Jason Robideaux Attorney At Law
Louisiana: Citizen Flotilla Turned Back
Tue Sep 13, 2005 01:12
64.140.158.109
Citizen Flotilla Turned Back By Louisiana Department Of Wildlife & Fisheries
By Elisabeth Bumiller and Adam Nagourney
NY Times
9-5-5
My name is Jason Robideaux, I am an attorney from Lafayette Louisiana and have dealt with all of the various law enforcement agencies in Louisiana during the past 18 years. Although I have had a positive relationship with law enforcement personnel throughout the State for many years, I regretfully have a story to share that will shake your head in disbelief about the La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries.
A group of approximately 1,000 citizens pulling 500 boats left the Acadiana Mall in Lafayette this morning (Weds.) and headed to New Orleans with a police escort from the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Department.
The "flotillia" of trucks pulling boats stretched over five miles. This citizen rescue group was organized by La. State Senator, Gautreaux from Vermilion Parish.
The group was comprised of experienced boaters, licensed fishermen and hunters, people who have spent their entire adult life and teenage years on the waterways of Louisiana.
The State Police waved the flotillia of trucks/boats through the barricades in LaPlace and we sped into New Orleans via I-10 until past the airport and near the Clearview exit. At that time we were stopped by agents of the La. Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries. A young DWF agent strolled through the boats and told approximately half of the citizens that their boats were "too large" because the water had "dropped during the night" and that they should turn around and go home.
We were pulling a large (24ft) shallow draft aluminum boat that can safely carry 12 passengers and had ramp access which would allow the elderly and infirm to have easier access to the boat. We politely informed the DWF agent that the local and national media had consistently reported that the water level had "risen" during the night which contradicted his statement to us that the water "was dropping" and no boat over 16ft. in length would be allowed to participate in rescue operations.
We then specifically asked the DWF agent that we (and other citizens in the flotillia) be allowed to go to the hospitals and help evacuate the sick and the doctors and nurses stranded there. We offered to bring these people back to Lafayette, in our own vehicles, in order to ensure that they received proper and prompt medical care.
The DWF agent did not want to hear this and ordered us home. We complied with the DWF agents orders, turned around and headed back to Lafayette along with half of the flotillia. However, two of my friends were pulling my other boat, a smaller 15ft alumaweld with a 25 hp. The DWF agents let them through to proceed to the rescue operation launch site.
My two friends were allowed to drive to the launch site where the La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries were launching their rescue operations (via boat).
They reported to me that there were over 200 DWF agents just standing around and doing nothing. My friends were kept there for approximately 3 hours.
During that time they observed a large number of DWF agents doing nothing. After three hours had passed they were told that they were not needed and should go home. They complied with the DWFs orders and turned around and went home to Lafayette.
Watching CNN tonight, there was a telephone interview with a Nurse trapped in Charity Hospital in New Orleans. She said that there were over 1,000 people trapped inside of the hospital and that the doctors and nurses had zero medical supplies, no diesel to run the generators and that only three people had been rescued from the hospital since the Hurricane hit! I cant come up with one logical reason why the DWF sent this large group of 500 boats/1000 men home when we surely could have rescued most, if not all, of the people trapped in Charity Hospital. Further, we had the means to immediately transport these people to hospitals in Southwest Louisiana.
On Tuesday afternoon, August 30, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee asked for all citizens with boats to come to the aid of Jefferson Parish. A short time later Dwight Landreneau, the head of the La. Depart. of Wildlife and Fisheries, got on television and remarked that his agency had things under control and citizen help was not needed.
Apparently, Sheriff Lee did not agree with that assessment and had one of his deputies provide the Lafayette flotillia with an escort into Jefferson Parish.
Sheriff Lee and Senator Gautreaux - 1000 of Louisianas citizens responded to your pleas for help. We were prevented from helping by Dwight Landreneaus agency, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
When I learned that Charity Hospital has not been evacuated and that no one has been there to attempt a rescue, I became angry.
The "turf-marking" by some minor state agency should never take priority over the lives of citizens!
Signed, Bewildered and Frustrated,
Jason Robideaux Attorney At Law
1005 Lafayette Street Lafayette, La.
70501 (337) 291-9444 office
http://www.thedeadpelican.com/lawyer.htm
====================================
"YOU'RE EITHER WITH US OR AGAINST US" - Bush after 9/11
When asked by a reporter why Bush was not ordering immediate emergency aid for
the suffering residents of New Orleans, a Bush White House official arrogantly barked out,
"After all, they did not vote for us."
Article at HURRICANE KATRINA---WHO BENEFITS
http://www.cloakanddagger.de/media/S_284_S/Overthrow%20series/OVERTHROW%20PART%2080.htm
PREFACE NOTE:
This is one of many articles I've seen regarding the real disaster behind the New Orleans disaster. Since it's from the NY Times, this one can't be dismissed as Internet disinfo.
