Transcription
Ladies and gentlemen, I wish I had better news for you, but we are facing a storm that most of us have feared. A mandatory evacuation order was called for all of the parish, for all of Sunday morning in New Orleans. The National Weather Service issued a bulletin predicting a hurricane along the Gulf Coast of unprecedented strengths.
"The area will be uninhabitable for weeks," the bulletin predicted, and it went on to say, "human suffering incredible by modern standards." The National Weather Service told us, "We're scared for you. We're deeply scared for you."
Now, this government officials, they don't use those words. In the wake of 9/11, the recreated Department of Homeland Security had come up with a detailed plan for responding to such disasters, nearly 500 pages long, that claimed to ensure seamless integration in the event of a national emergency of the federal government and local and state authority. We're just... or when they're very briefly introduce, ah... Michael. Do you have known that Sunday? Michael Brown, the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, presided over a teleconference with state, local, and federal officials. Live, that's removed. "Which we will do whatever it takes to help disaster victims," President Bush, drawing the briefing from his home, interactions, corporation of Los. State level decked out. "We are going out there, uh... dollar-yen drivers from, but we will go a long range was unnecessary disposal." Words like "quick," "entrenched resources," and "assets" are on reassuring. But it now appears that officials from President Bush and down to the local level were often using words that signify different things to different people.
Even terms like "mandatory evacuation." And folks who set up morning, we'll say it again. The United Talent for Unity in Atlanta. Twenty-eight percent of the population of the city of New Orleans is below the poverty line, and poor people tend to be less well-informed, men tend to be less mobile, have cars to get out. And so many of those who wanted to leave, Norman's protruding, headed for the city's Superdome. By 3 o'clock Sunday afternoon, some 10,000 people had already gathered. Came out of his laptop. They need a hard. And I just found recruiter newsrooms early Monday morning. Category-four hurricane with winds of up to 125 Americans. Some of his staff and set up a command center in the Hyatt Hotel. This side of the Superdome. Communication we had was allowed. We've got and Adam wireless broadband carter worked all the way up into the hired. Seven. The mayor and it's cheap and almost forgetting arm by information. Beautiful.com. Find internet. The goes down. It was one of the misuse of communication breakdowns that would contribute to untold suffering and still untethered number of deaths. At 8:14 central time, the National Weather Service issued a bulletin reading, "Flash flood warning. Alleging a breach occurred along the Industrial Canal." A Tennessee script trauma. Most of the other comment bolton went up. A hurricane had been battling the city for hours. The electricity and phones were out, so most people neither sought nor heard the warning. Officials in Washington seemed totally oblivious to the board. All right, but they didn't need any bulletin. Someone ninety more dancing promotes parish, just east of the city. Their twenty-four Williams of wardrobe literate in most of the landscape in just a couple of hours. We can project right now. Eleven fifty. It is now left the state bubble wheezing and with the strong gone. It was up to local officials to go in, assess damage their communities have suffered. For 48 to 60 hours after the star makes landfall, each local community needs to be able to sustain its sis, to sustain itself. Then we can expect state and federal resources to begin to flow in. Investment in the car. I do censured output to who did. Were among the first to sound the alarm on a new disaster. About two or three in the afternoon, when the winds were still pretty strong, two of our two of my colleagues, an editor, Anna, and an art critic, uh... took their bicycles and rode out to the lakefront to where they lived and witnessed firsthand the water gushing through the breach in the levee and their own neighborhoods, filling up like a bathtub. This second breach was on the west side of the city, directly across from the eastern side where the morning breach of been reported by the National Weather Service. But most of the officials who were running the relief effort were either of stock in the downtown Hyatt Hotel, in the state capital of Baton Rouge, or out of the state altogether. The governor, though, was optimistic. Uh... "We did report object to it for swine, depending on the president has signed up all the declarations of emergency that we needed to release interpret and fifty of the federal government to help Louisiana people." Once the president landed, beginners only XIV mentioned the hurricane in this speech devoted to Medicare. But in an unfortunately wing of the disconnected, would plead the administration for the next several days, he made reference to what sounded like he totally relevant conversation here, just had with is director of Homeland Security. "I said, 'Are you working with the governor?' Said, 'You bet we are. That's the most effective way to do things is to work with the state and local authorities. There are more resources that are being available.'" But the topic they were discussing was immigration reform, not hurricane resources. Everywhere the first images out did not show, uh... cities submerged, storm damage, lots of maybe more than usual, but nothing really remarkable, except perhaps for the torn skin on the roof of the Superdome. Was just on passing on one