Canadians beat U.S. Army to New Orleans suburb (also beat FEMA)

[barbaraann]

Thu Sep 8, 1:36 AM ET
Reuters

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (Reuters) - A Canadian search-and-rescue team reached a flooded New Orleans suburb to help save trapped residents five days before the U.S. military, a Louisiana state senator said on Wednesday.

The Canadians beat both the Army and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. disaster response department, to St. Bernard Parish east of New Orleans, where flood waters are still 8 feet deep in places, Sen. Walter Boasso said.
...
"They chartered a plane and flew down," he said.
...
"Fabulous, fabulous guys," Boasso said. "They started rolling with us and got in boats to save people.""They were so glad to be here," he said. "They're still here. They are actually going door-to-door looking in the attics" for people to rescue, he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/canada_canadians_neworelans_col

[skooooo]

1. Thank you Canada!

[formercia]

2. Merci Canada

[StrafingMoose]

45. "Merci" would be for Quebec the only french province :P

[CHIMO]

50. Is New Brunswick Canada's only officially bilingual province? Why?

Yes, New Brunswick is Canada's only officially bilingual province. The reason for this is that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms specifically recognizes that anglophones and francophones in New Brunswick have equality of status and equal rights and privileges. New Brunswick has a rich heritage and a unique obligation as Canada's only officially bilingual province. New Brunswick first declared English and French to be the province's official languages in 1969 and renewed its commitment in 2002 by adopting a new Official Languages Act (OLA). The OLA imposes on the provincial government the obligation to serve members of the public in the official language of their choice.

http://www.officiallanguages.nb.ca/faqs.asp#question1

[applegrove]

61. French speakers in Manitoba, Ontario, Nova Scotia too. But they

are not a big enough minority to get equal state rights. Same with the english speakers in Quebec. They are minority.

But all Federal offices are bilingual.

[enigmatic]

73. Alberta, too

In the Peace River Region and around St. Paul are big packets of Francophones..

[iverglas]

77. and Yukon and the other territories ...

and maybe many people haven't heard of the Fransaskois. ;)

I work peripherally in this field (official languages, language rights) and it's an extremely complex one.

For instance, minority language rights in the courts (criminal law is under federal jurisdiction, procedure in the courts and things like highway traffic law are under provincial jurisdiction ...) are uneven and a subject of much discussion and litigation.

Not all federal offices are required to provide services in French everywhere, and many do not. The "where numbers warrant" criterion is another contentious issue.

There are complex and intertwined issues of individual and collective rights -- the latter involving things like control of the community's institutions (minority language schools and hospitals ...), and the right of minority language communities to develop and "flourish" and the nature of the government's commitment (political only? enforceable?) to supporting the exercise of that right.

It's all yet another aspect of Canada as a process. ;)

[applegrove]

78. Oh yes. I guess I was talking history & origianl huge settlements. Yes

people everywhere are French speaking.

[iverglas]

51. nooooo

Really, there are francophone communities throughout Canada, with considerable rights under the constitution and federal and provincial law regarding the preservation and practice of their language and culture.

Not many of 'em here, granted, but heck, foreigners' (especially those in the US!) efforts to be culturally sensitive, even if klutzy, shouldn't be discouraged. ;)

[izzie]

3. Just like those sneaky Can.

:pals:

[Greeby]

4. Gonna need a lot of these

[iverglas]

13. I love it!

From the New Hampshire state library of WWII images.

Here are the rest of the "this man is your friend" posters, which may come in handy in other contexts:
Australian
Canadian
Chinese
Englishman
Ethiopian
Russian

edit - duh, the link:
http://www.state.nh.us/ww2/allies.html

[AspenRose]

57. Wow, an ETHIOPIAN????

But...but...he's black....how could he be an ally?

:sarcasm:

[brainshrub]

15. Love the poster, and the message.

Canadians rock. :toast:

[AspenRose]

56. AMEN

Love the poster.

I am reminded of watching a movie about the Tuskeegee Airmen: One of their superiors, the instructor, was trained to fly in CANADA because the AMERICANS wouldn't let a black man learn to fly for the military before WW II.

[freemen2005]

5. they were sent home after the military came to town

wouldnt it have made more sense to allow them to stay and keep helping, afterall, every hand available is a welcome helping hand.

