When Jen and I were reading stories of the rescue efforts in the post-hurricane New Orleans, one of the things that repeatedly surfaced were stories of people who were told to go to place "X" and were then forgotten about. It seems FEMA brought eager people but it brought zero computer skills or databases or communications or radio dispatching, or, or, or, or...
The people we read about over the last few days had been found thirsty, hungry, exhausted and pissed off. This evening, I just read about 45 people who would love to fit into that category.
Netscape News/CNN has this story:
45 Bodies Found at New Orleans HospitalAnd we must not forget that the original responsibility to evacuate lay with the Mayor and the Governor. Here is the link to the New Orleans Disaster Preparedness website which outlines the responsibility very clearly. Scroll down a little more than half way until you hit the line that says:
Forty-five bodies have been found at a hospital that was abandoned more than a week ago after it was surrounded by floodwaters unleashed by Hurricane Katrina, a state health official said Monday.
The bodies were located Sunday at Memorial Medical Center, said Bob Johannesen, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Hospitals. Johannesen said the bodies were those of patients, but he had no other information.
Dr. Jeffrey Kochan, a Philadelphia radiologist volunteering in New Orleans, said the team that recovered the bodies told him late Sunday it found 36 floating on the first floor.
"That's what they were talking about last night," Kochan said. "These guys were just venting. They need to talk. They're seeing things no human being should have to see."
Police Chief Eddie Compass declined to answer questions Monday about the discovery, including whether police received any calls for assistance from inside Memorial Medical Center after the hospital was evacuated.
"I can't say nothing," Compass said, referring a reporter to a spokeswoman for Mayor C. Ray Nagin who did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
III. EVACUATION ORDEREmphases mine. Major hat tip to Rob at Gutrumbles for the link to this story.
A. Authority
As established by the City of New Orleans Charter, the government has jurisdiction and responsibility in disaster response. City government shall coordinate its efforts through the Office of Emergency Preparedness
The authority to order the evacuation of residents threatened by an approaching hurricane is conferred to the Governor by Louisiana Statute. The Governor is granted the power to direct and compel the evacuation of all or part of the population from a stricken or threatened area within the State, if he deems this action necessary for the preservation of life or other disaster mitigation, response or recovery. The same power to order an evacuation conferred upon the Governor is also delegated to each political subdivision of the State by Executive Order. This authority empowers the chief elected official of New Orleans, the Mayor of New Orleans, to order the evacuation of the parish residents threatened by an approaching hurricane.
B. Issuance of Evacuation Orders
The person responsible for recognition of hurricane related preparation needs and for the issuance of an evacuation order is the Mayor of the City of New Orleans. Concerning preparation needs and the issuance of an evacuation order, The Office of Emergency Preparedness should keep the Mayor advised.
