I'm wondering about why they have to stay? (Katrina related - sorry!)

[Fantasmic303]

I'm sorry if this has been covered, and if it has and you can direct me to the discussion, I'll be glad to go there.

But I'm watching the news and wondering...


Why aren't they allowing people to just walk? I don't understand why they're not allowed to leave? I guess at night it's necessary to have a curfew, but I just....I don't get it.


I'm not trying to start trouble or a debate, I'm genuinely wondering. I mean, when 9/11 happened, I remember people leaving the area on foot. And in the tri-state area, when there was a threat, it was a very real option for everyone if anything else was to happen.

So I'm just wondering...I can somewhat understand the lack of resources in busses and stuff, just the logistics of transporting that many people, but if folks want to walk....why are we forcing them to stay in one place?

[floridaminnie]

I was thinking the same thing. I'm going to get flamed for this, but I think they are waiting to be rescued. Can you imagine what would have happened to NYC if all those people waited to be bussed out.

[Fantasmic303]

:firefight I'll try to keep the hose on ya.

[skuttle]

There's really no where for them to walk to. Everything close, within walking distance, has been ruined.

[SplshMtn99]

I've been wondering this too. I was wondering if they were starting to feel like prisoners. :confused3

[Fantasmic303]

There's really no where for them to walk to. Everything close, within walking distance, has been ruined.


Do you mean like bridges and walkways too? So is the theory that keeping them in one spot gives them some hope of getting them food and water, as opposed to having people stretched through what is essentially a wasteland?


Obviously I've never been in the situation, but, in my head, I feel like I'd want to be walking, that I'd want to feel like I was doing SOMETHING. Splsh, I agree...I'd start getting antsy and annoyed, and that's putting it VERY mildly, especially if they weren't taking care of me.

ETA: Just want to reiterate that I'm not trying to start anything. Any question I pose is just that - a question, not an attempt to put anyone on the defensive.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Apparently it is risky. Some have been trying to walk and got blocked.

However--just a couple of stories tonight of people who did walk and succeeded.

Part of it--they are being told to stay b/c help will come.


I was thinking--let them get on I-10 and head west.

[Divamomto3]

I don't think they're not being allowed to walk, I think it's just not easy for many of them to do so.

After 9-11, the people walking had somewhere to go.

Home.

[Pete's Mom]

Also, I think it is because it is not safe with gangs out there shooting, raping, and robbing people. :sad2:

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I don't think they're not being allowed to walk, I think it's just not easy for many of them to do so.

After 9-11, the people walking had somewhere to go.

Home.

They did have a story of someone who was prevented walking the interstate. I don't know if it was one or many...I've seen too much on tv--it is starting to blend.

[janette]

How can they leave? The roads are flooded, they have no food or water and they don't know what is ahead. Gangs are in the streets, there is no order. As bad as the shelters are I think the streets would be worse.

[disneysteve]

The news reports I've seen have shown hundreds of people walking out of town. Last nite on PBS they were interviewing several of the people who were walking across the New Orleans Bridge into Jefferson Parish (I think that's the name). They also interviewed the pastor of the church on that end of the bridge about what his community is doing to help those walking into town. So apparently lots of folks are escaping the area by walking.

[lauran cameron]

yea, Dateline just showed a group of a "make-shift family" as they called it walking down the interstate

[Lisa loves Pooh]

How can they leave? The roads are flooded, they have no food or water and they don't know what is ahead. Gangs are in the streets, there is no order. As bad as the shelters are I think the streets would be worse.


You can get out via 90 and the westbank expressway.

People's family members who were stayed--were able to drive out and this is the route they take.

All they have to do is get on that highway next to the dome---and walk west.

[mainewmn]

I just watched a Shep Smith report where he said that the road is blocked by National Guard preventing people from leaving the city.

[Laurabearz]

Does anyone there KNOW that they can do that... I mean no TV, no radio, poor communcation. How would they know a particular road is open...

[shelby_36]

At this time I'm sure you would have problems..but in the first 2-3 days you probably could have gotten out fine b/c obviously the national guard wasn't worried about that and the gangs and looting was more localized. I thought the same thing after a man on the news said he drove into one area from his home and hour away. I thought wow, I could walk 60 miles..even 100 if I had too. I know some people couldn't but they didn't seem to have any problem with energy or strentgh throwing things through windows and carting off tvs. It might take a few days but I'm like the other poster..they were just sitting there waiting... they didn't even clean up their own garbage..did you see the superdome after they left? Trash EVERYWHERE. Its not like they didn't have time to come up with some plan..where to put trash, the dead, toileting, etc. Its basic survival...

[peachgirl]

I just watched a Shep Smith report where he said that the road is blocked by National Guard preventing people from leaving the city.

I saw it too and they're still not getting water or food in many areas.

I know some people couldn't but they didn't seem to have any problem with energy or strentgh throwing things through windows and carting off tvs.

You know, it's rather insulting to the victims of this disaster to act as though everyone down there was looting. It was a very few who were engaged in that activity.

[shelby_36]

I dodn't say they ALL were... I said some couldn't walk, but I also said there were alot of people running around town looting. kids, women and men. Some were doing it for survival some just to do it... but there was a large number of people in news reports that could have done something other than sit and wait.

[MinnieM3]

I saw some people who had walked out and were helped. I think it was on ABC, but I"m not sure. their feet were cut, but they did it. I think I'd try that as opposed to just waiting, but I don't know.

[Serena]

I saw the same news from S Smith. There is a checkpoint and if anyone tries to leave, to Jefferson parris, they are turned back.

[mainewmn]

I don’t know if they know they can leave. I never been in situation like this so I can't speak from life experience what I would do but it would seem to me its better to do something rather then sit and wait for others to help me out especially since its common knowledge that around me people are getting murdered and raped. But like I said erlier I'm not judging anyone just posting my own reaction to what I saw on Fox News tonight. I agree that they should have gotten food and water by the second day at the latest. That’s not even a question! What I don't understand is why the National Guard is not allowing people that are able to walk to walk out of the city?!

[Fantasmic303]

I just watched a Shep Smith report where he said that the road is blocked by National Guard preventing people from leaving the city.


I think this is a better representation of my question, lol. I've been watching Fox News, and it was my understanding that they were not ALLOWED to leave, not that they just weren't leaving.

I know those people have lost their homes, but where are the buses going to take them? Somewhere else. If it's a matter of safety, I understand, but from what I've heard about the convention center, it's not exactly safe there either. And when the buses aren't coming, my dehydrated, exhausted, hungry, tired, and scared legs are going to get me farther than non-existent rescue vehicles.

I'm just trying to grasp the concept, that's all. On the one hand, it seems "they" (whomever they are) are trying to keep the masses controlled as a group, yet the masses don't want to be controlled, at least not all of them. They just want to survive, regardless of at what expense.

To those of you who reported on seeing people who DID walk, thanks for the info.