NEWS: Red Cross Banned from New Orleans

POLITICS: Red Cross Banned from New Orleans

What the hell? The Red Cross (on their own Web site) says they are banned from New Orleans. (Hat tip: Instapundit.)

There is some logic to this. People need to get out of New Orleans. Now. But people need to remain alive more than they need to not remain in New Orleans.

Yeah, it was discussed in a thread a couple days ago. Basically it seems that the National Guard is using flawed logic for a lot of things. Like with the bright idea to keep everyone locked in the city, it seems their intent is to prevent something from happening, yet the end result is worse than what they're trying to prevent.

That's why the National Guard is there. To evacuate people to get them to Red Cross stations outside of the immediate New Orleans area.

I don't see this as a case of flawed logic at all. Why bring in relief workers to a zone where armed bands of people are shooting at people?

Can you really blame the National Guard for keeping them out?

Don't give me the "well the National Guard should protect the relief workers" line, either. It's really easy to play Monday morning quarterback.

It not Monday morning, its the middle of the fucking game, and more importantly the Guard are not forcing evacuations. Even if they were there are still thousands stranded in the flooded areas. They need food, water and medical attention, in short, what the Red cross provides, when they're allowed.

you're in the area, you probably know more about this than i do, but i've heard reports of people being stopped from leaving the area, even if all it takes is walking over a bridge.

People are being kept from leaving, people are being kept from coming back, people are being stopped at other parishes, its pretty much utter chaos.

It is a terrible situation, indeed. As I sit in my air conditioned home, it's easy for me to comment on said situation. Basically we're all trying to make sense of a situation that doesn't make sense. I realize people are dying by the hour. But there seems to be a lack of organization due to the breakdown of the infrastucture of New Orleans. Roads are out. Bridges are out. Communication is out.

From the Red Cross Web site: Primary responsibility for the general health of a community following a disaster rests with the local public health authorities and local medical, nursing, and health resources. Ill or injured persons normally look to their own physicians or the usual community health facilities for the type of care they need. The Red Cross supplements the existing community health care system when disasters threaten or strike.

Red Cross Disaster Health Services staff deliver first aid and attend to other health-related matters.

Let me preface this statement by saying I have never organized a massive relief/evacuation of a large US city:

The organization of relief efforts has to be carefully put in place before we can just send people in there. Yes, people need water, food and shelter and they need it now, but going in there and arbitrarily throwing supplies around isn't the way to do things. Not to trivialize the situation, but you just don't throw a box of popsicles to a group of children. Someone is bound to get a black eye.

Except you're not throwing 'popsicles' you're distributing water and medical supplies to people that have been left to die for a week and desperately need these things to stay alive.

You're saying that distributing aid within the city is too difficult, so let's just not bother?
Get the em out, and who ever was smart enough not to die or get trapped gets some C-rations?

You're really not following me. The Red Cross was ready to roll last Tuesday. Their preparations were in place, their services are needed. The fed have had a motherfucking week to do their part. This list of fuckups on the federal level would keep my typing till sunup. I've been following this every waking hour for a week, you haven't. You don't know that FEMA cut Jefferson Parish's emergency communications. Just showed up and disconnected everything. They refused to release a ship full of diesel after telling Parish officials to go and pick it up. They have refused to release food and water. They have refused to deploy the mobile hospital. Its sitting in the middle of Mississippi. They have refused to deploy volunteers. They somehow overlooked 2000 fucking people at the Convention center until NPR forced them to admit they were there. It was already on national TV the day before. The list goes on.

Yes, the effort has to be put in place carefully. There has been plenty of time to do that and its not fucking happening

this reminds me of the Russian Kursk Disaster when the russians were too proud to ask for help until in was too late to save the men trapped inside.

For all the vitriol aimed at international institutions such as the U.N., they would have done a hell of a much better job in New Orleans than whoever's 'in charge' at the momeent it's just down to arrogance and pride and people shouldn't have to lose their lives over that

Even though there is logic to this, it still sounds so terrible when you hear about it like this. It's so sad and heartwrenching to know that things have come down to this

[Edited on Sep 05, 2005 8:07AM]

I believe that in this area the Red Cross has far more experience than the National Guard.

I have to add here that I do believe that the Guard is neccesary for protection, but the Red Cross is far better suited and ORGANIZED for releif work,

[Edited on Sep 05, 2005 7:25AM]

There actually is a very good logic in not allowing people in.

PR

Organisations such as the Red Cross, UNICEF, UN, are used to working in stressful situations where people are desperate, armed and willing, Sudan, Serbia, Zimbamwe, Afghanastan, Iraq etc. I'm pretty sure I've fucked up spelling but its 2:20 in the morning here so forgive me, but I think these kinds of organisations generally work out the risk factor and act accordingly, if they are not been allowed to go in, rather than choosing [/i[ not to go in, well, yeah its pretty obvious.


[Edited on Sep 05, 2005 9:18AM]

[Edited on Sep 05, 2005 9:22AM]

youre not making any sense. yes, there was a risk factor, but the gov. organisations dont appear to understand how long it takes someone without drinking water to die.



[Edited on Sep 05, 2005 by dirtyprude]

Perhaps they're scared they'll be liable if anything happens to the Red Cross? It might be less hassle for them to keep them out, rather than let them go in and have to deal with the consequences.

I think it's more that they will have more trouble getting people to leave if the red cross is inside giving aid and support.

fema isn't just turning away the red cross.

edited for more.

[Edited on Sep 05, 2005 1:13PM]

Ummm, if the Red Cross is providing support, there's no need for them to leave. They live there its their home and they're going to defend, restore, and reclaim it.

Well since the red cross can't do anything about the water and sewage that is going to be in the streets for an estimated 80 days. Since I believe you said the majority of the people left were poor and had nothing and no way to leave. With there being no way to restore any services we all think are nessasary. It doesn't seem unreasonable to seek to get everyone out you can.
Mind you I wasn't trying to aprove/disaprove of the idea, just pass it along.

My work has set up donations for the red cross. I personally donated 20 bucks to them.

Why are we being told to donate to the red cross to help the victims if they aren't allowed in?

so they can prepare for when they're finally let in. let's just hope that's soon.

edited for typo.

[Edited on Sep 05, 2005 by mrcrisp]

Because among other thing the red cross is helping the victums every where. They have a huge part in the effort in Houston, Miss, Alabama, ect.

Somewhere in the distance a FEMA director should be humming a Neil Young song...

why do I keep fucking up

argh, you got me, that too of course.

The sewer lines are intact, you can flush them with a bucket, and clearly there's no shortage of water to do that with. There's also no shortage of rainwater. As for water supply, that what the red cross is for. It doesn't have to come from a faucet. People all over Mississippi are living under these conditions, people all over Florida have lived like that after all their hurricanes. Its unpleasant, but its not impossible if you have food and water. If thats what people want to do, its their choice. I'd be back there in this second if they'd let me, and I've actually lived without electricity and running water before. I know what I'm in for.