Looting?!?!?!?!?

Interesting question, though: If the problems could have been significantly lessened by shooting the mother with a sick child in the first instance, and thousands of lives could have been saved, would it be a necessary sacrifice?

I intellectualize everything.

Did I miss something? I'm not sure I follow here -- what would shooting a mother with a sick child solve? :confused:[/QUOTE]

Sorry. Not clear. Everything I have heard is that the NOLA police pretty much opened the city to looters on Monday afternoon. Nagin only cracked down on it yesterday pm. Time will tell whether that was for "humanitarian" reasons or whatever. Certainly, humanitarian purposes were served (although one needs only simply to fill the bathtub prior to a storm to have a four day supply of water).

Unfortunately, they also opened the city for any looting, presumably figuring that most people had humanitarian goals. Gun stores were ransacked. Ammo supplies cached.

"Looters will be shot on sight" is a clear, bright line rule that most people can understand. What is happening in NOLA was not inevitable. It is needless. Not saying it is b/c some momma wasn't blown away, but things could have been helped by clear, effective rules ruthlessly enforced.

My local Winn Dixie, six or so blocks away, is now a police stationing place. It was looted first. Cops were busy trying to to protect the Sports Authority which sold guns. Oddly enough, I am comforted that the Winn Dixie has been secured now and is a base of the resistance.

... Certainly, humanitarian purposes were served (although one needs only simply to fill the bathtub prior to a storm to have a four day supply of water).

That works well and I do it before the storms. However, I don't think that would be useful if your house is under water and you are at the SuperDome.

That works well and I do it before the storms. However, I don't think that would be useful if your house is under water and you are at the SuperDome.

The Superdome people just break my heart. They evacuated. They did everything to save themselves. Now, you can't even get them out due to the gunfire.

The initial looting was not, by my understanding, done by the Superdome people.

If we can pinpoint targets in remote portions of Afghanistan I am clueless as to why we cannot drop food and water onto Poydras Street.

After reading this story of some local Noogan's that ended up in LA during the storm. I'm not so sure that the looters are just people trying to get the stables of life. Seems the looting started before they even knew things were bad.


Chattanooga Couple Survives Hurricane, Marauding Gangs In New Orleans
Make Dramatic Midnight Escape From The French Quarter
[font=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]posted September 1, 2005[/font]

A Chattanooga couple survived several terrifying days in the French Quarter of New Orleans in the midst of a powerful hurricane and marauding gangs.

"The looters were equally as terrifying as the hurricane," said Darrin Ledford, who was safe back at his office at ImageWorks in the Saddlery Building on South Broad Street on Thursday.

He and his girlfriend, Kelly Ziegler, went to New Orleans on a bus trip, arriving last Thursday. Mr. Ledford said, "We knew there was a storm around Miami, but it was not a concern."

But he said the hurricane had taken a turn toward New Orleans by Saturday, and they prepared to leave. Then they found that their Delta flight had been canceled and no rental cars were available.

"I feel that Delta stranded thousands of people by getting out so early," he said.

Mr. Ledford said they hunkered down at the Chateau Sonesta, a four-story hotel built in the mid-1800s that had weathered numerous storms.

He said the hotel staff was great. "We owe our lives to them."

The remaining guests were placed in interior rooms on the second and third floors as the big hurricane roared toward New Orleans.

Mr. Ledford said when the storm hit "the winds were like a pressure washer. Objects that you would think could not be moved were gone in a blink of an eye. In a storm like that, we were nothing. We were totally helpless."

He said they lay hunkered down as items crashed around them.

Then they "felt a very strong sense of relief" when the repeated powerful gales finally calmed.

Mr. Ledford said afterwards they went outside to survey the damage, though they were warned not to stray far from the hotel. He said they began to see looting and men carrying guns on the streets.

They went back inside and looked down "and saw things that really frightened us."

