FEMA has ordered searchers NOT to break into homes?

[fooj]

What? This needs to be FRONT PAGE NEWS! NOW!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/14/12516/3649

Today is Day 17. Two and a half weeks. Tomorrow President Bush will show up in New Orleans for another photo-op, this time to try to rescue his own sorry, lazy, incompetent, negligent ass with a televised address to the nation.

I don't care if he does a TV address every night live from New Orleans for the rest of his presidency.

It will NEVER -- NEVER -- change the fact that Mr Bush abdicated his sacred responsibility to the American people for five excruciatingly long days.

Yesterday Mr Bush said 'I take responsibility' for the abject failure of the federal government of the world's most powerful and wealthy nation.

Let's put a face to that failure. Please meet Edgar Hollingsworth, age 74, a resident of New Orleans.

BELOW THE JUMP . . .
<snip>



Photo Source:


OMG! This is beyond inhumane.

Peace...:cry:

[Pirate Smile]

1. I just read that on Kos. It is horrible. Can you include some of the

text and the photo in your OP so we can vote it up?

[fooj]

2. Sure. I'm sickened. Absolutely sickened!

Peace.

[Pirate Smile]

7. Thanks. Here is more:

"Mr Hollingsworth was pulled unconscious and emaciated from his home in New Orleans by members of the California National Guard YESTERDAY - Day 16.

While Mr Hollingsworth lay on a couch in his home -- apparently alone, forgotten, without food or water, sinking into unconsciousness -- Mr Bush was doing the following :


Golfing

Licking cake frosting off his fingers

Strumming a guitar

Giving a propaganda speech in San Diego comparing Iraq to WWII and himself to FDR

Flying 2,000 feet overhead

Dragging his feet - sitting on his LAZY ASS - for FIVE LONG DAYS, while he and his gov't were in a state of PARALYSIS

Telling that horse's ass, 'Brownie you're doing a heck of a job'

Engaging in a pissing match with the Governor of Louisiana

Playing the Blame Game to try to pin his own inaction and negligence on everyone else

Taking full responsibility for the federal government failure to save people like Mr Hollingsworth ( Will Mr Bush receive consequences for his deadly inaction ? WILL HE ? )


The story of Edgar Hollingsworth brings me to tears. This man could be my late father. Did Mr Hollingsworth work his entire life, then retire ? (like my father)

Did Mr Hollingsworth honorably serve his country in the armed forces (like my father) (unlike Mr Bush) ? Did he serve a country in its time of need that failed to serve him in HIS time of need ?

Did Mr Hollingsworth live in the Deep South during the days of segregation, Jim Crow, lynchings, KKK ?

Will Mr Hollingsworth survive ? Or will he die ? ( My father died 3 months ago at about the same age, which is probably one of the reasons why this story tears at me )

The photo alone outrages me. It's from the Orange County Register, and it's also on the front page of my area morning newspaper which gets more and more conservative every year.

In my area morning newspaper it's below the headline 'BUSH TAKES THE BLAME'.

It ought to outrage you.

The story ought to outrage you even more.

Mr Bush MUST resign or be impeached."

more is at the link.

[Historic NY]

3. pic of Mr. Hollingsworth being rescued.......

Again another bungle by FEMA.....how many more are trapped or like him so weak they can't help themselves.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

4. I saw that on another thread...

I can't believe that! There could be folks stuck inside rooms/areas of the house that have no windows! Are they making their way into attic areas that have no windows or vents to look for bodies?

How many MORE people have died because they were unconcious and unseen by S&R teams????

[fooj]

5. They told us that they are searching the homes!!!

I told my husband last evening that I haven't seen one of them looking in the attics...

Peace.

[tblue37]

43. People went to the upper stories of their homes to

escape the rising water. You have to go up there to find them!

[babylonsister]

6. Rec'd. What the hell are they thinking? Not going into

homes will pump up the death toll. :cry:

[fooj]

9. I am so ashamed.

:cry: What if that was one of our grandfathers? Someone's dad? Uncle? OMG!

Peace.

