Blanco, Nagin tell nation N.O. is ready

[sabra]

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-6/115674478312300.xml&coll=1

Blanco, Nagin tell nation N.O. is ready
City is better prepared for storm, they say

WASHINGTON -- Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Federal Emergency Management Agency head Donald Paulison appeared on national TV Sunday with assurances that they're all better prepared for a major hurricane than they were one year ago when Katrina brutalized the Gulf Coast.

"You will never see that replay of last year as long as I'm mayor of the city," Nagin said on "Meet the Press," one of five Sunday TV news shows that devoted coverage of Katrina in advance of Tuesday's one-year anniversary. "We made a strategic decision, as we evaluated what we had done, that we would not house people in the city. So, we may use trains, buses, you name it to get everyone out of the city in the event of a hurricane hitting us."

Nagin didn't directly answer a question from "Meet the Press" moderator Tim Russert whether the city had enough police, bus drivers, buses and first responders available should a major hurricane hit the city.

Tropical Storm Ernesto is nearing the United States, but officials Sunday were projecting it would hit well east of Louisiana, probably along the Florida Coast. Still, Blanco said Katrina showed everyone that storm paths are unpredictable, and she urged residents to get prepared well in advance with adequate supplies and evacuation plans, so they can act quickly if Ernesto or some other hurricane threatens Louisiana.

[soothsayer]

1. really? there are big fissures opening up in the levees because

it hasn't rained in NOLA for a YEAR! The dirt that makes up the levees is drying out and causing big fat cracks. Also, they are LIVING in a replay of last year since they've barely cleaned up a damn thing, and haven't even recovered all of the DEAD!

[Bacchus39]

3. less people to evacuate

so its easier to prepare. that being said, if the levees are in such poor condition people shouldn't be returning there anyway.

[Tellurian]

17. Tuesday @ 5pm a forensic discussion w/ Nagin of what happened

to be viewed, ck out abc tv.

saw a short clip...Nagin on the carpet answering tough questions.

[rodeodance]

2. are they laying out the Red carpet for the Bush/Laura visit tonight?

[w4rma]

4. Yup. It's going to take a lot of time and money that could have been used

on cleaning up New Orleans for Bush's little photoop.

[Ian David]

9. Hopefully, if a levee breaks, Bush will be standing on it. n/t

[MikeyJones]

15. Good point

Like I've told so many people. When he comes there he's just getting in the way. All those reporters and Bushbots who come to here him speak just get in the way of people trying to rebuild their lives.

[bdamomma]

7. the hypocrisy of the bush regime is sickening

everyone knows nothing has been done to help those people who were affected by Katrina. A BIG NOTHING. There is no help for these people. Bush and Laura can go to hell. If those who are bothered by this please try to give a donation, any amount would suffice.


go here for resources:

http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/whentheleveesbroke/resources.html

[cobalt1999]

5. If I'm an NO resident...

I'm planning my own evacution, supplies, plans. Like I'd ever plan on receiving assistance from City, State, or Federal officials again!

[RangerSmith]

8. you might find it

best to adopt that attitude regardless of where you live and regardless the cause of the possible disaster and regardless of which party is in power.

[calimary]

11. Agreed, Out here in earthquake country (CA), everyone warns that

all of us need to be ready to fend for ourselves for 72 hours - THREE DAYS. We're advised to assume that help will not reach us for that long a time and we should be self-sufficient. Seems to me we all saw that proven last year at this time. ESPECIALLY if the shortsighted, penny-wise/pound-foolish, "cut the size of government, downsize/outsource, drown-it-in-a-bathtub" GOP mentality is in charge. ESPECIALLY then.

[RangerSmith]

6. Not much being said

there when you are claiming to be "better prepared" than last time.

One guy with a wheel barrow a single case of bottled water would constitute "better prepared."

[sasha031]

10. anyone see Nagin on 60 Minutes last night

That arrogant bottom feeder, as we all know he has nothing but disdain for working people.

He claims Nola will be like Trump Towers, a playground for the rich and famous, (not his exact words, did mention Trump though.

Dressed in a million dollar suit it appears he doesn't have a care in the world.Just another sociopath.:grr:

[MikeyJones]

14. Nagin flirted with the GOP back in 2000.....

I've heard and read that he was thinking about swapping parties in 2000 and he supported Dubya then. He's an Uncle Tom.

[Tellurian]

12. Looks like Nagin and Paulison are a couple leaving Blanco out in the cold.

The Oil Drilling proposals are still on the table, details such as % of State Royaltys and environmental issues not agreed upon yet. There begs the question: Would the Federal Government have the Kahunas to make a run at Blanco AGAIN and attempt another demand they go Martial Law, if another Katrina like cane hit Louisiana?

[MikeyJones]

13. The fuck it is

I was there last week visiting and the tourist areas are still a fraction of their former selves. While some recovery is occuring -- and people note it -- they will tell you face-to-face that it's not enough. Without the black population that made New Orleans what it was -- it simply becomes another goofy tourist trap that depends upon the rest of America to give it its living by spending money in restaurants and gift shops.

I understand that Blanco and Nagin want tourists to come in and to believe that it's still the same place but it's not.

The only way true recovery can take place is if the old population returns and then others also come to move in and share the culture and atmosphere that made New Orleans so beautiful and unique.

[RangerSmith]

16. I assume you aren't speaking of the blacks who owned homes and

property since that is a completely different battle right now.

Are you saying the answer is for the city to build homes, own them, and also play landlord? And this needs to be at the top of the priority list?

The feds can't force people to build investment houses.

I can't stand Nagin or Blanco, but the rebuilding that is happening now is what has to happen first. Unless you want to wall the place in and make it a communist/socialist compound, businesses are going to have to be able to survive in NO so they can provide some jobs and they need working infrastructure to do it.