Posted on 09/02/2005 7:45:14 AM PDT by Arkie2
The nation's airlines have been mobilized to fly up to 25,000 refugees out of New Orleans beginning today, under an emergency plan put into effect for the first time by the Department of Homeland Security.
Under the department's national response plan, 15 airlines, including 10 major commercial carriers, will transport up to 25,000 refugees from Louis Armstrong Airport outside New Orleans to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, airlines taking part in the plan said this morning.
The airlines are volunteering their aircraft and crew for the program, which is scheduled to begin at noon and run until this evening. The airlifts also will take place tomorrow and Sunday, the airlines said.
The Transportation Security Administration will secure the airport, according to a memo sent to the airlines. But airlines are being told to "bring everyone and everything you need," the memo said. They were told the status of jet fuel at the airport is "unclear" while power is intermittent.
The airlines have been asked to provide narrow-bodied planes, like Boeing 737 and Airbus A-320 models. The T.S.A. will screen passengers, as it normally does at airports, and it will create passenger lists for the airlines.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
hope they are smart enough to remove the booze or that will be looted as well.
I really, really wish they wouldn't transport so many people to so few places. The strain on local infrastructure is going to to immense, and that is a recipe for further disaster.
Wait a minute! I heard the NO mayor Nagen say George Bush and the federal government isn't doing any thing.
Good news. Maybe some recruits in the bunch!
I saw some moron on CNN a while ago, Miles O'Brien I think, going after a military rep about why people weren't being flown out faster, why they couldn't go out on military as opposed to civilian planes. When the militaty rep could get a word in egdewise, he patiently explained to the presstitute why they were doing what they were doing. That they were saving the military planes, which are used for cargo, for folks on stretchers or in wheelchairs or the like. And that the civilian transpo was being used for the ambulatory. That shut up O'Brien. The look on his face was priceless.
I never realized they had so many first class seats available.
Is there any word where they are going to fly them to? I agree, they need to spread them out more. Just heard that we are going to get at least 5,000 folks here in Austin. I think some states further away need to take folks in also.
That's awfully generous; good for them.
Send them all to Detroit.
That's true, but the other side of the coin is that the more refugee receiving stations you put up, the more people you need to man them, the more food service providers you have to coordinate, lodging, medical...there is unfortunately no easy solution. I think they are going to put a lot of these people at the Brooks City Base, ironically just closed by BRAC.
Don't anticipate these folks ever leaving. I doubt seriously that they will want to return unless the Feds hand them $20k in cash. And FEMA ain't that stupid. After they get their $2k checks...and run off to party in Austin...they will start to ask for permanent lodging. Watch...its a long drawn out process and someone in town will be stupid enough to offer low-rent housing for them. The "Orlean-nites" will become like gypsies...plaguing half the towns in Texas.
Going to Carraba's to pony up some cash in a few minutes. I'd rather the $ go to Austin refugees.
I was thinking the same thing, but I can't verbalize my logic here.
Watch Henry Cisneros and his K.B. Homes built a bunch of shabby homes for the permanent relocation of these people.
I lived north of Detroit for seven years. I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy....okay, on the terrorists it would be okay.
They said the same thing about Bush in the classroom when he was told of the attacks. Sat there for a few minutes and didn't tell everyone what he knew. Didn't immediately announce a response plan.
Same old cheese and whine.
The ones they interviewed yesterday were asking for work. I don't mind if they stay. They aren't all welfare libs.
Pronto - Act like this is a war to be won quickly or lost.
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