[Nothing Without Hope]

53. They want to suppress the numbers in the death toll. That's been clear

from the first. And the more poor that die, apparently the better they like it.

[AirAmFan]

59. IMO, the WH wants to say, 'it's OVER; we'll do better NEXT time'. It's NOT over,

but the PR spinners at the White House are prepared to let people like Hollingsworth die so Dubya might be made to LOOK a little better, to get his poll numbers back up.

Their political fantasies trump Hollingsworth's desperate reality, because they corrupted two elections and they have the power.

[democrank]

8. Nominated

in all it`s horror.

[troubleinwinter]

10. Nominated to show the TRUTH of the admin's malevolent neglect.

[papau]

11. a few more lives may be lost, but property will be saved - the GOP Mantra

"Government's first duty is to protect property rights, for people who own the property or the mortgage - like Banks, so a purely sentimental response like breaking down doors to save lives must be stopped as it is the first step on the slippery slope to Communism"

A thought sure to be said on Fox this week.

sigh....

[kestrel91316]

50. Welcome to the "Ownership Society".

[liberal N proud]

12. Every american should see this story.

That is gut wrenching!

[barbaraann]

13. Will they bulldoze homes without searching them first?

n/t

[pitohui]

17. i don't believe they'll bulldoze w.out searching first

the reason for not breaking into homes is to preserve the home

homes in such bad condition they must be bulldozed, no reason not to go ahead and check every attic in those homes

i know ppl were in attics in st. bernard parish, where virtually every home must be bulldozed, because my friends escaped from their attic and they also got their elderly neighbors out of their attic, but they were lucky, had their own boat

[spuddonna]

27. Yeah, but they've been ORDERED by FEMA NOT to go in...

They're supposed to 'knock' and 'yell', and if they see bodies, they mark the house.

So, how will they know there are bodies in the attic? :shrug:

[Gregorian]

14. Can you believe how important Shiavo was!

Can you believe this?!

Life means nothing to these people. They are complete fakes.

[babsbunny]

15. Send to Keith Olbermann

Everyone!

[spuddonna]

28. done...

And I sent it to Jack Cafferty, Anderson Cooper, Aaron Brown and the CNN New Tip site...

[fooj]

32. Thanks! This needs to be addressed. NOW!

Peace.

[pitohui]

16. jesus, nominated

in their defense they don't mean to be inhumane

a lot of ppl were angry after andrew because their homes made it through the storm, but nat'l guard broke in to look for bodies, left the homes open to looters & predators

also roofs were ruined when attics were broken into

so ppl lobbied that homes not be broken into w.out cause

i don't know what to say

i don't want my home broken into but because of the many neighborhoods affected where retired ppl live, such as gentilly, then i think there could be a great many ppl in those neighborhoods who will die if not dead already if nat'l guard doesn't break in, they would not have the strength left to call for help at this point

[fooj]

21. I'm glad your friends made it out safe.

I understand your reasoning re: looters and predators, however, there isn't anyone allowed back in! That place has more security than this entire country at the moment. They could break in without destroying the entire home.

Peace.

[mike_c]

42. NOT breaking in won't stop looters...

...who can simply break in themselves. Rescuers can break in, search, then seal the premises behind them by nailing 3/4 inch plywood directly to the door or window frame. Yes, it can be pried off, but an aquivalent effort would allow someone to break in anyway, so what difference does it make?

[fooj]

45. Exactly!

Peace.

[Shallah Kali]

48. Looters will just break window or door themselves just like regular robber

do every single day in America. A damaged door is a small price to pay for saving a human life like this man's.

[pitohui]

63. not breaking in will stop rain tho

i don't want to justify their policy

i'm just trying to explain how this policy came abt

it is not because ppl deliberately want anyone to go un-rescued

it is because ppl complained abt how it was handled in the past

if you break through the roof, then the house is left open to the weather, & there is worse damage than otherwise

of course if you are actually in the attic, you don't care, you want the roof taken off to save yr life!

but if you got safely away, you don't want yr house ruined that otherwise would have been saved

rescuers do not re-roof after going in, they move onto the next house, they must move swiftly

we've been pretty dry after this event, which is odd for this type of year, but it will rain again, it's nawlins

so many horrible & difficult decisions

you do understand that if EVERY structure in new orleans is cut open, you are really increasing the difficulty of rebuilding & returning to the city

they are trying to compromise

but, agreed, in the end, better to err on the side of saving a life

[JPZenger]

18. Tragic

There is a special place in hell for bureaucrats who kill people.