[Iceburg]

16. FEMA didn't want the truth told -people dying from dehydration/exposure

The Vancouver SAR team kept a journal of their activities at http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/usar/index.htm. Very interesting...

September 3 diary entry .... "We were successful in extricating 73 people out of the area that were still trapped. Unfortunately, one lady died when we got her back to the camp. Her body temperature had risen to the point where the dehydration was so that she died from exposure"

The SAR team was equipped to be self-sufficient for a 10-day deployment period. While there were still many lives to be saved, FEMA sent the Vancouver team packing. My quess is that FEMA does not want the rest of the world to know that many victims survived the hurricane and the flood only to die of dehydration and heat exhaustion due to FEMA's non-response.

[kath]

26. Why was the Vancouver team sent home early, when there were still

thousands of people trapped in attics??? WHY, WHY, WHY??
This is such a horrible outrage.

[Spazito]

32. I think there are still Canadian search teams still there, the

Vancouver team might have gone home because they were relieved by other Canadian teams. The reason I say this is because of this paragraph in another article:

"Boasso saved his praise for the Canadians and their quick work. "They were so glad to be here," he said. "They're still here. They are actually going door-to-door looking in the attics" for people to rescue."

http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=cbc/world_home&articleID=2024448

[Iceburg]

36. According to VAN's own web site, they returned Sep 6 .. . see link

http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/usar/index.htm

[Spazito]

40. Yes, but in the CBC article, Boasso states 'They are still here'

and the article is from Sept. 8th, which is why I am thinking there may be other Canadian Search and Rescue teams there who relieved the Vancouver team.

[kath]

58. IT really does sound like the Vancouver team was sent home EARLY,

very shortly after FEMA *finally* got there:

From Sept. 4:
Tim informed us that the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) task force teams had just arrived in the area, and he was working in the Emergency Operations Centre with three other task force leaders. FEMA resources are now pulling in the St. Bernard Parish region in large numbers. Vancouver USAR will coordinate rescue operations with the American task forces in the region. The team will be planning toward demobilization as the American forces move in and continue rescue and search operations. The team is equipped to be self-sufficient for a 10-day deployment period.

<they were equipped for TEN DAYS, and this was only their 4th or 5th day>

Then from the very next day, Sept 5:
It was quite an emotional day for the team. When I had to let them know that we had to return to Vancouver, they were rescuing another 25 people today for a total of 117 people overall. Emotions started to take over a bit, and the people who've been helping us out here were quite emotional.

<note that 2nd sentence: "WHEN I *HAD* TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WE *HAD* TO RETURN TO VANCOUVER" - it sure sounds like they were pushed out well before they had planned on leaving.
Methinks it would be VERY interesting to interview people connected with that team and find out just exactly what went on once the FEMA assholes finally got there.

[Iceburg]

59. Indeed... a follow-up by the media is required...

There just seems to be no end to this shameless and amoral behavior
...feeling sick to the pit of my soul.

What god-forsaken reason could there possibly be to turn away those who wish to help?

[kath]

63. Many, many helpers were turned away. It is absolutely mind-boggling to

me that this happened over and over again. This is one of the things that disturbs me the most about the whole debacle. IMO, the only conclusion to be reached is that they wanted more people to die.

[unrepuke]

28. But they might defect, eh.

[Gormy Cuss]

6. How long until the White House adds Canada to the Axis of Evil? n/t

[TrogL]

17. We're already on it

We have proper elections using technology that's difficult to tamper with (paper ballots).

[Amonester]

44. Yep. AND we said NO to **'s (PNAC) intimidation & bullies (Iraq)

AND many of us speak """FRENCH""" (so, no doubt: we're AXED!)

[Judi Lynn]

7. Louisiana senator: Thank you Canada

Thursday, Sep 08, 2005

Louisiana senator: Thank you Canada

(CBC) - A Louisiana state senator has praised a Canadian search and rescue team. Senator Walter Boasso said a Vancouver-based team reached St. Bernard parish five days before the U.S. army got there.

"Fabulous, fabulous guys," Boasso said. "They started rolling with us and got in boats to save people ... We've got Canadian flags flying everywhere."

