RSSGulfport Traffic – Another side effect of Hurricane Katriana
Traffic is always a headache, but when you have gone through a catastrophic hurricane and trying to get your life back together, the loss of an interstate can make like much more difficult.
Everyone trying to get through the Gulf Coast area are having to drive through the local roads, creating much more traffic and a great inconvenience.
GULFPORT – Our paved paradise has turned into a parking lot.
Hurricane Katrina destroyed several major traffic corridors across Harrison, Jackson and Hancock counties. Dump the thousands of vehicles that normally travel those routes to the remaining arteries and what have you got?
$2,000 Disaster Relief Cards work at Louis Vuitton Too
When the Red Cross and FEMA distributed the $2,000 Cash Cards to Refugees from the Hurricane Katrina disaster area, it was with the intentions of providing solace and funds for people to get their lives back together. However, these cards also have been used to buy Louis Vuitton purses from the self named store at the fancy Lenox Mall, in Atlanta, Georgia.
From The New York Daily News:
Profiteering ghouls have been using debit cards distributed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina – intended to buy essentials for evacuated families – in luxury-goods stores as far away as Atlanta.
“We’ve seen three of the cards,” said a senior employee of the Louis Vuitton store at the Lenox Square Mall in affluent Buckhead, who asked not to be named. “Two I’m certain have purchased; one actually asked if she could use it in the store. This has been since Saturday.”
The distinctive white cards were distributed by the Red Cross and the Federal Emergency Management Agency and carry a value of up to $2,000.
“It doesn’t say anything on the card other than alcohol, tobacco and firearms cannot be purchased with it,” the store employee told me. “There’s nothing legally that prevents us from taking it, unfortunately. Other than morally, it’s wrong.”
The source told me that the two women who had made purchases with the card each bought a signature monogrammed Louis Vuitton handbag in the $800 range.
While this is not surprising, it does make one wonder what the criteria used to give away the cards are, and what other rediculous stories will arise from this government cash transfer?
Hattip: Doug
FEMA Director Hurricane Relief Manager; You’re Outta there.
FEMA Director, Michael Brown has been relieved of his Katrina Duties. Who could not see this coming?
Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Michael Brown is being removed from his role managing Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, The Associated Press has learned.
Brown is being sent back to Washington from Baton Rouge, where he was the primary official overseeing the federal government’s response to the disaster, according to two federal officials who declined to be identified before the announcement.
According to the AP, FEMA director Michael Brown relieved of hurricane responsibilities.
Federal Emergency Management Agency director Michael Brown is being removed from his role managing hurricane Katrina relief efforts, The Associated Press has learned.
Brown is being sent back to Washington from Baton Rouge, where he was the primary official overseeing the federal government’s response to the disaster, according to two federal officials who declined to be identified before the announcement.
Wizbang seems to agree with the decision made, “FEMA Idiot Relieved of Duties (Thank God)”. We will second that motion.
Michelle Malkin; “accountability over cronyism in a time of crisis.” Agreed.
Update: According to KYW News Radio 1060; “Brown will be replaced by Coast Guard vice admiral Thad Allen, who was overseeing New Orleans relief and rescue efforts”.
As posted above an now confirmed by AP, Michael Brown will be replaced by Coast Guard vice admiral Thad Allen.
He will be replaced by Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen, who was overseeing New Orleans relief and rescue efforts, Chertoff said.
Also from the AP: Embattled Brown Taken Off Katrina Duty.
“Michael Brown has done everything he possibly could to coordinate the federal response to this unprecedented challenge,” Chertoff told reporters in Baton Rouge, La. Chertoff sidestepped a question on whether the move was the first step toward Brown’s leaving FEMA.
But a source close to Brown, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the FEMA director had been considering leaving after the hurricane season ended in November and that Friday’s action virtually assures his departure.
From CNN, “Chertoff would not allow Brown to answer a reporter’s question.”
Chertoff would not allow Brown to answer a reporter’s question as to whether this was the first step in Brown’s resignation. He also did not respond to a question regarding Time Magazine’s report that Brown’s resume contained inaccuracies. FEMA issued a statement calling the article “misleading.”
Hurricane Ophelia – Missed Land the First Time
Now coming back for more?
Lets hope not.
Update: CNN, Ophelia could loop back.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Florida (AP) — Tropical Storm Ophelia moved away from Florida’s northeast coast Friday, but that may not be the end of it for the peninsula, Georgia or the Carolinas.
Though Ophelia’s top sustained winds had dropped to 65 mph (105 kph), forecasters warned that it is expected to turn toward land as a hurricane next week. It is expected to return to hurricane strength — 74 mph (119 kph) sustained winds — by late Friday.
“By no means should people take this short-term motion as being let off the hook here,” National Hurricane Center meteorologist Jamie Rhome said. “I don’t want people to say, ‘Whew this one’s going out to sea.’ There’s still a possibility that it could loop back.”
Remove All Remaining Residents; Won’t This Play Well On TV?
According to the NY Times, the police in New Orleans vow to remove all the remaining residents. I can only imagine how this will play out and be covered by the MSM? For all of those people that complained that these people were not properly evacuated, we will hear the same people complaining that the residents are being forced from their homes.
As a handful of pumps toiled to drain the water out of a sprawling city today, the New Orleans police said they would force the 10,000 or so residents left in the city to leave and Louisiana officials warned of long-term damage to the area’s environment.
The police superintendent, P. Edwin Compass III, said police officers and other rescue workers going door to door would do all they could to remove every resident still in the city of nearly half a million, to protect them from lawlessness, get them to shelters and make sure children are fed.