He said the hotel had stockpiled food, "and we knew the people outside knew that. We could see them looking up at us. We were afraid they were going to come in after us."

Mr. Ledford said New Orleans residents had initially been happy that the levee had held. Then came word that it had started to breach.

He said, "We could see the water coming toward us. That is when the looting really got bad."

He said they were escorted by armed guards as they switched to a taller hotel, the plush Royal Sonesta. They were placed in a second floor balcony room.

Mr. Ledford said the hotel manager, Hans, had some connections and somehow was able to arrange for two tour buses to come to rescue the hotel guests. He said the bus had to come at night because the gangs on the streets did not want them to leave.

He said they got on the bus in the dark, and it started out along the water-filled streets. He said it was one of the first vehicles to leave the city.

Mr. Ledford said residents at one point built a barrier to block the business, but police officers drew their guns and moved the barrier out of the way.

He said they and the other guests were peering ahead watching the driver negotiate the narrow streets of the French Quarter through the high water. "We knocked over a few things in getting out," he said.

Finally, the two buses escaped the besieged city and made it to I-10. The guests were then taken to Houston along one of the few highways open.

He said after reaching there, American Airlines made special provision for the New Orleans refugees to fly first class home.

Mr. Ledford said the experience seems even more harrowing as they see reports of the death-dealing devastation dealt by the hurricane.

He said they are urging everyone to make contributions to the American Red Cross.

Mr. Ledford said, "If we were not able to somehow make it out, those contributions would be headed for us right now."

These people were on the local (Chattanooga) news tonight and they were absolutely traumatized by the experience. The woman broke down when telling of the danger they were in from the armed thugs.

The Superdome has become so dangerous that some people are fleeing to the streets again. Rape, murder and brutalization are rampant. Not to mention the smell, lack of sanitation and heat. It's a mob-run living hell.

The Superdome has become so dangerous that some people are fleeing to the streets again. Rape, murder and brutalization are rampant. Not to mention the smell, lack of sanitation and heat. It's a mob-run living hell.

I have heard that's at the convention center, not the Dome. Don't have any reason to doubt what is described is real. Can't figure out this center stuff. The center was not intended to be an evacuation point, and never has been stated as such. All I can think is people riding it out flocked there.

I have heard that's at the convention center, not the Dome. Don't have any reason to doubt what is described is real. Can't figure out this center stuff. The center was not intended to be an evacuation point, and never has been stated as such. All I can think is people riding it out flocked there.

CNN, I think, reported that 3 murders and at least on rape occured last night at the SuperDome. However, I cannot find any articles on the www regarding what I heard earlier. Maybe I did not hear correctly.:idontno:

I swear.. I don't get it. The fact that these people have lost everything..everything .. and they revert to crime and a really dark side of themselves....It's mind boggling. Like its an excuse to do anything they want....they are lost. It's really, really sad. All we can do is say a prayer for them.

I swear.. I don't get it. The fact that these people have lost everything..everything .. and they revert to crime and a really dark side of themselves....It's mind boggling. Like its an excuse to do anything they want....they are lost. It's really, really sad. All we can do is say a prayer for them.

The people doing this have not lost everything. In fact, many of them have lost nothing. They have been living by the hour for most of their lives. What do you think would happen in a place like Los Angeles, CA if h_ll ever broke out in that area? There are thousands of gang members out there, and they may bust a cap in you for looking at them. A disaster does nothing more than give these thugs the power and the authority over everyone. Only the military, fully armed and ready to fire, will be able to prevent such madness. The police in any city are not equiped to handle such incidents. There are way too many thugs. I don't mind living in a town with Hurricanes, but I refuse to live in a town with so many thugs. Give me the Piney Woods any day.

I hear ya! Thugs on crack!! No morals, no brains!! They scare the XXXX out of me! I hope the military arrives soon, didn't get a chance to see the news tonight. Hope they are on their way!