The suburb of 68,000 people was initially ignored by U.S. authorities who were scrambling to get aid to New Orleans. Boasso said floodwater in his parish is still 2.4 metres deep in some places.

He said residents of the outlying parishes had to mount their own rescue and relief efforts when Hurricane Katrina struck last week.
(snip/...)

http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=cbc/world_home&articleID=2024448



Senator Walter Boasso

[leftofcool]

8. I Love Canada!!!!!!!!!!! eom

[madmom]

9. Yep never met one I didn't like n/t

[iverglas]

10. Allow me to be the first ;)

No - thank you!

Thank you for letting the Vancouver team in when we were sitting up here in front of our TVs grinding our teeth and clenching our fists in frustration and outrage at how much of nothing was being done to help the survivors. We couldn't do anything ourselves, and this one little effort -- no matter who was doing it, "us" or anyone else, in fact -- made us at least think that *something* was being done.

And of course it did give us a small sense of doing "our" bit, even those of us a couple of thousand miles away who'd never paid taxes in Vancouver. And it did give us pride in our country, that it was doing the right thing, no doubt about it. Not that anybody should really be proud of doing the right thing, but it's just kind of the opposite of being ashamed of not doing it.

And thank you for participating with us in an undertaking of international, people-to-people solidarity, and solidifying that undertaking by naming it and acknowledging it and making it public for the world to see.

And oh yeah -- you're welcome! Any time, eh?

[brainshrub]

11. I love Canadians.

Thank you Canada! :thumbsup:

[iverglas]

12. 20,000 Canadian cots sent for hurricane relief

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/09/07/cots_hurricane_relief_20050907.html


A convoy of 20 trucks left Montreal for Texas
Tuesday, carrying 20,000 cots and blankets destined
for the American Red Cross hurricane relief effort.

The Red Cross expects them to be dispatched to some
of its 485 emergency shelters set up to accept more
than 140,000 hurricane evacuees.


Not sure how many cots the US sent Canada for shelters set up here during the 1998 ice storm, but I'm sure that on a per capita basis, it was at least as many. ;)

Aha, there we go:


The cots are the property of Quebec's public security
department. It bought 55,000 of them after the 1998
ice storm.


Once bit, twice shy.



http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2005/09/06/canadian_aid_20050906.html

Prime Minister Paul Martin and David Wilkins, the
U.S. ambassador to Canada, were dockside in Halifax
Tuesday as four ships loaded with emergency supplies
prepared to head for the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Three navy ships and a Canadian Coast
Guard vessel are expected to reach Louisiana
in about five days. They are being joined by
several Sea King helicopters.

One thousand Canadian Forces and coast guard
personnel are aboard. They are bringing provisions
including clean water, massive tents, cots, body bags,
assault boats, lumber, pollution cleanup equipment,
bug spray, and even diapers and baby wipes.


Unfortunately, it's looking like they may be delayed by the hurricane on the Atlantic seaboard.

[JPZenger]

14. They Could Have Been Here Much Earlier, If We Let Them

The Canadians could have been here much earlier, if FEMA has let them in. Thanks, neighbors.

Meanwhile, the Swedes offered a sophisticated communications system on Friday and as of yesterday, they were still waiting for the US to allow it to be flown in. Communications is one of the biggest problems for the rescuers.

[northerdar]

20. O'Reilly always is putting down Canadians. I sent him two emails

yesterday - I sent to general Fox News Network before I saw this thread today. here is what I sent yesterday?:

Adios, and Aloha, Fox News. I tried you out for free and you failed in being fair and balanced...or even telling the truth. Hello FOX NEWS,



Bill O’Reilly is famous for saying Canada bans Fox News….This is not the case but Fox News is just like any other satellite news, available if you want to pay for it.

