Gretna responds to blocked evacuees

[strandinthewind]

Here's the official response of the mayor of Gretna to that story:

A month ago, Hurricane Katrina devastated the City of Gretna, leaving no building undamaged. It was a city without electricity, running water or sewerage. Debris and fallen trees blocked roads and downed electric lines created safety hazards everywhere. Roofing nails disabled many patrol cars and limited police response. No shelters or medical services were available. During the height of the storm, a dry dock, with a tugboat in its hold, broke its moorings and drifted menacingly upriver for two miles before it hit a diesel supply ship, spilling its 58,000 gallons into the Mississippi River with waves washing much of it into our city. Gretna was far from being a safe haven.

Of the normal 17,500 residents, it was estimated that four to five thousand remained during the storm. A diverse population of White, African-American, Hispanic and Asians, much like that of New Orleans, was left with the little provisions that they were warned to stock beforehand. Our efforts to have FEMA supply food, water and ice were not met for a full five days after the storm.

On Monday, with storm winds still blowing, looters within our city were arrested and, according to our disaster response plan, the Gretna Police Department sealed our city limits and prevented anyone from entering for obvious reasons of safety and security.

Tuesday was the first clear weather day that presented the nation with pictures of flooding, looting, arson and reports of rape in New Orleans. In Gretna, as officials evaluated the damages of Katrina, buses of RTA drivers and their families were dropped off without any notice into our city. Hours later, after Gretna provided portalets and a bottle of water for each person, the RTA provided their own buses and evacuated to Baton Rouge, but this was not a signal of what was to come.

Late in the day on Wednesday, a flow of people from New Orleans began to cross the Crescent City Connection on foot. They were told that food, water, safety and shelter could be found on the Westbank. Unbelievably, the Mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, was instructing people to cross the bridge; however he did not tell Gretna officials of his actions. With a crowd massing, Gretna police officers commandeered Westside Transit buses and began the arduous task of transporting busloads of people down the Westbank Expressway to the Huey P. Long Bridge and to safety at I-10 and Causeway, the FEMA approved evacuation point. It is estimated that approximately 6,000 evacuees were transported by the Gretna Police Department over a period of 12 to 14 hours without a death or injury reported. A fact overlooked by the national media.

Oakwood Mall was looted and burned on Wednesday. By mid-morning on Thursday, with overwhelming numbers at the foot of the Westbank Expressway, a joint decision was made by the City of Gretna Police Department, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office and the Crescent City Connection Bridge Police that the Bridge had to be closed for the safety of all. Outside of the City of Gretna, there were reports of gun-wielding criminals who demanded cash, jewelry and car keys. With law enforcement present, order is expected, without it, terror reigns.

Although our investigation of the bridge incident is not complete, initial reports revealed that a warning shot was fired when the crowd became unruly and the safety of the officer was threatened. What the crowd and police officers said that night we may never know. What was clear, however, was that the decision to close the bridge was made because there was no safety for the evacuees on the Westbank. No buses, no food, no shelter, nothing.

In Katrina's aftermath, Gretna has been unfairly charged of racism. Our residents, as well as the New Orleans evacuees, were black, white and other ethnic backgrounds. All expected protection, safety, food and water. Gretna did not have the capacity to support its own residents much less the thousands who were told otherwise. What was the New Orleans plan? Is it racism to not have a plan? Is it racism to say that food, water and safe haven were "just over that bridge"?

It has been four weeks and we are still trying to recover. City services have been restored but we are feeding people through food distribution centers. At first, it took constant pleading to FEMA and the State of Louisiana to provide food, water and ice to Gretna's residents. During this past month, cities across the state and nation have responded with equipment, supplies and labor. Faith based organizations have contributed hundreds of volunteers and tons of supplies benefiting not only our people but also our neighboring jurisdictions. The dedication of city, police, fire and emergency workers was above and beyond measure. It's disappointing to hear that the national and local media is accusing a good community of racism when the charge is simply untrue.

Safety and security, a city infrastructure and eventually a business community are all elements needed in rebuilding our metropolitan area. In Gretna, we have that ability because of the action that was taken after the storm.

Perhaps it was a lack of communication or cooperation, or just a lack of common sense management that Mayor Ray Nagin and other officials of New Orleans demonstrated when they sent New Orleans evacuees to a neighboring city without notice, without knowing our capabilities and without a plan. In the future, in the event of a disaster, New Orleans city leaders have a duty, a responsibility, and a moral obligation to communicate completely and consistently with their neighboring cities and parishes, and we, as neighbors must do the same. It is not just a matter of protocol but of essential public safety.

Ronnie C. Harris
Mayor, City of Gretna

_______________________________________________________

Fire away - though it sounds logical to me.

[dissention]

He doesn't address the accusations that Gretna polic officers robbed people camped out at the base of the bridge of food and water at gunpoint.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Fire away - though it sounds logical to me.

His version of events differs greatly from that of the people who were there. I suppose it's all just a matter of who you believe.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

He doesn't address the accusations that Gretna polic officers robbed people camped out at the base of the bridge of food and water at gunpoint.

