Reply #42: ACTION ITEM: Recording Katrina's Death Count

[TexasLawyer]

I saw this running tally on Daily Kos--

http://maverick.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/8/1837/41163

ACTION ITEM: Recording Katrina's Death Count
by ilona
Wed Sep 7th, 2005 at 22:08:37 PDT

Many are wondering if the death toll in the wake of the most massive government bungling since 9/11 will be swept under the rug. Many have suggested that we begin recording the reported accounts before information disappears or is scrubbed from websites.

In that vein, I've compiled a preliminary count, gathering data from a large variety of news sources. I'm continuing my research into the night/day, with additions as they are found. Any and all help in collecting additional death toll information by posting links here is much appreciated. Thanks in advance...

Additionally, information on what the initial plans are for examination and burial of the victims of Katrina is included at the very end. May they all rest in peace.


ilona's diary :: ::

Key to the following Katrina death count list:

The source (person, official, or department) of the statistic is listed following the # of bodies confirmed or mentioned by reputable source in bold. Link to news report information culled from follows in (brackets). If a body count is given without a source attributed, listing will include only body count information and link of news report it was found in. Parentheses and asterisks (*) signify a possible count redundancy in that group; the duplicate information is provided strictly for elucidation, and are immediately below totals they're believed to be represented in.

Anecdotal body count information (which may be considered less reliable or more depending upon which way you want to look at things), is listed under the heading Eyewitness Accounts. This group, tacked on to the end of the main lists, may contain redundant information (i.e., a body found tied to a highway sign may be the same body already listed in the official count).

<snip>

One possible reason for low death counts to date. According to the Washington Post:
The reason the number is so low is that the state (MS) only counts bodies that have been recovered and positively identified (which, with the condition of the bodies being collected, is becoming increasingly difficult to do).