[txindy]

19. The same people who won't let anyone break into these homes

are also the ones complaining that the mayor didn't force people to evacuate. And, just how would that be accomplished without breaking into people's homes?! No, I don't think mandatory evacuation is legal or even possible, yet these wingnuts talk out of both sides of their mouths and don't expect to be called on it.

This is a RESCUE and RECOVERY operation. Did they honestly expect doors to be unlocked and wide open, waiting for anyone to drop on by? My God!! :grr:

[kestrel91316]

51. Well, if there's nobody standing out on the front porch waving, that means

there's nobody needing rescue. Right?

Right?

[Xenotime]

20. Why is he going there?

Doesn't he understand that they are trying to save people there? He will just get in the way. This pisses me off!

[fooj]

23. huh?

:shrug:

[SammyWinstonJack]

62. Are you speaking of Pinhead**? n/t

[MADem]

22. I just saw VADM Allen's presser, he said the LOCAL COPS have to do the

breaking in, and the DOD personnel accompanying them will assist in rescue and recovery of remains. I guess the issue has to do with local control.

The cops can break in, the DOD and Federal civilian personnel cannot.

[DoYouEverWonder]

24. There are two issues I have with this image

First, where is the dignity? They were able to bag and hook him up, but they can't cover the poor man with a sheet? They have enough crew but they didn't bring a stretcher, even if it was just to get him to the curb?

Second, in regards to busting into houses, at this point if someone is dead inside, it's not hard to tell. Plus they are using dogs to sniff for people. So if they can avoid breaking down doors and such, it will be better for everyone in the long run I would think.

[spuddonna]

26. "if someone is dead inside, it's not hard to tell."

How can you tell the difference between someone unconscious and someone dead, especially when you are looking through a window? :shrug:

As for the lack of dignity, I believe they did drape a small towel over his crotch. It sounds like they were desperately trying to get an IV into that man, so I'll bet they wanted to get him out asap into the light where they could work on him. "Czuleger didn't have the proper equipment, so he improvised, using a short needle to pierce the vein under Hollingsworth's clavicle."

[DoYouEverWonder]

30. I've seen EMS folks remove dead and living people

they always cover them up when they bring them out. My guess is FEMA couldn't sign a contract for hospital linens and stretchers so these people can endure further mistreatment. If that man lived through the last 2 weeks, 5 more minutes isn't going to make a difference, especially since they had time to put him on an IV and they've got 6 people attending him.

[spuddonna]

34. Agreed. FEMA/feds don't care whether we live or die with dignity...

It sounds like FEMA had writen off any survivors days ago, decided they weren't going to pay for any medical equipment or supplies, and sent the NG to go mark the houses with the number of dead based on what you could see through windows(!)... Anyway you look at it, FEMA didn't give a damn about these people; they certainly weren't concerned with preserving their dignity.

I hope this makes the MSM... And I hope there are other people like Lt. Frederick Fell who are willing to disobey orders to help their fellow citizens...

[nonconformist]

49. There was a gurney on the sidewalk

GETTING HELP: Marc Hawkins, left, assistant leader of California Task Force 5 from Orange County, calls for a medical evacuation of the rescued man today in New Orleans. Rescuers surround the man, who is lying on a gurney.

Photo by Bruce Chambers, the Register

I think TIME was of the essence here, not modesty. They found him naked and covered his private areas. The people that rescued this poor man should be commended.

[Arkansas Granny]

58. There is a stretcher on the ground. They are apparently

moving him off the stretcher and putting him someplace else. As to the sheet, at a time like this, modesty is not that important, although they did cover his crotch with something. I doubt that he cared much about it at that point.

