Aren't the body counts only referring to direct hurricane

[freeplessinseattle]

related deaths? Just the superdome and convention center deaths alone should equal more than the "official" count.

[KT2000]

1. that really needs to be clarified

Read on DU that in one instance they were counting people who died of heart attacks as not storm related, hence not part of the death toll.

[freeplessinseattle]

2. I am very confused. first I hear they are, then they're not

so why haven't the official tolls been updated? why haven't reporters suggested some malarky since they counted so many dead and dying that they personally saw? what about all those people on the verge of death they put into morgues to spend their last breaths? there is no way that only one hundred some in NO have died.

This is really freaking me out.

[DoYouEverWonder]

3. From what I am seeing

Is they are separating the counts based on cause of death.

This will be important down the road if there is ever any justice or accountability. But why is this important? Because all deaths from the hurricane itself are considered an Act of God. All deaths that occured after the storm passed, should be considered an Act of George.

[freeplessinseattle]

4. Yes, exactly!! n/t

[radfringe]

6. by grouping the deaths

according to "direct cause" - i.e. Katrina, flood, and then throwing the rest into a general grouping of "other" - it makes the storm look less deadly and Fema's lack of response less damning.

It's part of the spin and if they want to spin it even more they could always say no one died from Katrina-they were hit by debris, drowned etc.

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. There is a difference between total count of deaths

over a period of time and then sub-grouping people based on cause of death.

From a legal POV this is very important, expecially if any one wants to try to charge high level officials with criminal negligence.

[OneGrassRoot]

5. I just send a media blast email about this very issue n/t

[PublicWrath]

8. Perhaps the official body count so far is based on only those who have

been identified? In the meantime they saturate the airwaves with the message that there are far less bodies than expected in order to induce a sedative effect.