I tried you for a few weeks. I have to say I find it astounding hearing and seeing all of the mis truths, the omissions and the out right lies/inaccuracies that your Network produces.
CNN outclasses you in every way. I even read Republican/right wing websites who did say they had to leave your news network and go to CNN for more accurate, and timely news for the Katrina reports. You have so many talking heads who are never in the field. It was refreshing to see and hear your guys, in the field, Smith and Geraldo reporting like human beings truth and even contradicting your “anchors” to a point of showing outrage and frustration with these oblivious talking heads.
Your anchor news people are so biased toward the right neoconservatives and most are physically unappealing. . Mr. Hume is in need of a new makeup professional, please, He needs to look like he is not dead.
So, I tried you and found FOX NEWS FAILED the test… My free trial for viewing you is over today. I will never pay for such un-news as FOX NEWS.
I hope you can show some improvement and some backbone in the near future.
Hoping you all have a quick recovery and awakening.
Darlene H
Ontario Canada
PS: Please give Bill O’Reilly this message from me: SHUT UP! Tell him that he sure made me laugh a lot. He is a great comedian. J And tell him, Canada sent the Katrina victims what the USA government asked for. Tents and medicine supplies are not trivial as he said last night. Also remind him that Canada has a third of the World’ fresh water. J Maybe someday he will want a nice glass of clean Canadian water. Or he may prefer to drink the waters of New Orleans.

Here is what I sent today after reading this thread:Hey O’Reilly…

Look at this…Louisiana is grateful to Canada. You are so wrong O’Reilly about Canadians. You owe me an apology. Personally. I bet you are too afraid to give me one. Come on Chicken hawk, apologize to me.

Darlene
See below.
Thursday, Sep 08, 2005

Louisiana senator: Thank you Canada
the rest is the thread.

[northerdar]

27. another ps from me to O'Reilly on his dissing of Canadians.

I DARE O’REILLY TO READ THIS BLOG OF CANADIAN RESCUERS on his program.

http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/usar/index.htm




I DARE HIM.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

HE IS AN UNGRATEFULS S.O.B.

AND A

CHICKEN HAWK.

[Beaver Tail]

55. Bill Lies as usual

Bill O’Reilly is famous for saying Canada bans Fox News

I am Canadian and I get Fox in my house. I just refuse to watch it.. Of course that question can be turned around. Who in the US gets CBC or CTV in a basic cable subscription?

Anyhow no matter the differences we have with the WH Administration we are still friends with all Americans and friends help each other regardless of the differences.

[Nothing Without Hope]

74. O'Liely is a lost cause, a total sellout. I suggest writing to his

sponsors and bosses instead. O'Liely thrives on people disagreeing with him - he gets to say "shut up!" and that apparently does almost as much for him as felafels.

Yeah, write to his sponsors and bosses about your disgust with his lies and hate-mongering in this time of national pain. Do they really want their product associated with that?

[Pacifist Patriot]

18. Now if they would get off their butts and annex the Turks and Caicos

I'd be looking for Canadian real estate. ;)

Thanks Canada!

[northerdar]

37. Canada has really beautiful real estate.

I live in the highest part of Ontario. My back yard is on a river that goes a few on a few hundred of miles, It is pristine, clean water and the air is pure. I love Canada's universal medicine. I am retired now. All my life I thought I would retire in the Florida Keys. I am not Canadian born. I'm a NJ girl and came to Canada Aug 16th, 1969, Woodstock Weekend. Since W has been in power I have no desire to ever live in the USA. 2004 was the first time I ever voted in a AMerican election. My guy lost. but as the Veep warned "anyone who votes for Kerry would put people in power who couldn't give even the most basic protection... He was right! I voted for Kerry and the most evil and horribly incompetent bunch of screw ups are running the government. God BLess America and Canada.

COME TO CANADA AND BUY PROPERTY. You will safer here when the bottom of the USA economy drops out.

[Pacifist Patriot]

48. *sigh* I know. But I'm allergic to ice and snow.

My toes freeze when the temperature plummets below 70 degrees F.

[Canadian Socialist]

80. Then move to Vancouver

or Victoria... good lord... not all of Canada is a frozen wasteland. Just sayin'

[Lydia Leftcoast]

19. Well, yes, that's what needed to be done:

send in enough troops and FEMA personnel to go house to house in every flooded neighborhood as soon as possible after the levees were breached to get people out of their attics and off their rooftops.

[mod mom]

21. NATIONAL DISGRACE! Thank you Canada! nt

[AlamoDemoc]

22. Thank you Canada

:yourock:

[zalinda]

23. I want Canada to adopt us

or at the very least foster us until Bush leaves office.

zalinda

[sonias]

24. Thank you Canada!

Now there's a real rescue team. They didn't take no for an answer and went right in and did their job of saving lives. Just like the saying goes, it's better to ask for forgiveness later than ask for permission first. And in the case of this disaster, you don't wait for FEMA to give you permission. I think everyone has learned that now.

