NEW PROBLEM--Can You Help Bring Attn to This?

[snot]

Several reports re- a new problem--that evacuees not only have no choice about where they're shipped to, but once there, they're isolated. Folks trying to help continue to be turned away or unreasonably restricted, and people are warned not to talk to the media. In at least some cases it appears that the evacuees are literally being detained against their will. See, e.g.,

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4671658&mesg_id=4674430

I've seen similar reports in other DU posts.

I do not understand under what legal authority these innocents can be detained or even isolated. They and we have Constitutional rights of free association, travel, etc.

If it's not legal authority, if it's just the policy of this admin. to deprive victims of their rights as a condition to assistance, well, we need at least to have a thorough discussion about that.

WE NEED SOME LAWYERS to be looking into this.

Media attn would also be helpful. Where are they, at this point? (I get all my news here.)

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. Well, if the ACLU isn't interested, the National Lawyers' Guild

certainly will be.

[Straight Shooter]

2. Consider the possibility they are being "quarantined," not isolated.

Stories are beginning to surface about infectious disease deaths related to the flooding of New Orleans. "Only" five thus far, but there may be something going on which we are not being told.

I'm just sayin' ...

[preciousdove]

5. Propaganda to keep the busybodies out, no? n/t

[snot]

6. If you read the stories, some folks are be allowed in--

but subject to restrictions that don't seem to have anything to do with medical concerns.

[preciousdove]

3. These camps locals have been announced as they are filling up...

nobody knows the situation but the internet community right now. Hopefully the world will get out by tomorrow.

Catch 22 here. There are a huge number of displaced persons that need help quickly but they are using Katrina as an agenda for more control of the people and profit taking (harvesting? Isn't that what some rich people always tried to do?)

[snot]

4. A related thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1756082 :

Evacuees not told where they're going
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sharedcontent/APStories/sto...

It wasn't confusion that prevented Hurricane Katrina evacuees from learning they were headed to Utah — it was intentional.

National Guard officials asked a reporter and photographer aboard two separate military planes not to identify their news organizations or tell the refugees where the planes were going.

They said some refugees on earlier flights complained or refused evacuation when told where they were going.

Hurst said one young evacuee on Saturday told a family member in Texas that she was en route to Houston only to wind up in Utah."Now the Red Cross has to send her to Houston. That's where her family is. There's no family here. It's been quite a culture shock for her," she said.

[SheilaT]

7. This is the result of the complete

and utter lack of planning. Homeland Security? What a joke.

Not only was there no shred of a plan in place before hurricane Katrina hit, but no one was able to even begin the kind of orderly planning, evacuation, triage, airlifting supplies to survivors, nothing at all.

Yeah, I do understand that 80% of New Orleans was under water, but FEMA turned away all kinds of offers of help (500 boats organized by one of the state senators of Louisiana, a group of Canadians, the Walmart trucks with water, just to name a few) and various military units apparently were all set to go but for some idiotic reason had to await a Presidential order. Wasn't there ANYONE who knew about that who could phone George and say, "Look Mr President, all we need is your word." Apparently not.

The incompetency of this administration is absolutely mind-boggling.

[aquart]

8. The criminal malfeasance is mind boggling.