any info on it on the internet.

**gilliam** · #21 Aug 31, '05, 12:33 pm

President to talk to the nation at 5pm today

Hildebrand · #22 Aug 31, '05, 12:36 pm

There are thousands of people stranded on bridges/overpasses, no food, no drinkable water, no bathrooms, no beds. Why aren't these people being rescued or even being told what to do/where to go?

It seems that these poor people have to swim and go onto of roofs in order for them to get help.

It is heartbreaking.

Now the mayor says the number of dead in New Orleans could be in the hundreds, if not thousands.

**Ani Ibi** · #23 Aug 31, '05, 12:45 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilliam

They may not need the specialties at your base right now. I don't know. This is being run by FEMA and the NO locals. But if they simply bring in more bodies without being able to feed, water and shelter them, we have more problems, not less.

This is a major catastrophe occurring in a major city. Believe it or not, it is playing out the way the models show such a catastrophe playing out.

It isn't pretty. And it will get worse.

Sheesh, gilliam, now this is worrying me. It does seem to be taking some time to actually get rescuers to people. I know the felled trees and uprooted cars and buildings have been blocking roads. So we are basically waiting for tree cutters and heavy machinery to remove the roadblocks. And we are waiting as helictopters are picking up people -- slowly -- two by two. I know there are some small hovercraft at the site. I have asked our Minister of Defence to send down our very big hovercraft.

What worries me is that OBL must be watching this and taking notes. I am hoping to get some more detailed analysis before too long. I am very concerned about how coordinated the roles of Canada and Mexico are in this. We should have a more effective perimeter plan for any contingency -- not just terrorist attacks.

I would appreciate your views on this. Thank you. Ani

**Edwin1961** · #24 Aug 31, '05, 12:47 pm

I have heard that the airport in New Orleans is about operational for relief efforts only.
And that the communications with the tower is also being readied as well.

from www.wwltv.com

allhers · #25 Aug 31, '05, 12:47 pm

Just a suggestion, in the future perhaps they ought to just go in and get everyone in ADVANCE the way they are now, make them get out, not everyone has a place to go, or money or a vehicle to get there, and some people don't even have radio or t.v. to know that anything is even going on. I know that this might be hard to believe as we all sit in our comfy homes with our electric on, but not everyone in America has a t.v. and a radio and even if they did, where woudl they go and how would they get there without funds and a vehicle to go?
One other thing, can't they air lift at least water to them? Some are just walking around aimlessly like they are in a war zone.They have not had anything for two days.

**Ani Ibi** · #26 Aug 31, '05, 12:51 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hildebrand

There are thousands of people stranded on bridges/overpasses, no food, no drinkable water, no bathrooms, no beds. Why aren't these people being rescued or even being told what to do/where to go?

Hildebrand, the water is stagnant, disease infested. There are alligators, venomous snakes, and other predators in the waters. There is the risk of West Nile Virus. It may be safer for them to stay put.

I believe the people are being rescued but two by two by helicopter and in small groups by small boats and hovercraft. The obstacles are compounded by uprooted, trees, cars, and small buildings being blown into the middle of roadways. Tree cutters and heavy machinery are -- slowly -- removing those.

Having said that, I share your worry that the present methods of search and rescue may not be adequate for a disaster of this magnitude. I am anxious to read the debriefs and analyses of the measures taken and of what our next step is. I am worried too that people like OBL are watching this and taking notes.

**Ani Ibi** · #27 Aug 31, '05, 12:53 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by allhers

Just a suggestion, in the future perhaps they ought to just go in and get everyone in ADVANCE the way they are now, make them get out, not everyone has a place to go, or money or a vehicle to get there, and some people don't even have radio or t.v. to know that anything is even going on. I know that this might be hard to believe as we all sit in our comfy homes with our electric on, but not everyone in America has a t.v. and a radio and even if they did, where woudl they go and how would they get there without funds and a vehicle to go?
One other thing, can't they air lift at least water to them? Some are just walking around aimlessly like they are in a war zone.They have not had anything for two days.

I agree 100%.

Hildebrand · #28 Aug 31, '05, 1:09 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ani Ibi

Hildebrand, the water is stagnant, disease infested. There are alligators, venomous snakes, and other predators in the waters. There is the risk of West Nile Virus. It may be safer for them to stay put.

I agree they should stay put. My point is there is not enough focus on them. And the way out right now for those stranded in various places is on roofs or the Super Dome buses. Why can't we get boats out there and take them out on boats or at least tell them where to go so they can get food & water, and get out of the city?

Doing things by the book and orderly is not always smart. Dunkirk was not a slow, orderly rescue; it was massive evacuation that was successful because it was something novel.

Get some military rafts out there and help these people out. You are limited to the number of helicopters in the area because of safety reasons. You do not want to have them crash into each other. There are three ways: by land, by air, and by sea. Right now, there are two: air and land.

**Ani Ibi** · #29 Aug 31, '05, 1:13 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hildebrand

Get some military rafts out there and help these people out. You are limited to the number of helicopters in the area because of safety reasons. You do not want to have them crash into each other. There are three ways: by land, by air, and by sea. Right now, there are two: air and land.

Does anyone have any information on rafts, small boats, and hovercrafts being used in the rescue?

Hildebrand · #30 Aug 31, '05, 1:17 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by allhers

Just a suggestion, in the future perhaps they ought to just go in and get everyone in ADVANCE the way they are now, make them get out, not everyone has a place to go, or money or a vehicle to get there, and some people don't even have radio or t.v. to know that anything is even going on. I know that this might be hard to believe as we all sit in our comfy homes with our electric on, but not everyone in America has a t.v. and a radio and even if they did, where woudl they go and how would they get there without funds and a vehicle to go?

One other thing, can't they air lift at least water to them? Some are just walking around aimlessly like they are in a war zone.They have not had anything for two days.

I know. On Monday, the view was New Orleans is saved. Now everyone has realized New Orleans is gone. Ok, now what do we do? There are possibly 100,000 people or more in Jefferson and Orleans County. They need water, food, and rescuing in that order. If you can't rescue them all now, get them food and water. If we can airlift needed supplies to the Tsunami stricken areas, then why not New Orleans? It does not make sense.