Bless this crew!

Sonia

[northerdar]

31. No Thanks necessary!!!!

Canada is a good caring neighbor. We like to help our neighbors when they are in distress. It' the right thing to do. Please remember that 80-85% of Canadians hate W. BUsh but we love our southern neighbor citizens. We may not understand why some of them love W but everyone makes mistakes one time or another.


No PRoblem! No THanks needed. GOOD LUCK to you all. I hope many of you are going to the DC March in September, Katrina victims should be another cause added to the Iraq War protest.

[phusion]

25. All hail hockey

Thanks Canada!

:woohoo:

[ninkasi]

29. Thank you, Canada...

I love you...a great country, and great people.

[Neecy]

30. amazing

The Bush administration has done nothing but shit on Canada, and when our country is in need the Canadians still come to help.

[Pachamama]

33. Oh Canada, Oh Canada....

...if you could only save the rest of this country from itself and the Bush Cabal....

:patriot:

[Swamp Rat]

34. O Canada!

:hug: Canada looks better and better each day. :)

O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

O Canada! Terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux.
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix.
Ton histoire est une épopée,
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.

[Pachamama]

42. Oh Swamp Rat!!

Hello future neighbor in Canada... :hug:

I'm about to go walk the Pachababy to nursery school....are you reachable by phone? :hug:

[BlueJac]

35. You gotta love Canada....

They love their own people in Canada, all of them.

[Brundle_Fly]

38. beating the army....

now that's something.

Beating Fema....that's like nada.

[Megahurtz]

39. Well that figures.

Canada has it way more together than this stupid place.:banghead:

[lynettebro440]

41. Can I come live up there with you

in Canada? It's looking better and better everyday.

Kicked and Nominated.

:kick:

[northerdar]

43. Canada Goverment link for those interested in moving up here

to the most wonderful caring country, land of peacemakers. Come and see Canada.

http://canada.gc.ca/

[Nothing Without Hope]

75. It sounds WONDERFUL. I've never forgotten the scenes in Canada in

Fahrenheit 9/11. Sanity and caring! And that's just the start.

[uppityperson]

46. Thank you Canada for continuing to help we people.

[donco6]

47. I swear to God I'm moving there.

I just want to marry my partner and live in a country that's sane. Is that really too much to ask? The US has just lost it's marbles and now it's killing people on it's own soil.

[Vinca]

49. I love Canada! Well done and thank you.

[geckosfeet]

52. Thank the spirits someone knows what is going on. n/t

[krkaufman]

53. Mercy boat coup!!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.

[KansDem]

54. It appears that if there was a Natural Disaster Relief/Rescue event...

...at the summer Olympics, the US would place dead last...

Following is a list of some of countries offering aid:

from http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/04/katrina.world.aid/

Africa

Nigeria has pledged $1 million to hurricane disaster relief, government officials told CNN. "Nigeria will be happy to pledge $1 million to the hurricane disaster fund in the spirit of brotherhood," Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said.

Asia

China offered $5 million in aid for victims of Hurricane Katrina. If needed, the Chinese government also is prepared to send rescue workers, including medical experts, officials said.


Japan has offered to provide $200,000 to the American Red Cross, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. Japan also will provide up to $300,000 in emergency supplies such as tents, blankets and power generators if it receives requests, the ministry said.


India is making a $5 million donation to the American Red Cross, Ronen Sen, Indian ambassador to the United States, said Saturday. In addition, Sen said India was willing to donate essential medicines to the relief effort.


The Singapore armed forces, responding to requests by the Texas Army National Guard, has sent three Chinook helicopters to Fort Polk, Louisiana, to help in relief efforts.


South Korea awaits a U.S. response after pledging aid, a government official said.


Afghanistan pledged $100,000 to help provide aid to the hurricane victims, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy in Kabul.


Sri Lanka will donate $25,000 to the American Red Cross.


Taiwan has pledged more than $3 million to the relief effort.

Americas

Canada has offered to help in any way it can, and its navy is preparing a ship full of emergency disaster relief supplies to be sent when a request comes.