meeting. Nobody was let out of the dome. Feel they were still had had to stay within the dome areas. Anywhere you the parts of the city, of course, were floating and feedback. You we use from the rising water headed to the only building that had been designated to show proof, last resort, the Superdome. Deputy Police Superintendent Lonnie's where you spent Monday, the following six days there, on all of our own warning us polarizing dole retinoid Carolina lighting, uh... I wearing a in a long or Eleanor Leona, a email over one dent. Restate and federal officials have been watching the storm from the safety of the state emergency operations center. They were cautiously optimistic the recovery would be on track. But as even fill, according to our office, Governor Blanco told the president, "I need everything you've got, deck about. I hope he will tell President, that's how much we appreciate it. The 15th of the times that really count to know that our federal government will step in and give us the kind of assistance that we need, and that aren't in desperate need for." Uh... "What I've seen your to those of the military target working closely with your work, all being very professional within a month or more pain than making the right calls." The federal government to was waiting for a specific requests from the storm front. By asking for everything you've got, Governor Blanco was provided no guidance whatsoever. Another breakdown in communication. Since then, we don't know if anything that were trapped and now retract hundreds of cell towers, a goner. Nobel, no, we didn't do anything about it. That's what people were missing, and they kept thinking someone health was going to come. We no that power, no, no, that underwater. And when the first aerial showing a much more expansive view of the area came in that evening, the devastation was quite visible to anyone who was watching that actual downtown area. And I think that it would only writing well-regarded eating later, but it was again, or you got it working twelve from downtown Ed Norton. What modern trade it got actually working? It was very frustrating. And no, but we knew see that the story wasn't getting told to the nation into the world. And it's a good belair of up on it. The list of, but he did less so she's in a remote location. And uh... good communication between the state and local levels were not what they should have been. And what about those for the room at the national government? From what I can see, was oblivious. The airport was closed. Those with cars had already left the city. Needed bosons, hundreds sums in the surplus, or you're not asking for a transcript. Pacbell also on unknown videoconference wins. The most state officials requested 500 bosses. That request was eventually upped to in Lebanon. I had 70,000 people in the city who needed buses to get out. This was not the time you can contract anything with time demobilize, and it didn't happen. It was about the same time that the president, on a trip to San Diego to commemorate the 60th anniversary of V-J Day, this message to Capri. Ms. victims, the federal, state, local governments working side by side to do all we can. They'll people get back on their feet. Partisan equipment or place ever get beginning to move, and the help that people need with the wasted away. He goes a limited number of Coast Guard and National Guard helicopter crews performed here or two, plucking stranded survivors off rooftops one-by-one. But with some since of people prepping for on their houses, it would take days to finish the job. A lot I'll book the create what I thought that rules and audit log cannot routing out there is because the school. I think that the other city officials in those parts of the city where heavy vehicles could still pass, Louisiana National Guard had a handful of trucks collecting people in the streets. But there were far too few vehicles to begin within. As we would later find out, their remaining for us or under water. Everyone continued to be either drop at or directed toward the Superdome. Those of us intro to pick him up in the back, but look and bring them over to the zoo. At this point, we've reviewed with the burden pacifica in every models that you could add ten thousand people gardening. We're article missus over thirty thousand, and we're still falling. Many people tried to walk out of the city over the one bridge still accessible by foot, but over the next three days, people reported being turned away by police from the neighboring parish, Harris, liar account, and they will net whether tak dull and police officers witnessing saying, "You have to unload back in the shop instead, as set it afire, and we want to protect the property in this area." Meanwhile, the city and there was still struggling to get word to outside official. On a night, a complete and either. I've got thirty thousand people a Superdome. I've got no food and water, no power anywhere. Every at that point, we had just focused on getting that S.O.S. It's a very tough, tough situation. Plans will unravel. FEMA is here. The federal government, I'm sure, will spare no expense. That the plans are not firm yet, but working with FEMA, we are grateful that delays by our side. And then an extraordinary statement for the FEMA coordinator who insisted on and don't claim to rising water. And I've been involved in area in general, you, you should majority of the areas, it's not a rising at all. It's the same, or it may be lower. And I believe in some parts of New Orleans, because of the 17th Street breach, it may be roslyn. And that seemed to be the case in parts of downtown. But at 1:01, everybody that in on the world is filling up like abortions. Not happen to understand the extent of the communications