.
Many people have watched the Bush administration create a massive Homeland Security bureaucracy following 9-11 and the mask has finally come off the bureaucrats running the show. Other good examples are all over the Net.
.
The lock-step "in-the box" thinking of command-and-control hierarchies -- is diametrically opposite to the holy spirit of "love-in-action" as needed in any emergency. Heaven knows that this is the essence of THE LEGACY PROJECT for checking and balancing the love of power via the power of love... represented by the best interests of, by and for ALL people.
.
Christopher Rudy safetrek@mcn.net
==================
POSTED AT: http://www.apfn.org/APFN/KATRINA.HTM
NorthCom Lt. Commander Sean Kelly explained the military's efforts which, in addition to military support, include distribution of medical supplies, search and rescue operations, distributing food and water, and meeting transportation needs. (Note: the server hosting the video seems to be overwhelmed. This is a direct .mpg link, which is also slow right now, but keep trying.)
When the BBC noted the criticism of the government's slow response, Lt. Commander Kelly explained that NorthCom was ready to go well in advance of Katrina making landfall, but suggested the president didn't make the right call at the right time.
"Northcom started planning before the storm even hit. We were ready when it hit Florida, because, as you remember, it hit the bottom part of Florida, and then we were planning once it was pointed towards the Gulf Coast.
"So, what we did, we activated what we call 'defense coordinating officers' to work with the states to say, 'OK, what do you think you will need?' And we set up staging bases that could be started.
"We had the USS Bataan sailing almost behind the hurricane so once the hurricane made landfall, its search and rescue helicopters could be available almost immediately So, we had things ready.
"The only caveat is: we have to wait until the president authorizes us to do so. The laws of the United States say that the military can't just act in this fashion; we have to wait for the president to give us permission."
Apparently, that permission could have been given right away, but it wasn't. Bush was on vacation, sharing some cake with John McCain, and pretending to play some guitar.
This seems like it could be a fairly big deal. There's been some frustration on the part of military officials about bureaucracy and FEMA's ineffectiveness, but Kelly's remarks to the BCC sounded like a fairly direct challenge to the president's leadership — they wanted to leap into action, but the White House never made the call.
Considering that there are already questions about who was in charge last week, can someone please ask the White House who first gave the order to NorthCom and when?
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/wp-print.php?p=5167
By Elisabeth Bumiller and Adam Nagourney
NY Times
9-5-5
My name is Jason Robideaux, I am an attorney from Lafayette Louisiana and have dealt with all of the various law enforcement agencies in Louisiana during the past 18 years. Although I have had a positive relationship with law enforcement personnel throughout the State for many years, I regretfully have a story to share that will shake your head in disbelief about the La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries.
A group of approximately 1,000 citizens pulling 500 boats left the Acadiana Mall in Lafayette this morning (Weds.) and headed to New Orleans with a police escort from the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Department.
The "flotillia" of trucks pulling boats stretched over five miles. This citizen rescue group was organized by La. State Senator, Gautreaux from Vermilion Parish.
The group was comprised of experienced boaters, licensed fishermen and hunters, people who have spent their entire adult life and teenage years on the waterways of Louisiana.
The State Police waved the flotillia of trucks/boats through the barricades in LaPlace and we sped into New Orleans via I-10 until past the airport and near the Clearview exit. At that time we were stopped by agents of the La. Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries. A young DWF agent strolled through the boats and told approximately half of the citizens that their boats were "too large" because the water had "dropped during the night" and that they should turn around and go home.
We were pulling a large (24ft) shallow draft aluminum boat that can safely carry 12 passengers and had ramp access which would allow the elderly and infirm to have easier access to the boat. We politely informed the DWF agent that the local and national media had consistently reported that the water level had "risen" during the night which contradicted his statement to us that the water "was dropping" and no boat over 16ft. in length would be allowed to participate in rescue operations.
We then specifically asked the DWF agent that we (and other citizens in the flotillia) be allowed to go to the hospitals and help evacuate the sick and the doctors and nurses stranded there. We offered to bring these people back to Lafayette, in our own vehicles, in order to ensure that they received proper and prompt medical care.
The DWF agent did not want to hear this and ordered us home. We complied with the DWF agents orders, turned around and headed back to Lafayette along with half of the flotillia. However, two of my friends were pulling my other boat, a smaller 15ft alumaweld with a 25 hp. The DWF agents let them through to proceed to the rescue operation launch site.
My two friends were allowed to drive to the launch site where the La. Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries were launching their rescue operations (via boat).
They reported to me that there were over 200 DWF agents just standing around and doing nothing. My friends were kept there for approximately 3 hours.
During that time they observed a large number of DWF agents doing nothing. After three hours had passed they were told that they were not needed and should go home. They complied with the DWFs orders and turned around and went home to Lafayette.