Cuban President Fidel Castro offered to fly 1,100 doctors to Houston, Texas, with 26 tons of medicine to treat disaster victims.


Mexico has offered $1 million and is sending 15 truckloads of water, food and medical supplies via Texas. The Mexican navy has offered to send two ships, two helicopters and 15 amphibious vehicles.


Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a vocal critic of the United States, offered to send cheap fuel, humanitarian aid and relief workers to the disaster area.

Australia

Australia is giving $10 million, most of it to the American Red Cross, according to the Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer.

Europe

France has offered mobile help from rescue teams in the French Antilles in the Caribbean, including a civil defense detachment of 35 people, tents, camp beds, generators, motor pumps, water treatment units and emergency kits, two CASA cargo aircraft, a ship (Batral Francis Garnier) and the frigate Ventose with its Panther helicopter, and a hurricane disaster unit. France also has offered assistance from the French mainland, including several aircraft. In addition, the NGO Telecoms Sans Frontieres, which specializes in restoring phone lines and Internet service in disasters, is ready to send a team of experts and equipment. Veolia Environment, which has facilities in Louisiana, has offered to make its local water management resources available.


Germany has offered a range of assistance, including medical and transportation services, water treatment capabilities and aid in searching for victims and supplies. Germany also has said it is ready and willing to "dip into its own emergency oil reserves" to release some 2 million barrels a day for 30 days.


Italy has offered to send aid and evacuation specialists immediately, Italy's civil protection unit said. Authorities have prepared two military transport planes to fly amphibious vessels, pumps, generators, tents and personnel to New Orleans, Louisiana, and other areas. They were awaiting word from U.S. officials, the unit said.


The Netherlands will provide teams for inspecting dikes and for identifying victims if there is a formal request from the United States. It also will send a frigate from Curacao in the Netherlands Antilles to New Orleans shortly to provide emergency assistance, the Dutch government said.


Russia has offered to help with rescue efforts but is awaiting a reply from Washington.


Spain expects to receive a formal request to release gasoline stocks to the United States and is prepared to grant it, an Industry Ministry spokesman said.


Sweden's Rescue Authority said it was on standby to supply water purifying equipment, health care supplies and emergency shelters if needed.


British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said his country stands ready to help the United States in whatever way it can.

Middle East

Qatar has offered the United States $100 million to assist in the humanitarian crisis triggered by Hurricane Katrina.


Saudi Refining, a Houston-based subsidiary of state oil firm Saudi Aramco, will donate $5 million to the American Red Cross to support relief efforts for hurricane victims.


Iran has offered to send humanitarian aid to hurricane victims, Reuters reported. "We are prepared to send our contributions to the people through the Red Crescent," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told Reuters.

[redqueen]

60. Thank you, Canada!

:yourock:

:loveya:

[recycledindi]

62. oh great

yeah - take your fucking time. no rush. there's only tens-of-thousands of people dying. I'll say it again. They wanted this to happen.

[slackmaster]

64. This is good news

Had someone declared a race to get to that particular area, or is this some indication of good coordination among rescue teams?

[CHIMO]

65. A Bit More of The Story

The Apocalypse became now
Vancouver search and rescue team describes scenes of horror and gratitude

A New Orleans police boat carrying the Vancouver Urban Search and Rescue Team snaked up the Mississippi River past burning wreckage and flooded neighbourhoods through scenes of destruction and horror right out of the impressionistic Vietnam war film Apocalypse Now.

Accompanied by armed police, Vancouver police Sgt. Craig Cairns and his group of Canadian volunteers were amazed by what they saw on the team's first "reconnaissance in force" of St. Bernard's Parish east of New Orleans.

"It was like a disaster movie or Armageddon," Cairns recalled Wednesday, one day after the team returned home from its six-day mission.

The Louisiana State Police decided to send the 46 Canadian volunteers to St. Bernard Parish east of New Orleans because of looting and shooting in New Orleans. And they had to pass by New Orleans to get there.

http://www.canada.com/vancouver/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=79b0b501-9289-42df-a914-ef05a5c348aa


CREDIT: Ian Lindsay, Vancouver Sun
Vancouver police Sgt. Craig Cairns speaks of his Louisiana search and rescue experiences. Back home, the team unloaded equipment and let it dry out.