I did not hear that one.

But, the point of the article was that Gretna was helping evacuate people and no one mentioned that. Instead, it was the stopping of a relatively small amount of foot traffic into a war zone that made the headlines.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

His version of events differs greatly from that of the people who were there. I suppose it's all just a matter of who you believe.

It is easily verifiable that Gretna sustained looting and hurricane damage and that it was assisting in the evacuation of people through Gretna to Metairie. I do not think anyone is actually disputing that.

Thus, where does it differ greatly?

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

It is easily verifiable that Gretna sustained looting and hurricane damage and that it was assisting in the evacuation of people through Gretna to Metairie. I do not think anyone is actually disputing that.

Thus, where does it differ greatly?

Although our investigation of the bridge incident is not complete, initial reports revealed that a warning shot was fired when the crowd became unruly and the safety of the officer was threatened.

Eyewitness accounts from the people trying to cross the bridge, a group of about 100 people, said that they never became unruly and that the officer in question fired warning shots as soon as they approached. The group then disbanded and a group of around 30-40 (many elderly) people camped out at the base of the bridge, and were then supposedly approached by Gretna police later that night and robbed of food and water at gunpoint.

And what exactly measures his safety being threatened?

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

Although our investigation of the bridge incident is not complete, initial reports revealed that a warning shot was fired when the crowd became unruly and the safety of the officer was threatened.

Eyewitness accounts from the people trying to cross the bridge, a group of about 100 people, said that they never became unruly and that the officer in question fired warning shots as soon as they approached. The group then disbanded and a group of around 30-40 (many elderly) people camped out at the base of the bridge, and were then supposedly approached by Gretna police later that night and robbed of food and water at gunpoint.

And what exactly measures his safety being threatened?

Well, in that situation, a group of 100 people walking toward a closed bridge during a time of wild rumors about raping and pillaging might qualify as a perceived threat, esp. considering the bridge was closed for that very reason and many of those rumors were substantiated. In the end, the bridge was closed and the people should have apparently in the end, did respect that. I just do not see the horrible nature of the officers here - save for the robbing of food and water, which to me is incdredible as many people had no food and water and the police had it.

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Well, in that situation, a group of 100 people walking toward a closed bridge during a time of wild rumors about raping and pillaging might qualify as a perceived threat, esp. considering the bridge was closed for that very reason and many of those rumors were substantiated. In the end, the bridge was closed and the people should have apparently in the end, did respect that. I just do not see the horrible nature of the officers here - save for the robbing of food and water, which to me is incdredible as many people had no food and water and the police had it.

I don't think a group of 100 people made up of many elderly citizens, poses a great risk of committing rape and thievery. I personally don't think their firearms should have been shot at that point, but that's my opinion. Nothing more, nothing less.

I hope they find the officers involved in stealing food and water and fire their sorry asses. What a disgrace.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

. . . I hope they find the officers involved in stealing food and water and fire their sorry asses. What a disgrace.

If it happened

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

If it happened

I believe it did. I posted the transcript from AC 360 when it first aired, I'm sure it's still around.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

I don't think a group of 100 people made up of many elderly citizens, poses a great risk of committing rape and thievery. I personally don't think their firearms should have been shot at that point, but that's my opinion. Nothing more, nothing less . . . .

Do any pics of the make up of the crowd exist - or are you just taking the word of the people who were there, etc. I am not being antagonistic, just curious because that is quite an incline in the 100 degree weather for really old people who are famished to climb.

In the end, I just do not see the big deal about a warning shot, esp. considering the rumors of the lawlessness and the proven lawlessness. I mean a soft spoken voice on a bull horn representing like 10 or so officers likely would not have been sufficient. But, to each their own.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

If it happened

I saw the witnesses being interviewed on television and they seemed pretty credible.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

I believe it did. I posted the transcript from AC 360 when it first aired, I'm sure it's still around.

Well, who said it. I mean the press was reporting things by rumor only then Maybe AC had an eyewitness, but even then, it sort of defies belief that the police, who had food and water, would come across the bridge to a random homeless site and steal what little food and water they had. That makes no sense, esp. considering the simultaneous reports that food and water were very scarce amongst evacuees at that time

[dissention]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Well, who said it. I mean the press was reporting things by rumor only then Maybe AC had an eyewitness, but even then, it sort of defies belief that the police, who had food and water, would come across the bridge to a random homeless site and steal what little food and water they had. That makes no sense, esp. considering the simultaneous reports that food and water were very scarce amongst evacuees at that time

He interviewed two eyewitnesses live, one of which started to cry when she described the police stealing from them. They both passed the smell test, so believe what you want.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by dissention

He interviewed two eyewitnesses live. They passed the smell test, so believe what you want.

You mean your smell test - which is not objective

Again, why would the Gretna police leave their posts, cross the bridge, go underneath it, and then find and rob these people of a commodity the press said they likely did not have or at least did not have in any great quantity so as to make any robbery worth that effort That is what makes this unbelieveable.