I swear.. I don't get it. The fact that these people have lost everything..everything .. and they revert to crime and a really dark side of themselves....It's mind boggling. Like its an excuse to do anything they want....they are lost. It's really, really sad. All we can do is say a prayer for them.

Unfortunately, alot of the people that did not get out before the storm were the poorest people in the country and as said earlier on this board somewhere they had very little before the storm hit, less after the storm, and then come Monday evening or Tuesday morning the city starts filling with water and it became clear no immediate help and/or law enforcement was coming so.....total chaos and lawlessness. I suspect that some were of criminal mind before the storm and then when they saw no law enforcement was evident all hell broke loose. They had nothing to loose and once the thugs started then the desperate mob rule was the law of the streets/dome.

Crazy stuff but a snowball effect. All of sudden now they are say 50,000 National Guard on "in the region" and as many as 100,000 are on "stand by".

I wasn't "getting it" either for a day or two and I fancy myself a pretty quick minded person but then I wondered "where is the US Govt aka the National Guard...?"

A coincidence that they waited 3+ days to bring in personnel in large force to aid and secure the area? You decide for yourself if you can even fathom one of the answers. Think about it....seems like little or no supplies/necessities have been airlifted or dropped in. No a conspiracy theorist by nature but this gross neglect of aid after the strom has me scrathin my chin........my head has been hurting all day not to mention my chin. :bang: :bang: :bang:

I am not drawing any conclusions and am not suggesting anything here....just pondering some inner conflict that has me rattled. Make your own decision on why or how this crisis was allowed to get out of hand. All we individually can do is find a way to help anyone in need and then collectively we will help some get thru this. And in parallel kiss/hug our kids and significant other, appreciate our families and friends more today than yesterday, and thank god that at least we have the future. That is more than alot of the people looting and breaking the law feel that they have to look forward to right now.

Unbelieveable. :pissed: :bang: :idontno:

Wow the socalled "SoWal RE bubble" has become very insignificant for me more and more each day in this aftermath. Like some I do not subscribe to skier's feelings (even though he makes some good points to ponder) or the RE doomsday theory and never will because SoWal has what my wife and I call the "Ahhhh factor". :bow: :cool:

Unfortunately, alot of the people that did not get out before the storm were the poorest people in the country and as said earlier on this board somewhere they had very little before the storm hit, less after the storm, and then come Monday evening or Tuesday morning the city starts filling with water and it became clear no immediate help and/or law enforcement was coming so.....total chaos and lawlessness. I suspect that some were of criminal mind before the storm and then when they saw no law enforcement was evident all hell broke loose. They had nothing to loose and once the thugs started then the desperate mob rule was the law of the streets/dome.

Crazy stuff but a snowball effect. All of sudden now they are say 50,000 National Guard on "in the region" and as many as 100,000 are on "stand by".

I wasn't "getting it" either for a day or two and I fancy myself a pretty quick minded person but then I wondered "where is the US Govt aka the National Guard...?"

A coincidence that they waited 3+ days to bring in personnel in large force to aid and secure the area? You decide for yourself if you can even fathom one of the answers. Think about it....seems like little or no supplies/necessities have been airlifted or dropped in. No a conspiracy theorist by nature but this gross neglect of aid after the strom has me scrathin my chin........my head has been hurting all day not to mention my chin. :bang: :bang: :bang:

I am not drawing any conclusions and am not suggesting anything here....just pondering some inner conflict that has me rattled. Make your own decision on why or how this crisis was allowed to get out of hand. All we individually can do is find a way to help anyone in need and then collectively we will help some get thru this. And in parallel kiss/hug our kids and significant other, appreciate our families and friends more today than yesterday, and thank god that at least we have the future. That is more than alot of the people looting and breaking the law feel that they have to look forward to right now.

Unbelieveable. :pissed: :bang: :idontno:

Wow the socalled "SoWal RE bubble" has become very insignificant for me more and more each day in this aftermath.

I think you hit the nail on the head... Amen