breakdown. Listen to the statement by the Secretary of Homeland Security made at the end of the week. Closed that was on Tuesday. That's already maven overnight Monday to Tuesday. But the levee started to break. Batteries mid-day Tuesday. I became aware of the fact that there was no possibility of plugging the gap, and that essentially the lake was gonna start to break into the city. Remember, the National Weather Service has issued a bulletin that the first lady had broken at 8:14 Monday morning, not Tuesday. And the second levee you have broken by 2 p.m. Monday afternoon. Late Tuesday afternoon, with thousands still stranded by the water, local officials called for anyone with a boat to help with the rescue effort. By the end of that day, the Superdome was surrounded by two to three feet of water, and the population had exploded. At 10:15 Tuesday evening, Governor Blanco ordered an evacuation of the stadium, but people's immune to gesture. There was no timetable, no destination, and most of all, no trucks, no buses. People were known desperately searching for an alternative. That one area at the together. Terry important ones. Homeland Security Director says he began directing evacuees to the city's Convention Center. The well-intentioned order would lead to some of the darkest moments of the catastrophe. Governor Blanco finally spoke to the president, 2:48 p.m. "She has thirty thousand troops. We request for buses a little after 5 p.m." And the president spoke from the Rose Garden. "Our first priority is to save lives. We're assisting local officials in New Orleans in effect, you waiting any remaining citizens from the affected area." In some cases, people was simply being moved from one hell hole to another. As night fell, overcrowded, field of finance school, really and frustrated, the elderly in safely on cops in the open. Doctor set up a triage system and do their best to evacuate the worst cases. Going and you remained were forced to list on the ground amid the garment. They needed faucets, and there were no scope. Location might not missus dole Catholic. There's nothing on the displaced. Just before midnight, several buses did or off. They loaded up and headed for Houston. Surface was the last of the buses until morning. You can't do a pro life forms. Saint of the contract buses and and this he can do it. The governor was supportive. "Tend to be tough for me, and they've got down rather than by the mob come in here and asked me what I mean. I don't know what I need a cat, you know, I got it sedentary." There was one success story. Bank at the high at the mare was able to make and receive phone calls on his homemade phone network. Late that night, he got his call Air Force One calls and says, "College back in his number and name. Days, Mr. Mayor, here's our number." Although there is no communication serves to with the the bleakest a year. It's been three days since the levees broke. President Bush gave his first television interview of the week to Diane Sawyer. "Battling anybody anticipated breach of the levees. They did dissipated serious storm. These ladies get breached, and as a result, much in New Orleans is flooded, and that we're having to deal with it as well." The president is correct. Nobody did enters a plea the breach of the levees, but they did predict that the levees would be flooded. Kept rural hospital. Ten patients have died overnight. There was only one working telephone in the entire hospital, and the small staff, which was low on supplies, they were forced to make some very tough choices. Correspondent Bob Woodward was there. "How are we doing today? Is the positions of iron evaluating every Haitian advocates say their name. We give you an idea that they are quite rejecting anticipated math. Is what if they can say that I'm electoral? I think the Sedona firebombed. If we don't get help, say well done. It's not that means that instead, because I really don't amenable period here on the roof their services patient considered and portraits of the cancer then going places disgusting." Federal, state, and local agencies are also cooperate to sustain life in these cases, and war too to those who were stranded. Medical personnel, local officials are helping hospital patients. As people gathered in the Superdome to evacuate, four days later, and restore more than 20,000 people of the Superdome, waiting in the heat for buses that are supposed to take them to Houston's Astrodome. Powerful, perfect fixated here. You can see that the buses were coming and going since Wednesday night, albeit slower. And by late Thursday, an additional 10,000 people showed up, desperate to leave the city. From Washington, soothing, reassuring cell. Michael Church also ahead of the Department of Homeland Security told the American public things were under control. "Saqi matters to seek perjury, secure everybody's contradict. Have you believe, maintain order as is committed to continuing to do so. Finish at the factory should have a rich strictly enforced dole reliably where they were great. There was an ultimate and symbols to wait. There was more confusion at the city's conventions." For many Americans, these scenes of people, thousands of people begging for help in front of television cameras, for the first tangible indication, but just how dreadful conditions were. Yet, K. The no police, no National Guard, fuel, Red Cross, no blossom, just desperate people when they waited for transportation anywhere else. We can take three dash three people with weapons inside the convention center. City times mormons police want to use it at the center thirty times. Police Superintendent Compass told me a, they were driven back by gunfire. The single where you have a greater concentration, redifmail, the Super