The Raft of the Medusa

[substitute]

The sheer size of the Katrina disaster is boggling my mind. The submersion of a city, the terrible suffering of people waiting to die as the waters rise, the spectre of disease, everything. It's staggering.

And then we see this, from http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/

Edit: This was an erroneous report, per nola.com themselves: http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_08.html#075510

Thanks to leolo for the follow-up.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

Children's Hospital under siege
Tuesday, 11:45 p.m.

Late Tuesday, Gov. Blanco spokeswoman Denise Bottcher described a disturbing scene unfolding in uptown New Orleans, where looters were trying to break into Children's Hospital.

Bottcher said the director of the hospital fears for the safety of the staff and the 100 kids inside the hospital. The director said the hospital is locked, but that the looters were trying to break in and had gathered outside the facility.

The director has sought help from the police, but, due to rising flood waters, police have not been able to respond.

Bottcher said Blanco has been told of the situation and has informed the National Guard. However, Bottcher said, the National Guard has also been unable to respond.

Comments

[do-not-lick.livejournal.com]

We really are not that far from barbarism are we?

[hoyvenmayven.livejournal.com]

They're probably addicts needing a fix. And they probably think they'll meet with the least resistance at the children's hospital.

[gordonzola.livejournal.com]

well, it makes sense the Guard can't respond since most are probably in Iraq.

[substitute.livejournal.com]

Yeah, funny thing that. Doesn't seem to bother President Air Guitar that much, though.

You probably already heard this...

[leolo.livejournal.com]

But the hospital under siege was a hoax (http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_08.html#075510).

Re: You probably already heard this...

[substitute.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I hadn't seen that. Corrected.