Amtrak and the great evacuation debate....

[Catchawave]

I'm reading conflicting stories on blogs that Amtrak left pre-Katrina NOLA with packed cars vs. empty cars. I can't find any MSM sources, other than Tim Russert blindsiding Mayor Nagin about the offer ("first I heard of this").

Nor could I find such a statement on Amtrak or CSX's websites. I know people were stranded at the airport(once sustained winds are 35-45mph?), and Amtrak's last train left well before Katrina arrived with extra cars, but to get them out of harm's way.

This is just bugging me wondering if it isn't a swiftboating effort towards Nagin? Amtrak does depend on Gov funding, so I would assume FEMA would be the only ones to approve "free rides" ?

[CottonBear]

1. Checkout the Katrina Timeline website.

Both the airport and Amtrack stopped running on Saturday afternoon. Remember that we bailed out the airlines after 9-11? You'd think we could order them to fly in w/ empty airliners or at least send in giant troop carrier planes. Cruise ships dropped off tourists on NOLA and left for Texas EMPTY.

[Catchawave]

4. That should have been the Federal Emergency plan?

That is once Bush declared the area:http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html

All public transportation should become an evacuation source? FEMA funds could cover that. National Guardsmen will be trained as school bus drivers and drive the buses inland to designated shelters?

Thanks for the info
:hi:

[MaineDem]

2. Sorry I don't have a source but I did read...

Amtrak's offer to help evacuate those at the Dome where turned down by FEMA.

I read it here at DU a few days ago but I don't remember the source so take it with a grain of salt.

[applegrove]

3. Amtrak offered to take 100 on the last train leaving. Think of how

dangerous that could have been if 2000 showed up for the train? Was the station hurricane proof?

No doubt that sending people to the Superdome was the right thing. Too bad FEMA was a vacuum. I still feel for those kids who lost family or watched people die. Terrible.

We will know more for sure in the weeks & months to come.

[Coexist]

5. I can't help feeling that the poor in NO are like steerage in the Titanic

blocked in until the first class passengers left - turned away from lifeboats (bridges into the suburbs) because they were "dangerous" and made the "good" people "nervous".

They were afraid they would "riot" - and when their rage at how they were treated got the better of them, and they did riot - were pointed at with a "see, we told you so".

[applegrove]

6. They knew they had a problem. Putting people in the Dome and

awaiting rescue in two to three days was the right thing to do. Except FEMA didn't show up with generators to run the plumbing or busses. They stood down and obviously revelled in making a mockery of Bureaucracy for their own selfish ends.