[fooj]

25. If this doesn't qualify as negligent homicide..........

:grr:

[markus]

29. Can't jeapordize people's plasma TVS to save the lives of a few

of "those" people, now can you.

Do you have a link to that picture/

[fooj]

31. Yes. It's up in the original message.

peace.

[earth mom]

33. Unbelievable!

17 Days?!!!

I am sickened, heartbroken and outraged!!!

Bastards! Bastards! BASTARDS! ALL! May BushInc FRY IN HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:grr: :grr: :grr:

[DoYouEverWonder]

35. 17 Days and HS/FEMA continue to drag their feet

and purposely withhold assistance.

[fooj]

47. Hell is too nice a place...

:mad:

[Binka]

36. Feet Hands Ass To The Fire

These incompetent assholes need to pay. Shameful. Shame. Shame. Shame. I am beyond words. OMG. What a fucking travesty.

[applegrove]

37. Imagine if the foot had not been seen. Your country is just tragic.

[Imagevision]

60. Your country is just tragic? Amerika under Bush is disgusting...!

[bunny planet]

38. Just sent this to Olbermann, wish Randi wasn't on vacation this week.

This story needs air play NOW.

[fooj]

39. Thanks, bunny! I think it needs to be out there, too!

Peace.

[fooj]

40. California Task Force 5 deserves a big hug for this!

(((((((((((((((((((hug)))))))))))))))))))))

Thank you for modeling behavior that is right and just!

peace.

[colinmom71]

41. What disturbed me the most....

Was reading the longer article on the rescue. Towards the end of the story, it mentions they found some med bottles on a near-by chair labelled "Lillian Hollingsworth".... And I can't help but wonder, *where* is Lillian?

Glad that someone took the initiative and broke into the house... There are just no words for how horrifying all this has been.

[SlipperySlope]

44. What authority to break in ?

What authority does FEMA have to enter private property without the consent of the owner or a resident, or a search warrant based on probable cause?

[fooj]

46. California Task Force 5 from Orange County broke in...

Peace.

[kestrel91316]

52. Defense of necessity? Or whatever - TO SAVE A LIFE, you fool.

[Nothing Without Hope]

54. This story is far from unique. Eyewitnesses show PEOPLE ARE STILL

ABANDONED WITHOUT FOOD OR WATER, STILL DYING. Everyone who actually goes out into the devastated neighborhoods finds new bodies and people near death who have not seen ANY authorities. And if it's true of New Orleans, you know it's also true of other areas.

For just one example, read this story by Will Pitt about the guy who drove to New Orleans to find his girlfriend. He found her, but he also found many desperate people and a crying baby with two bodies of people who had recently died. (If it had not been recent, that baby would not have been still able to cry.) Here's the story:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4752099&mesg_id=4752099

The national news doesn't seem to realize that many more people are STILL dying every day because no one has bothered to give them food or water - federal authorities have indeed PREVENTED civilian aid from reaching them - and human bodies can only take so much before they collapse.

[bvar22]

55. "Compassioante Conservatism", a FAILED doctrine!

The Republican Ownership Society

The FACE of Compassionate Conservatism



Republican GREED has now KILLED more Americans than Al Qaeda!

The Democratic Party is a BIG TENT, but there is NO ROOM for those who advance the agenda of THE RICH (Corporate Owners) at the EXPENSE of LABOR and the POOR.

[Nothing Without Hope]

56. The visceral impact of stories like this is one reason why reporters are

being threatened with eviction if they dare take photos or write stories about what is found on the searches.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1776901
thread title: As bodies recovered, reporters are told 'no photos, no stories'

The feds want the death toll underestimated and they want it kept secret that people have CONTINUED TO DIE so long after the storm.

[fooj]

61. Geez..........

:cry:

[Nothing Without Hope]

57. dKos poster chachabowl calls this "The American Pieta," and you can see

why:





Guess these big-time Fristians never read the part that said

"...whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto Me."

[kath]

64. KICK - because this issue needs to be discussed. The MSM seems to be

ignoring it.
Searchers not allowed to break into homes?? WTF???