Official Statement by Red Cross about Katrina and orders from Louisiana Emergency Officials

US Red Cross | 9-13-05 | US Red Cross

[Thanatos]

I sent an E-mail to the Red Cross requesting a clarification of what I am seeing and hearing through the main street media. Here is the request and answer:

My E-mail (Headers and my personal information removed on purpose for this posting):

questions: The Media is reporting that the reason the Red Cross is not in New Orleans is because FEMA told you NOT to enter the city as they want to evacuate the city and the presence of the Red Cross would make people not want to leave. If I understand it right, it was not the State or City Goverment telling you to stay out of New Orleans, but the Federal Government. Is this true??

--------------------------

From: Info [info@usa.redcross.org]
Sent: Sunday, September 11, 2005 11:04 AM
To: (My Real Name and e-mail address removed)
Subject: RE:'CaseID=532-200'Red Cross Inquiry

The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city. Access to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders. The Red Cross shares the nation’s anguish over the worsening situation inside the city. We will continue to work under the direction of the military, state and local authorities and to focus all our efforts on our lifesaving mission of feeding and sheltering.

We hope this information is useful.

[SouthernFreebird]

I believe that is the same that is posted on their website.

[digger48]

Am I wrong, but is not the Red Cross and the Salvation Army part of FEMA's early response? .

[oolatec]

They are private organizations.

[bnelson44]

The Homeland Security Department is a state agency. The Federal agency's name is the Department of Homeland Security.

[bnelson44]

"Am I wrong, but is not the Red Cross and the Salvation Army part of FEMA's early response? ."

They are in the plan. They are in the State plan as well, for whatever that is worth.

[pbear8]

Yes, by law they are.

[LikeLight]

The state Homeland Security Department had requested...

That's all you need to know.

[McGavin999]

What really makes me mad is all those jerks on TV ranting about no food and water should have been out interviewing the guy who gave these orders and finding out why. Instead, they ranted against the "government" and gave everyone the impression that FEMA wasn't there.

FEMA is a coordinating agency and Red Cross and Salvation Army are two of the agencies that function in conjunction with FEMA.

[frannie]

But neither the Red Cross or the Salvation Army can go into any disaster area until the local or state officials grant them permission.

I just had a thought that has been stated in different ways and usually sarcastic. Do you suppose by not keeping small private groups away they can come up with the question "Where is the Fed, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army who are supposed to be so competent?".

[hoosiermama]

BUMP

[George Smiley]

I can't seem to find it on their website.

Can you post a URL, please?

[malia]

re posted on their website---

I could not find it - do you have a link? thanks

[Ursus arctos horribilis]

FEMA directs them to where needed, unless denied access by the state as in LA NO by the local government blank slates.

MSM is in a dither about no FEMA in parts of MS. Private organizations were requested to provide relief if they could. Churches, SA, and RC are there providing food and temporary shelter. But their efforts are mostly ignored by the MSM, until they want to use them for beating up on FEMA.

[George Smiley]

Found it . . . here.

[George Smiley]

Hurricane Katrina: Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?

• Acess to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.

• The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.

• The Red Cross has been meeting the needs of thousands of New Orleans residents in some 90 shelters throughout the state of Louisiana and elsewhere since before landfall. All told, the Red Cross is today operating 149 shelters for almost 93,000 residents.

• The Red Cross shares the nation’s anguish over the worsening situation inside the city. We will continue to work under the direction of the military, state and local authorities and to focus all our efforts on our lifesaving mission of feeding and sheltering.

• The Red Cross does not conduct search and rescue operations. We are an organization of civilian volunteers and cannot get relief aid into any location until the local authorities say it is safe and provide us with security and access.

• The original plan was to evacuate all the residents of New Orleans to safe places outside the city. With the hurricane bearing down, the city government decided to open a shelter of last resort in the Superdome downtown. We applaud this decision and believe it saved a significant number of lives.

• As the remaining people are evacuated from New Orleans, the most appropriate role for the Red Cross is to provide a safe place for people to stay and to see that their emergency needs are met. We are fully staffed and equipped to handle these individuals once they are evacuated.

[digger48]

I thought they were coordinated by FEMA in a disaster situation. I believe the Prez said it, but I could be wrong.

[George Smiley]

I definitely know that Blanco has refused to put the LA National Guard under federal command and control; the same can be inferred for the State Homeland Security and Emergency Management agency.

[digger48]

I'd like to think that her pathetic reasoning is to not cede an inch to the "enemy", the Bush Administration, thinking it would be seen as weakness.

But I have to leave open the possibility that this decision was made by someone "higher up the chain" in the Party.

If not initially, definitely after the fact.

[malia]

Thank you -- I looked for it - but----