Bowl, none of the conventions, nor the boy's together, thirty-two thousand people, almost all forced labor. So well, yet, but what about the conditions that we have about levels of the communication? We didn't have a tactical commanders that you were present. Nobody let me see note. People didn't know. People in the fourth enough. Well, sort of pettino na na na, give us a little. You get to agriculture where they'd take control. These limit over thirty thousand. All the little firefight were also killed. So it's important to us. The first for the we sort of a bizarre stroll aired on a business trip program about a marine. All my life fell about misery. There's as well as same misery. And I can assure you that Wednesday and Thursday, I'd never seen such suffering. It was very difficult to to deal with. It costs us two of our police officers flies by suicide. There was a serious disconnect between local and federal officials. At this point, it was early Thursday evening. New Orleans may make an issue with a desperate as so s. Currently said, "The Convention Center is on the sanitary and on the safe, and we're running out of supplies." Was Brown, our famous Mike Brown, appeared on Nightline. "Don't you guys watch television? Don't you guys listen to the radio? We've been so focused on doing rescue and lifesaving mission to get back to when people from the Super Bowl that we first learned about, of course, but first demonstration instinct was get somebody in their, get me truth on the ground, let me know because if it's true, we've got a helpful speed the people the convention center of this error, the people on the bridges." "With all due respect, sir, I think one of the people in the convention center and not being fair our borders of the people that the people the Superdome." "I'm sorry, you're absolutely correct." A frustrated man, Megan, had reached his limit. He called a local radio station. "We're hearing then state fourteen thousand National Guard people on the bar about to be on the ground with a keralite. No, they're not. You see, as he starts finally hitting the real version out of what was happening, you feel his heart breaking, and you feel the anger." Daya here me had. It's 9 p.m. here in Washington. President Bush's blues and people in our dream now, but no one really an impartial seldom had originally included a national disgrace outfit, but the reality kalpana calphalon ha. The results are not acceptable. At 9:02 Friday, a somber President Bush faced reporters on the South Lawn of the White House. But when he touched down just before 11, he was joined by a few minutes cheese, Mike Rock, and ready to go ahead. Favorite directors, the FEMA in General Mike Brown, in particular, and increasingly the president himself, were being the unit as not having done. I have a job title font. There had not been the single please and warns that he was appropriately stock to review the children in care for the families in suburban Kiwis. Was the city's free trying to sell the house. Dave got by on the mobsters coming leta with any of the he harjeet not trying to get into it. The freeman was responsible before providing those buses. He'd failed miserably. But neither the state nor the city of New Orleans had any viable baker planned for evacuation either. When this convoy of buses finally arrived at the Superdome, some parents was sold this group paper, just sick infants over the crowd, begging the groomsmen to take them, collapsed and had to be carried out. Ten blocks away, Nightline correspondent Chris Beary was at the Convention Center. "It is not afternoon. Thousands of people remain trapped inside this Convention Center, and there is no sign of any bus or anything that might suggest an evacuation is being planned or imminent in any way. And after five days without running water, sanitation, medicine, the stench inside this building is almost unbearable. Sprawled on the new york in a minute, we'll be seeing each other. Which need to get out of it with lodi consistent with that many did done at the Convention Center. That body is simply covered with sheets here." Police Superintendent ITI Compass bridled at the suggestion that he and his men could have done more. "To bring border, which I think dot blotting windshield, that but what the building we will like the how will I? There was no plan in order, no cohesion. We did not ever have the capability these people out. The only one organization the United States become respond, uh... upon anything of this magnitude. Militarism, military, and we've got to have them upfront rather than a mirror three or four or five days down the line. They know how to do these things." Consume from at the same day, the military turned full-size poured into the city. And for the first time, military convoys loaded with food, water, and supplies rolled up to the Convention Center. All aa leaving the cavalry was Lieutenant Colonel Connery's cigar-smoking three-star veteran. Don't the John Wayne do by the mayor dot t. O. Narasimha, having heard reports of guns in the science one deans and the military weapons law on the perspective of those stranded inside. The rescuers look more like men prepared to put down a prison life. Delays to report at the Convention Center is secure. One of the objectives that we had today is to move in and secure that Convention Center. It would be one more day before the bolsa spinal u.k. flavier. Not watching all of it. I'm not forget what I say. Understands the devastation requires then one day, six days. It had to be an intensely sobering experience for the president. For five days, America's first responder to the world's emergencies and a leader in communication failed to communicate and was agonizingly slow to respond with song people in distress.