[BenLurkin]

"We're appalled," said Jill Johnson, 53, of Saskatoon. "This city is built on tourism and we're their last priority."

Jill, respectfully ma'am -- its (American) citizens are the city's first priority.

[MarMema]

Sad....these poor people.

[battlegearboat]

The Roaming Knome has some 'splainin' to do.

[djsunzi]

how can the buses be taken away from the hotels? they're also shipping people out of New Orleans... what difference does it make? someone please explain rationale of FEMA... :(

[coconutt2000]

Just to note that we still don't know all the facts.

It is sad what happened to these people. They should've been allowed the buses they'd hired on the condition that they carry extra people out with them.

[Mo1]

They trudged for blocks to walk over a bridge, but officers wouldn't let them cross - and fired a few warning shots over their heads to convince them.

This part sounds fishy to me

Why would they shot warning shoots over their heads?

[Experiment 6-2-6]

police told the guests to go to the nearby convention center.

Instead, the tourists - blah blah - tried to cross a huge bridge blocks away.

Not that I would find myself in the same spot, but.

Tourists had the means to get out. They didn't. Then when told to go somewhere, they assumed they didn't have to, and went somewhere else.

My sympathy isn't the greatest, and it makes me wonder about the cops and the fact when you have tens of thousands of people to feed and house, why someone thinks they are more important than others.

But then, I guess no one thought what a force five hurricane would do.. They were turned back when another group trying to cross began to threaten the officers, said Whit Herndon, 32, of Jonesboro, Ark.

[An.American.Expatriate]

Tourists and hotel managers alike condemned government officials for ignoring them.

You should have left when you were told to leave... now you can just wait like everybody else. You had money and means so I have little sympathy for you staying when a MANDATORY EVACUATION is called! Idiots.

[NRA2BFree]

"We're appalled," said Jill Johnson, 53, of Saskatoon. "This city is built on tourism and we're their last priority."

With all due respect, Ma'am. It's going to be a very long time before they're going to be able to have any tourism anyway, so that's not a good selling point at this time.

Tonight the squeaky wheel gets the oil. :o)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I wonder, how many books will be written about this tragedy?

[Paleo Conservative]

Laissez les bon temp roulez!

[Truthsayer20]

Why didn't these people before the storm hit?

[Pro-Bush]

The sooner they realize it, the better off they'll be.

[truemiester]

Unfortunate, but true: Tourist dont vote in our elections. Hence their last place standing.

[redder]

Laura Brown, a Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman in Washington, said she had no such report.

"We're controlling every single aircraft in that airspace and none of them reported being fired on," she said, adding that the FAA was in contact with the military as well as civilian aircraft.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1087205


Please pass on this information and add some fact to this rumor.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

You know, I understand some of the locals not leaving. But if my hotel was in the path of a natural disaster I would beat feet for home.

[proudofthesouth]

Obviously these people have never heard of checking the weather. Here's a piece of advice. If a hurricane is in the Gulf - DON'T TAKE YOUR VACATION THERE!

[kx9088]

It's like "Judgement Night" but, like, for real.

[Tribune7]

They trudged for blocks to walk over a bridge, but officers wouldn't let them cross - and fired a few warning shots over their heads to convince them.

OK, why wouldn't the cops let the cross? I thought the idea was to evacuate the city?

[Mears]

bfl