Reply #17: How devastating/ Crews Pass Dead to Reach Storm Survivors [View All]

I have no problems with his report, Heart-breaking.

Aug 31, 1:21 AM EDT

Crews Pass Dead to Reach Storm Survivors

By BRETT MARTEL
Associated Press Writer

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Rescuers along the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast pushed aside the dead to reach the living Tuesday in a race against time and rising waters, while New Orleans sank deeper into crisis and Louisiana's governor ordered storm refugees out of this drowning city.

Two levees broke and sent water coursing into the streets of the Big Easy a full day after New Orleans appeared to have escaped widespread destruction from Hurricane Katrina. An estimated 80 percent of the below-sea-level city was under water, up to 20 feet deep in places, with miles and miles of homes swamped.

"The situation is untenable," Gov. Kathleen Blanco said. "It's just heartbreaking."


(snip)

After touring the destruction by air, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour said it is not of case of homes being severely damaged, "they're simply not there. ... I can only imagine that this is what Hiroshima looked like 60 years ago."

New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said hundreds, if not thousands, of people may still be stuck on roofs and in attics, and so rescue boats were bypassing the dead.

"We're not even dealing with dead bodies," Nagin said. "They're just pushing them on the side."

(snip)
The dome, which became a shelter of last resort for some 20,000 people, is currently without electricity and has no air conditioning. Broken toilets have also made for extremely unsanitary conditions, Blanco said.

"Conditions are degenerating rapidly," she said. "It's a very, very desperate situation."

(snip)

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/H/HURRICANE_KATRINA?SITE=RIWAR&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&SECTION=HOME

Long story but worth a read.