Should someone go to jail for the slow response after Hurricane Katrina?

Question

Hurricane Katrina was one of the most devastating natural disasters to hit the gulf coast. Now what I don't understand is how if something happens somewhere on the otherside of the world we can be there in 2 days but when something like this hits close to home it took roughly 5 days just for some form help to arrive. I believe that this should be considered mrder because many could have been saved had the response time been quicker and more efficient. Someone should be held liable. What do you think?

Answer 1

Bush. The others responsible should be fired.

Answer 2

The whole thing was a nightmare...its the poor, sick and disabled who needed more help. One should never expect the govenment to cure what ails them...they just proved it. What happened afterward was predictable...good people did all they could, some thru up their hand and others took advantage where ever they could....Nobody expects these things to happen to them. The Univ of LA had a disaster plan in place...nobody read or followed it. The results were predictable. That said, it has been a year...where is the clean up crew? There is so much bickering still on who is to blame...they are all on the gerbil wheel pointing fingers at one another instead of clearing the debrib. The insurance companies have also been detrimental to the process. It is all very unamerican...I don't have the answers, just more questions like everyone else.

Answer 3

Yes I do think someone should go to jail for the slow response. Because of the poor response time all those innocent people died. The way they did those people made no damn sense!. When you see the pics of the city a year later the **** doesnt look any better. If they can put all that money into iraq the government should have been able to make Louisianna look alot better. Someone on answers was talking basically how they believe the people of Katrina is abusing the government funds. I dont feel that way those people lost homes, family members, buisnesses and etc... They lost their lively hoods and who gives a **** about a couple of trailers and some money they deserve alot more. The president and fema could have done alot more. Its ****** up how we looked and watched that **** on the news it looked like we were watching a 3rd world country. All I was able to send was clothes and I wish it could have been alot more.

Answer 4

Personally, I think America is too "Sue-Crazy" -- we sue for everything instead of taking any personal responsibility for things.

I do agree that its odd that our government seems to take more care of the rest of the world than it does its own citizens. But honestly, I feel that most citizens who chose to STAY instead of heeding warnings and orders to evacuate brought on a lot of what they experienced themselves.

Its true, that had they evacuated when they were initially told to, that they would have avoided personal injury and come home to find the same result as they did by staying -- total devastation to property. Property can be replaced ... people cannot.

I also feel that the first responders and FEMA need to be more prepared for future hurricane seasons. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that hurricanes are becoming more frequent and more deadly than the ones I experienced living in South Florida for 33 yrs. Our governement needs to have a concrete plan for how they will help evacuate prior to a storm and protect & repair after a storm or other natural disaster.

We blame everyone for something no one has any control over and try to find blame or someone to "pay" when things don't go as we hope ... but ... we also have to take personal responsibility and get outta dodge when they tell us to instead of saying "ohhhh it won't be so bad ... we'll ride it out..." then blame others for the consequences of that decision ....

Answer 5

I have a idea of being fast to help those people. The Governor of LA and Ray Naigan are the Idiots to be fired. They could have gotten most of those people out of there two or three days before the storm hit.

Alot of people think when there is a hurricane that the Government should be there to hold their hand.

I had a wedding in MS to go to the weekend after the storm and I could not even get out of South Alabama because all of the roads were block or damage from debris so If I could not get to MS then the US Government could not travel the same roads I wanted to travel mainly I 10.

Answer 6

Hurricane Katrina, blah, blah, blah, zzzzzzz.......Look, it's been a year. There was inadequate response on the part of everyone involved. Including the citizens. The few people who could have evacuated didn't want to leave, or didn't try to leave until it was too late. ALL of the various levels of government f*cked up to the greatest extent possible, and continue to do so. I don't see most of the residents making any effort to improve their lives by either trying to return and aid in rebuilding or start over where they are. And where are you going to find a jail big enough to hold all of the "slow responders"?

The bottom line is, after a whole year shouldn't the finger-pointing finally stop? Who is all of the blaming going to help?

Answer 7

Look no further than the mayor and the governor.. there are still complaints about the school buses which remained untouched.. the people had more than 3 days to evacuate and those buses should have been used to accomplish that feat. As far as there not being transportation, recall how many cars were damaged by the flood and how many filed insurance claims. Was total disorganization at the local level. As well as apparently no proper planning for emergencies such as this particular catastrophy.

Answer 8

I honestly think that sometimes people that hold the power don't know what to do in certain situations. Oh wait....we all do that. People make mistakes...things like that happen sometimes. I'm sure they didn't say wait...lets let a bunch of people die and then we'll start evacuating the rest of them....I highly doubt tha that happened. So sorry I think the slow responses were clearly a mistake and a total accident and no 1 person should be held accountable.

Answer 9

Stop blaming "someone" for the disaster. What happened to personal responsibility? A man appeared on the news who was at the Moriel Convention center holding his baby and complaining that she had no food, water, diapers, etc. HELLLOOO. Why didn't HE prepare to take care of her. He had as much forwarning as everyone else....but, I'm supposed to feel sorry and empathize with him. Hogwash!! I live in Baton Rouge and spent all day preparing my home and family for Katrina. There were mistakes made by EVERYONE involved. Stop waiting for the government to do what YOU should have done and stop complaining if the government doesn't respond like YOU wanted.

Answer 10

What would sending people to jail, a year later, do to help the place rebuild? The whole situation was handled poorly from the residents not leaving when they were warned the first time, to assistance for people to help people get out who did not have transport, to the aid and help not being sent in promptly after the hurricane when the people needed it. You can blame thousands, put thousands in jail...that will not solve anything.

Answer 11

I am sorry for the the Katrina area , But what about the area that got the storm after Katrina . She was called Rita the area here is not getting any thing done for us ,all you here is Katrina this and Katrina that ,but the people over in the Lake Charles, Holly Beach, Cameron area have been forgot. But they are coming back.Thank You: : : : :