Reply #94: BBC Reports Day by Day timeline....First mention of "state of emergency"

[Gloria]

issued by Bush is reported by BBC on 8/28....no mention of NC.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4211404.stm


August 28 Sunday
'Once in a lifetime'

Issuing his unprecedented mandatory evacuation order, Mayor Nagin said the city - which sits some 6ft (2m) below sea level - was at risk of serious flooding.

Click here to see Katrina's predicted course

The post-hurricane surge could reach 28ft (8.5m) toppling the barriers that protect the city and its historic French Quarter, he warned.

"We are facing the storm that most of us have feared," he told the city's 485,000 residents.

"This is a once in a lifetime event."

A series of barriers and pumps protect the bowl-shaped city from the Mississippi River on one side, and Lake Pontchartrain on the other.

Experts fear the city's defences could be overwhelmed by floodwaters, inundating New Orleans with chemicals from refineries, and human waste from damaged septic systems.

States of emergency

The neighbouring states of Mississippi and Alabama are also braced for the storm.

US President George W Bush has issued a state of emergency in Louisiana and Mississippi, freeing the path for federal aid.


August 29 Monday

Mayor Ray Nagin said he had received reports that some water had breached the defences.

"This city is under siege," he said.

Katrina passed to the east of New Orleans, although the National Hurricane Center warned it would be pounded throughout Monday - and the potential storm surge could still swamp part of the city.

August 30 Tuesday

The American Red Cross has mobilised thousands of volunteers for its biggest-ever natural disaster effort and federal emergency teams are being dispatched to affected areas.
SNIP
President George W Bush has called on Americans to donate to the Red Cross or other organisations to help while his priority was "saving lives".

The president was interrupting his holiday to return to the Washington two days earlier than planned, the White House said.


...
August 31 Wednesday


Cutting short a holiday in Texas to take charge of the federal recovery effort, Mr Bush said the government was dealing with one of the worst natural disasters in US history.

Snip

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said 1,700 truckloads of essential supplies were on their way there.

Medical shelters are being set up offering 10,000 beds, while the US military is providing dozens of rescue helicopters and boats.

The Pentagon has ordered 10,000 extra national guardsmen to Louisiana and Mississippi.

....
September 1 Thurs

President George W Bush, who will visit the disaster area on Friday, called for "zero tolerance" against law-breakers.

Map of central New Orleans

His Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said more national guards were being sent in the next few days - more than quadrupling the number of security personnel in the city.


'Devastating'

Louisiana state Governor Kathleen Blanco said she was "furious" at the growing crime wave.

She has asked Washington to send more people to help with the relief mission, to free National Guard troops to concentrate on looters.