[Spazito]

66. This little tidbit stuck out for me...

"The boat continued up the Mississippi, past an enormous oil refinery blaze fought by five tugboats, to an evacuation point where a deputy police sheriff from St. Bernard Parish met the rescue team."

I don't recall hearing about an enormous oil refinery ablaze, did I just miss it being reported?

[CHIMO]

67. Well

There were reports of fires and explosions. So I thought that I would do some googling. Couldn't come up with anything in my quick attempt.

But did come up with this. Seems like bureaucracy run amuck.

First Responders Urged Not To Respond To Hurricane Impact Areas Unless Dispatched By State, Local Authorities

WASHINGTON D.C. -- Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response and head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), today urged all fire and emergency services departments not to respond to counties and states affected by Hurricane Katrina without being requested and lawfully dispatched by state and local authorities under mutual aid agreements and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

“The response to Hurricane Katrina must be well coordinated between federal, state and local officials to most effectively protect life and property,” Brown said. “We appreciate the willingness and generosity of our Nation’s first responders to deploy during disasters. But such efforts must be coordinated so that fire-rescue efforts are the most effective possible.”

The U.S. Fire Administration, part of FEMA, asks that fire and emergency services organizations remain in contact with their local and state emergency management agency officials for updates on requirements in the affected areas.

“It is critical that fire and emergency departments across the country remain in their jurisdictions until such time as the affected states request assistance,” said U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison. “State and local mutual aid agreements are in place as is the Emergency Management Assistance Compact and those mechanisms will be used to request and task resources needed in the affected areas.”

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18470

Release Date: August 29, 2005
Release Number: HQ-05-174

[Spazito]

69. Thanks, CHIMO, for checking on it

Re the newsrelease, it does seem that because Homeland Security had been woven into all the local and state emergency plans in terms of them having to be coordinated with Homeland Security (FEMA)that everything froze because of press releases like this.

[CHIMO]

70. Well

That is no way to run a show in my opinion.

It tells them to stick to rules. Rules. And restrictive type of rules.

I would have said that in consideration of an emergency situation that one has to keep the keep in mind that we have to protect people and maintain order. So please try and co-ordinate your efforts with others so that we are able to respond in the most appropriate manner under the circumstances that we are given.

But the name of the game appears to be appearances and it is appearing to me that this only reflects the whole system now. It is all show and no substance. And I mean this for the whole system.

[Spazito]

71. Absolutely, optics over substance.

[Lisa]

68. the weird thing is ...

We're supposed to be the ones whose first responders are inefficient, bogged down by bureaucracy, and ill-prepared.

Pat Buchanan and Co. -- and even some right-wing Canadians -- would compare our military and emergency services personnel unfavourably with those in other countries (especially the US).

[Tight_rope]

72. The US Federal Government is a "DISGRACE"!

"The Canadians beat both the Army and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. disaster response department, to St. Bernard Parish east of New Orleans, where flood waters are still 8 feet deep in places, Sen. Walter Boasso said.

"They chartered a plane and flew down,"! These 7 words prove that the US Federal Government is a "DISGRACE"!

[ngGale]

76. Thank you so much Canada....

words can't explain how much you were needed. The headline says it all.

[Canadian Socialist]

79. This is the part that made me weep

"The Vancouver Urban Search and Rescue Team rescued a total of 119 people and gave medical assistance to 125. Team members were working 16-hour days, wading through stinking sewage and toxin-contaminated flood waters with hidden hazards like sharp objects, alligators and venomous snakes."

These heroes ... deserve at the very least, an Order of Canada medal. Or at the very very least, a broad-spectrum antibiotic shot.
edited to add: my sister was tagged to go, but there wasn't "room on the bus" so to speak. She's a B.N., R.N. w/ emerg experience. She is a sort of "back up"; i.e. she's in the Okanagan, and if the Van. team is overwhelmed, they would call on her, and her buddies, to fill in. She was all ready to go, but they said they didn't need her right now. However, and this a big however, she is seriously disappointed. She has made it her life to help, and she couldn't help (or at least, not hands-on help). She was making a joke about her disappointment, saying, "Well, I always wanted to see NO; just not this way?" Yes, I know... very dry humour.

[Canadian Socialist]

81. kick