Looting?!?!?!?!?

[Travel2Much]

As a private citizen, probably not. I don't want guns near me (lucky me to live in NOLA, now). I probably would give the person my own medication. I would probably give my last drop of water. I would beg with her not to do it and do everything within the law to get what was needed. Would I give my life and home? Don't know.

If a government official, I would certainly open up every store in an effort to ensure I had adequate food to distribute. I have the power to do that. That is my responsibility as a government official. But, I darn well wouldn't throw open the doors to everyone at the beginning and say "help yourself". The whole city, gunshops, whatever, was ransacked within hours. Hospitals are under fire. People are dying everywhere. All over the city.

That was a stupid stupid stupid decision of the NOLA police.

Sorry, I have too much respect for the law to budge. It is a complete tragedy. In the classical greek sense. Sophocles could write a darn play about it.

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.

 

[wetwilly]

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."

It is amazing that these people got out at all and flew 1st class to boot.

 

[wetwilly]

The quote in the story says the people "found bread...at a store" but could they mean that they bought it if the store was open? With no other info on these tow stories, it sure looks like journalistic racism. Maybe the writer didn't tell the whole story or use all of the right wording? Were they both written by the same writer?

 

[Smiling JOe]

Most recently, I heard that all of the cars from a Cadillac dealer were stolen. I guess they thought they could get out of town on a gallon of gas and some twenny foes with spinnas.

 

[RiverOtter]

some twenny foes with spinnas.

They get better gas mileage with spinners

 

[Underthebluemoon]

 

[Travel2Much]

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? [/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.

 

[Smiling JOe]

... 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.

 

[Travel2Much]

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.

 

[Suncat]

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.