Watching CNN tonight, there was a telephone interview with a Nurse trapped in Charity Hospital in New Orleans. She said that there were over 1,000 people trapped inside of the hospital and that the doctors and nurses had zero medical supplies, no diesel to run the generators and that only three people had been rescued from the hospital since the Hurricane hit! I cant come up with one logical reason why the DWF sent this large group of 500 boats/1000 men home when we surely could have rescued most, if not all, of the people trapped in Charity Hospital. Further, we had the means to immediately transport these people to hospitals in Southwest Louisiana.
On Tuesday afternoon, August 30, Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee asked for all citizens with boats to come to the aid of Jefferson Parish. A short time later Dwight Landreneau, the head of the La. Depart. of Wildlife and Fisheries, got on television and remarked that his agency had things under control and citizen help was not needed.
Apparently, Sheriff Lee did not agree with that assessment and had one of his deputies provide the Lafayette flotillia with an escort into Jefferson Parish.
Sheriff Lee and Senator Gautreaux - 1000 of Louisianas citizens responded to your pleas for help. We were prevented from helping by Dwight Landreneaus agency, the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
When I learned that Charity Hospital has not been evacuated and that no one has been there to attempt a rescue, I became angry.
The "turf-marking" by some minor state agency should never take priority over the lives of citizens!
Signed, Bewildered and Frustrated,
Jason Robideaux Attorney At Law
1005 Lafayette Street Lafayette, La.
70501 (337) 291-9444 office
http://www.thedeadpelican.com/lawyer.htm
====================================
"YOU'RE EITHER WITH US OR AGAINST US" - Bush after 9/11
When asked by a reporter why Bush was not ordering immediate emergency aid for
the suffering residents of New Orleans, a Bush White House official arrogantly barked out,
"After all, they did not vote for us."
Article at HURRICANE KATRINA---WHO BENEFITS
http://www.cloakanddagger.de/media/S_284_S/Overthrow%20series/OVERTHROW%20PART%2080.htm
PREFACE NOTE:
This is one of many articles I've seen regarding the real disaster behind the New Orleans disaster. Since it's from the NY Times, this one can't be dismissed as Internet disinfo.
.
Many people have watched the Bush administration create a massive Homeland Security bureaucracy following 9-11 and the mask has finally come off the bureaucrats running the show. Other good examples are all over the Net.
.
The lock-step "in-the box" thinking of command-and-control hierarchies -- is diametrically opposite to the holy spirit of "love-in-action" as needed in any emergency. Heaven knows that this is the essence of THE LEGACY PROJECT for checking and balancing the love of power via the power of love... represented by the best interests of, by and for ALL people.
.
Christopher Rudy safetrek@mcn.net
==================
POSTED AT: http://www.apfn.org/APFN/KATRINA.HTM
NorthCom Lt. Commander Sean Kelly explained the military's efforts which, in addition to military support, include distribution of medical supplies, search and rescue operations, distributing food and water, and meeting transportation needs. (Note: the server hosting the video seems to be overwhelmed. This is a direct .mpg link, which is also slow right now, but keep trying.)
When the BBC noted the criticism of the government's slow response, Lt. Commander Kelly explained that NorthCom was ready to go well in advance of Katrina making landfall, but suggested the president didn't make the right call at the right time.
"Northcom started planning before the storm even hit. We were ready when it hit Florida, because, as you remember, it hit the bottom part of Florida, and then we were planning once it was pointed towards the Gulf Coast.
"So, what we did, we activated what we call 'defense coordinating officers' to work with the states to say, 'OK, what do you think you will need?' And we set up staging bases that could be started.
"We had the USS Bataan sailing almost behind the hurricane so once the hurricane made landfall, its search and rescue helicopters could be available almost immediately So, we had things ready.
"The only caveat is: we have to wait until the president authorizes us to do so. The laws of the United States say that the military can't just act in this fashion; we have to wait for the president to give us permission."
Apparently, that permission could have been given right away, but it wasn't. Bush was on vacation, sharing some cake with John McCain, and pretending to play some guitar.
This seems like it could be a fairly big deal. There's been some frustration on the part of military officials about bureaucracy and FEMA's ineffectiveness, but Kelly's remarks to the BCC sounded like a fairly direct challenge to the president's leadership — they wanted to leap into action, but the White House never made the call.
Considering that there are already questions about who was in charge last week, can someone please ask the White House who first gave the order to NorthCom and when?
http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/wp-print.php?p=5167
- The Biggest Blunder in New Orleans —Warren Appleton, Tue Sep 13 18:11
- Tancredo: Block Aid to Louisiana Politicians — Congressman Tom Tancredo's (R-CO), Tue Sep 13 01:32
- US: Cover-up: toxic waters, New Orleans unsafe —Geoffrey Lean, The Observer (UK), Tue Sep 13 01:41
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