Military arriving in downtown New Orleans

[Xander67]

At long last.... about 1,000 troups have began moving into the city to restore order...
they are armed and have orders to point weapons down at this point...

[Felidae]

Finally!

Better late than never, I guess...

[Flar's Freyja]

CNN is saying that a general is directing them from a cell phone!

They are concerned about the desperate crowds rushing them and causing problems. Troops are armed. The general has told them to point their weapons down because "this is not Iraq."

[Gwenhwyfar]

just getting there now, thats rediculas.

[Flar's Freyja]

just getting there now, thats rediculas.

I have been expecting my son to call any day and tell me he's got orders to go. So far, I don't think that any of his unit has been deployed for this effort.

[Xander67]

Im just happy that they are there at this point...

It is something to see, they are treating it like a war zone with all the equipt
Im watching it now... they have an estimated 40,000 troups in the area so far between the National guard and 1st army..

[DixieWitch]

Finally? People have been bitching and complaining on tv all week. It's not their fault it's just getting in there. It's not like it takes an hour to pack everything up and get it to where it needs to go. It all takes time. That and the fact that there are IDIOTS over there shooting at the RESCUE help. Like my hubby said...these people want help, but it makes you not want to help those who are doing stupid crap like that.

[Xander67]

just getting there now, thats rediculas.

they have been flying supplies in to the main distribution center and loading them on those trucks and then organizeing thier plan of action in the last 24-36 hours... that is why the delay TIME and Logistics...

sure, they had some sort of plan in advance, but those plans had to be modified to accomidate available locations with dry land and safety concerns..

the General has said from the outset that this would take time to orgainize as this is largest military response to a natural disaster this country has ever undertaken..

they are arriving now, help is there, when you consider all the logistics involved in this type of deployment, 36 hours is pretty quick ....

[Xander67]

I have been expecting my son to call any day and tell me he's got orders to go. So far, I don't think that any of his unit has been deployed for this effort.

im sure his unit is maybe helping from Point A to get the aid to Point B

Point B being the Gulf? I drove by the air base this morning and it was buzzing with activity
the National guard has set up collection sites around my area where people could drop off Cases of bottled water... soon as my unemp check gets here today im headed to CVS to buy a few cases of water to donate...
they will be loading the C130's up headed for Mississippi and Louisiana between today and tomorrow...

[Felidae]

I'm not attacking the military or it's men. I realize that orders have to be received before any movement can be made.

But I'm sure that many others have noted that these horrific images were brought to us by organizations who were able to mobilize quickly, by men like Tony Zumbado, a photojounalist, who somehow went in and got out alive, snipers or not.

The images I have seen last night and today have ripped my heart. Sitting here in Birmingham and watching this play out has made this week seem like it's lasted 30 years. I cannot imagine how those confined at the Convention Center must be feeling.

At this point I just feel like the order was... a little slow in coming down. It was starting to look like any sort of recovery effort would be initiated by the private sector.

[Gwenhwyfar]

Im not attacking anyone in paticular, Im not saying its any one organizations fault, but didnt they have like 3 days warning for this hurricane? Youd think being in USA and all, things would be moving faster.

[Xander67]

I was in tears last night ..

Mayor was really upset (of NOLA)
He must have been watching squirrely before he gave his news interview...

"Get the #$@# down here and help, Stop having those @#$#@ news conferences"

I was cheering him on.

[Gwenhwyfar]

I was in tears last night ..

Mayor was really upset (of NOLA)
He must have been watching squirrely before he gave his news interview...

"Get the #$@# down here and help, Stop having those @#$#@ news conferences"

I was cheering him on.

ya, I saw that. He is so right.

[enchancea]

Its about time