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Institute for Crisis, Disaster, and Risk Management Crisis and Emergency Management Newsletter Website |
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October
2005
Volume
9 - Number 1 |
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Katrina
Timeline Sept 1 The following items are from: http://www.thinkprogress.org/katrina-timeline
(Accessed Sep 21, 2005)
7AM CDT — BUSH CLAIMS NO ONE EXPECTED LEVEES TO BREAK: “I don’t think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees.” [Washington Post] CONDOLEEZZA RICE VISITS U.S. OPEN: “Rice, [in New York] on three days’ vacation to shop and see the U.S. Open, hitting some balls with retired champ Monica Seles at the Indoor Tennis Club at Grand Central.” [New York Post] STILL NO COMMAND AND CONTROL ESTABLISHED: Terry Ebbert, New Orleans Homeland Security Director: “This is a national emergency. This is a national disgrace. FEMA has been here three days, yet there is no command and control. We can send massive amounts of aid to tsunami victims, but we can’t bail out the city of New Orleans.” [Fox News] 2PM CDT — MAYOR NAGIN ISSUES “DESPERATE SOS” TO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: “This is a desperate SOS. Right now we are out of resources at the convention centre and don’t anticipate enough buses. We need buses. Currently the convention centre is unsanitary and unsafe and we’re running out of supplies.” [Guardian, 9/2/05] 2PM CDT — MICHAEL BROWN CLAIMS NOT TO HAVE HEARD OF REPORTS OF VIOLENCE: “I’ve had no reports of unrest, if the connotation of the word unrest means that people are beginning to riot, or you know, they’re banging on walls and screaming and hollering or burning tires or whatever. I’ve had no reports of that.” [CNN] NEW ORLEANS “DESCEND[S] INTO ANARCHY”: “Storm victims were raped and beaten, fights and fires broke out, corpses lay out in the open, and rescue helicopters and law enforcement officers were shot at as flooded-out New Orleans descended into anarchy Thursday. ‘This is a desperate SOS,’ the mayor said.” [AP] CONDOLEEZZA RICE GOES SHOE SHOPPING: “Just moments ago at the Ferragamo on 5th Avenue, Condoleeza Rice was seen spending several thousands of dollars on some nice, new shoes (we’ve confirmed this, so her new heels will surely get coverage from the WaPo’s Robin Givhan). A fellow shopper, unable to fathom the absurdity of Rice’s timing, went up to the Secretary and reportedly shouted, ‘How dare you shop for shoes while thousands are dying and homeless!’” [Gawker] The following items are from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Hurricane_Katrina#Thursday.2C_September_1 (Accessed Sep 21, 2005) A 50 member Canadian search-and-rescue team from Vancouver reached a flooded New Orleans suburb to help save trapped residents (the Canadians arrive 5 days before the U.S. military does according to Louisiana State Senator Walter Boasso. National Guardsmen accompanied by buses (475 in all) and supply trucks arrived at the Superdome. A day after the National Guard out of Camp Beauregard began delivering food, water and ice in New Orleans, the national president of the American Red Cross, Marsha Evans, requests to pass out food and water to those taking shelter at the Superdome. The Red Cross is rebuffed by state officials because of concerns over logistical difficulties. The state officials did not want to provide residents an incentive to stay inside the city during an evacuation. Knight Ridder Newspapers reports “few buses” arrived at Superdome, and about 5,000 refugees made it by bus to Houston’s Astrodome. The shelter in Houston’s Astrodome is ruled full and could not accept any more people. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announces that 4,200 National Guard troops trained as military police will be deployed to New Orleans over the next three days. Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco requests the mobilization of 40,000 National Guard troops. California swift water rescue crew units each rescue hundreds in Orleans and Jefferson parishes. FEMA halts California swift water rescue crews from conducting further rescues, citing safety concerns. DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff is informed by NPR’s Robert Siegel during an interview on All Things Considered that 2000 people are at the New Orleans Convention Center with no food or water. Chertoff has no knowledge of the situation, and initially dismisses it as a rumor: “I have not heard a report of thousands of people in the Convention Center who don’t have food and water.” Ted Koppel on ABC News Nightline interviews FEMA Director Brown who declares that FEMA only became aware of crisis at the Convention Center on this date. Koppel questions how FEMA could not have known that 1,000s were without food, water, or toilets for days. Brown later says he knew of it 24 hours earlier. Sealing of 17th Street Canal from lake with sheet pilings begins, while closing breach continues. The New Orleans suburb of Gretna seals the Crescent City Connection bridge across the Mississippi, turning back fleeing flood victims at gunpoint. The following items are from: http://www.brookings.edu/fp/projects/homeland/katrinatimeline.pdf (Accessed Sep 21, 2005) Military increases National Guard deployment to 30,000. Violence, carjacking, looting continues. Military helicopters shot at while evacuating residents. FEMA water rescue operations suspended because of gunfire. Nagin issues a “desperate SOS” for more buses. President Bush appoints George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton to fundraise for hurricane victims. Halliburton awarded Navy contract for storm cleanup. Sandbags arrive for levees. Superdome and Convention Center now housing up to 45,000 refugees. Senators return from recess to begin work on emergency aid bill. |