OT: An intersting quandry from the French Quarter

Just received an e-mail from a friend in New Orleans. He owns a building just off Bourbon Street and lives upstairs over a bar/restaurant. The closest flood water is 3 blocks away. He has a generator for the lights and freezer, a satellite ISP, cell phone, plenty of water and enough food, booze and mixers to make it to the next millennium.

Thus far the restaurant and his apartment are in good shape. In fact, he opened the bar today for happy hour. He is worried that he might be forcibly evacuated. If he is forced to leave and his place is looted, who is responsible?

Reply to
Glenn Ashmore
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A trick question I think.

I vote Katrina.

Reply to
Jim Stewart

It seems that there is a bit of "discussion" about manditory evacuation. I'm thrilled that your friend did so well and was prepared. They ALL have my prayers.

Reply to
Tom Gardner

I promise you that the democrats will blame Bush.

Heck a stop light down the street was out today. I am sure that somewhere a democrat is blaming Bush for that as well.

Reply to
Chris

I vote the leaking natural gas that will soon blow the whole block to smithereens. Which brings to mind the question - Howcome gas is STILL leaking??

Ken.

Reply to
Ken Davey

Ken, Good question.

Common sense would tell us something is wrong. How hard is to turn it off? Than again we might find that all the valves are electric. Or the valves are under water. Great design there.

People without common sense I am sure will blame Bush for the gas being on still.

Reply to
Chris

I think that the natural gas issue is non sequitur... I cannot believe that, after several days, there is enough of it to be an explosion risk.

i
Reply to
Ignoramus11916

Umm, the looters?

Your real question is, who's gonna pay for it all?

Sounds like he wants a handout.

My question is, are they gonna shoot folks to make them leave?

Jim

Reply to
jim rozen

So far, it's sounding like neither the cops nor the troops are willing to actually force people out. Which, IMO, is *EXACTLY* as it ought to be. The government doesn't exist to protect individuals from their own choices, and I feel that any attempt to do so is *ENTIRELY* out of line. You wanna stay? Fine. Just know this fact up front: You're *COMPLETELY* on your own once we leave. No assistance of any kind, no concern for your well-being, no nothing - Either come with us now, or ride this bull all the way to the end, because we're going to be too busy dealing with folks who want the help to bother with you."

A fairly high NG officer (didn't pay attention to the name) was reported in an AP article I saw earlier today as saying something that went on for a lot longer, but boiled down to "We don't take orders from the mayor of New Orleans, and we're not going to force people to leave their homes if they don't want to go."

Reply to
Don Bruder

Don, I read an article last week about an evacuation in another US city. The mayor said that they wouldn't force people to leave but just to make them understand how serious the problem was he was having his guys give the people who wouldn't leave a magic marker and make them write their SS number on both arms and legs as well as their torso. The stated purpose was to easily identifying the remains if they really really wanted to stay. Some did elect to remain but it was enough of a wake up call to get others to leave.

Reply to
John R. Carroll

I get the impression he's concerned about his property and wants to protect it by not leaving. I never got the feeling he's looking for anything else. Considering the events of recent days, I'd say he's come down with mental health. He appeared to have been well prepared for the events at hand, and would likely do well tending his own place, assuming he's not run out at gun point by well meaning folks trying to follow orders from others, all in an attempt to make it look like they're doing something------which, in my opinion, came way too late.

Harold

Reply to
Harold and Susan Vordos

John, that would work for me. :-)

Seriously, the remaining problem in New Orleans are the pathogens that currently infest the city. Five cases of infection have already died after presenting symptoms for only a day. It's a "Hot Zone."

I would not rule out sanitization of the city through the use of fire or very toxic chemicals. This is why the very few remaining residents need to be evacuated. Purification by the use of fire is the most cost effective and safest solution.

The alternative is to let nature take its course, then after everyone in the city is dead, bury it like one enormous plague pit or Love Canal.

Harry C.

Reply to
hhc314

If he refuses to leave it is doubtful the NG will force the issue. If they do, and the place burns down as he is leaving the fire insurance should cover it.

Reply to
Nick Hull

Saw another interesting situation on CNN last night. A roofer whose house was high and dry and had electricity was cleaning up his house when a unit of the California Highway patrol forced him to pack up in 5 minutes and leave. He objected that being a roofer he would be needed to help with the rebuilding but it made no difference. Also a construction company struggling to get its office back up and operating was told to close down and leave.

My question: If all the craftsmen are moved to Utah or Maine, who will be left to handle reconstruction? Are they clearing everyone out so they can hire Halliburton?

Reply to
Glenn Ashmore

So far I think the folks that are still present have managed just fine without any 'assistance' at all. Of course this could change as soon as they come down with cholera or typhoid fever or dysentery.

They're gonna be asking for a little bit of help if that happens then.

I think the best way to deal with the issue is, for the troops and police to say "OK you can stay, but you've just been conscripted for the relief effort. Report to this hosptial or this nursing home at

8 am in the morning to assist with clean-up efforts. Or we'll be here to drag you along. Food and gear will be provided."

Maybe if some of those 'me first survivors' has shown up at the hospitals and nursing homes in the first place, there wouldn't have been as many corpses to drag out now.

Jim

Reply to
jim rozen

They stayed to protect their property from looters, in many cases. Most also assisted neighbors who needed it. I suspect most would be willing to help with the relief effort if they had assurance their property would not be at risk without them there.

Reply to
Rex B

=================== In another time and another place "We had to destroy the village in order to save it." Comment in an "after-action" report in Vietnam.

Reply to
F. George McDuffee

To hell with the property; The issue is: Are YOU personally better off leaving or staying? If you leave you have two choices. If you have a lot of extra cash you can live in a hotel. You probably won't get back into NO for a couple months, so you better have lots of money or some relatives to put you up. If you don't have the cash will you be forced to stay in a refugee area with hundreds or other people? Will you have to stand in line for food, sleep on the floor, wait in line to use the bathroom and be exposed to whatever diese is floating around the refugee camp? Its not clear to me that this is better than staying put since he appears to be well prepared. I would guess that he doesn't have the resources to stick it out for 2 months though. If it were me, I would move out now if I had a friend or relative I could stay with. It would take some convincing to go to a refugee camp.

Sounds pretty heavy handed and a bit like prison camp to me. What do you intend to do to them if they don't conform?

Reply to
Chuck Sherwood

Especially after the debacle at the superdome. Once I heard that once folks went in there, they were not allowed out, the problem became clear. I would worry that refugee camps would wind up being the same thing, once you're in the system, they won't let go of you.

Once martial law's been declared in an area, the occupation force can do whatever they like I suspect. This includes conscripting locals for labor details. Don't like it? Then get out now.

Jim

Reply to
jim rozen

Heh. That's tinfoil hat territory my friend. Though, the answer is probably a resounding 'yes.' Like gunner said about them in Iraq, they're the only game in town and they're best able to do the job....

LOL.

Jim

Reply to
jim rozen

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