'A scene of anarchy'

CNN ^ | Sept 1, 2005 | CNN's Chris Lawrence in New Orleans, Louisiana

[Esther Ruth]

'A scene of anarchy'

CNN's Chris Lawrence in New Orleans, Louisiana

It's hard to believe this is New Orleans.

We spent the last few hours at the New Orleans Convention Center. There are thousands of people lying in the street.

We saw mothers holding babies, some of them just three, four and five months old, living in horrible conditions. Diapers littered the ground. Feces were on the ground. Sewage was spilled all around.

These people are being forced to live like animals. When you look at the mothers, your heart just breaks.

Some of the images we have gathered are very, very graphic.

[edcoil]

It would be a long walk but I have already donated to help.

People sometimes just need to be told what to do and some one needs to get them to get up, follow the sun and get as far as you can, people are coming to help and you can meet up with them and help them come back if you can.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Be fair. He's helping to get information and images out, that will motivate millions of people to help. It's the most helpful thing he can do. I'm sure he's not enjoying being in that hellhole.

[dfwgator]

Just sitting there like a load will not work. Able bodied people should help others and pull together.

That's what really gets me. These people should be thanking their lucky stars that they are alive, and help each other out, instead of complaining and sitting doing nothing.

[HostileTerritory]

In the case of the Superdome, they're being held back by barricades and armed soldiers. The area is also still flooded. You won't get very far in 95-degree heat without drinking water and when some of the water is up to your waist. The area is devastated for miles around.

I think it's worth keeping in mind that if you think there's an easy solution, but people are too stupid to take it, that some of your assumptions are faulty. People are not naturally inclined to suffer and die. They don't want to be there.

[cripplecreek]

"It would be a long walk but I have already donated to help."


People do need to help each other. Unfortunately I don't think most urbanites know how to survive let alone care for each other.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Let's see you do that, in scorching weather, when you've had little or no food or safe drinking water for 3 days. When you have no way of finding out which route(s) out might be passable (official report only one road passable out of the area), and with poisonous snakes all over the place. Through areas where armed looters are terrorizing everyone. And carrying an infant or toddler who already has diarrhea from drinking the floodwater. Or abandoning a barely conscious elderly relative who can't walk and who you can't carry. Get a clue, please.

[Doogle]

you got it ...correct amundo...right on right on right on...but no one dares admit it....


Doogle

[Hatteras]

People ride out of town on a highway in a postal vehicle after
Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans, Louisiana.
Police chased armed gangs roaming the darkened streets
of New Orleans where a climate of fear increased after
two days of looting. (AFP/Getty Images/Mario Tama)

.

.

People who used a mail truck to escape the flooded areas
of New Orleans East are forced to lie on the highway by
Texas game wardens August 31, 2005. The people were freed
but forced to continue on foot. REUTERS/Rick Wilking

heh, heh, heh...

[justche]

isn't there only one bridge out of the city right now? (I could be wrong on that) where do you go? How do you walk with babies for that long, with no food or water? You pass through the looters, and might possibly get shot at. I can't imagine the helplessness there.

[Windsong]

All of these people remind me of Harry Truman - the old guy that refused to evacuate when Mt. St. Helens was threatening to blow.

I remember reading somewhere that the reason he wanted to stay was that he had been "faithful" to God his entire life and wanted to go out of life by some great natural use of God's power..or some other such nonsense. Just a fancy way of killing yourself, IMHO (which God forbids)

[Beth528]

Blame game again..It is time to keep the media away from New Orleans..I saw no one being treated like an animal and I can tell you I have watched this since it started..Put these people to work give them something to do..Women can watch the kids and cook while the able bodied men (and women )help with the rescues and things that need to be done.I do hope when these people get to the astro dome that they work for their keep..It will keep their minds off of a lot if they are kept busy..You can call me mean I do not care..I do know when I am upset I start cleaning and keep myself busy..What should happen is the older people and children should be taken care of..Which I think s what is happening..And the women and men should do the taking care of..I do hope they do not lay on their a$$ and let people wait on them for a few months....

[Esther Ruth]

Reports of: Charity Hospital now coming under "Sniper Fire"!

[GovernmentShrinker]

There are virtually no communications operating in New Orleans. One radio station has managed to get back on the air, but most people don't have access to a working radio. Just how would you recommend that they plot a passable course out of there? Last I read, officials were saying there's only one passable road by which to transport supplies and evacuees in and out of the city. And that road is not necessarily accessible from all parts of the city, even for people who know which road it is.

[Windsong]

"Has anyone told these peopel to get off their butts and walk? Walk out of the city, get away and into civilization. What is wrong with these people just sitting there.

The late comedian (former preacher) Sam Kinison once said about the starving people in Africa "What is WRONG with you people?! Stop living in deserts where there is no food! Move where the food is! Arghhhhh!!"

[Pessimist]

Is it just me, or is something seriously screwed up here?

If news guys can get in and out Ok, why cant at least drinking water and food be delivered? (Yes, even if they DO shoot at the choppers.)

As for the "sleeping on the streets", etc... Big deal. Its warm out, and they oughta be used to the heat by now.

And as for the "people are starting to die": ?? What? How many sick and elderly can their be? For others, WTF? You've had to live outside for a few days, so its literally killing you? What's up w/ that?

[Gefreiter]

Not sure what was stopping them from hitting the road a week ago.

[Pessimist]

"People sometimes just need to be told what to do.."

Agreed. And if that has not been done amply by now by disaster workers, then what good are those people?

[edcoil]

By getting a clue you mean it is better to sit and do nothing?

You seem to be the one needing a clue.

[mlc9852]

Would you just sit there for 3 or 4 days waiting? You, of all people, would find your way out I would think. I would have been walking towards civilization. Just staying there is obviously not the smart thing to do under these dire circumstances.

[Pessimist]

"I think it's worth keeping in mind that if you think there's an easy solution, but people are too stupid to take it, that some of your assumptions are faulty"

Agreed. So what is the actual situation? Is there really some reason news people can get in and out, but nobody can bring in food or water or take anybody out?

Hard to believe. No?