National / World Politics 30 Aug 2008 09:09 pm
Say a Prayer for New Orleans
http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=46&tabid=26]
I’ll say some thing very politically incorrect here and ask those of you who blame ONLY President Bush for the aftermath of Katrina, to reflect on the sentence I enlarged in this document produced by the New Orleans OEP.
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Dear Parish Residents,
The safety and well-being of the citizens of New Orleans is my greatest priority. For this reason, our Office of Emergency Preparedness has prepared this Guide to help individuals during times of natural or man-made disaster. The information contained is designed to help everyone deal with these emergencies in an effective and successful manner. Knowledge is power and knowing what to do during an emergency can be lifesaving. Our City, due to its central gulf location, is one of the most vulnerable in America to the furies of a hurricane. Heavy rains, because of our topography, can and do cause severe flooding. Our City’s place as one of the busiest rail centers and second busiest ports exposes us to potentially numerous hazardous materials incidents. All of these factors combine to make an effective Citizen’s Guide a necessity. This, our second annual update, serves that purpose. But, like any good tool, it is useless unless read and acted upon. Its place is not on a shelf gathering dust, but in an easily accessible family emergency kit where it can be used.
The Guide’s purpose is to:
- Inform citizens of the hazards they face.
- Provide guidance in preparing their own individual emergency plan.
- Advise them of the proper procedure needed to be followed in the event of an emergency.
In reviewing its contents, the reader should pay particular attention to the section on Evacuation. Knowing the routes of egress during situations such as hurricanes, can avoid needless injury and loss of life. It is my fervent hope that the information contained in the Guide will never have to be used; however, being ready for an emergency before it occurs, through adequate preparation and planning, is the first step in surviving a disaster.
Preparedness must begin with the individual and be carried over to the family, and then into the community
in order to thwart any incident or disaster that may be visited upon us. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Emergency Preparedness (504)658-8700 located in City Hall Room 9E06, 1300 Perdido St., New Orleans, LA. 70112
Sincerely,
C. Ray Nagin
Mayor
OEP MISSION STATEMENT
The Office of Emergency Preparedness is responsible for the response and coordination of those actions needed to protect the lives and property of its citizens from natural or man-made disasters as well as emergency planning for the City of New Orleans.
Our primary responsibility is to advise the Mayor, the City Council and Chief Administrative Officer regarding emergency preparedness activities and operations. We coordinate all city departments and allied state and federal agencies which respond to city-wide disasters and emergencies through the development and constant updating of an integrated multi-hazard plan. All requests for federal disaster assistance and federal funding subsequent to disaster declarations are also made through this office.
Our authority is defined by the Louisiana Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act of 1993, Chapter 6 Section 709, Paragraph B, “Each parish shall maintain a Disaster Agency which, except as otherwise provided under this act, has jurisdiction over and serves the entire parish”.
One Response to “Say a Prayer for New Orleans”
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on 30 Aug 2008 at 10:59 pm 1.Libra Girl said …
Ok — I’ll be politically incorrect along with you.
President Bush did not conjure up Hurricane Katrina. True the Federal response could have been better but so, too, individual response could have been better also.
Having said that, though, this is crummy on so many levels. I feel incredibly bad for the people of NO. They should not have to go through this again. I pray that everyone gets out with what they can – with each other, whatever personal effects and pets.
It’s hard when horrible things happen that we learn afterwards but thank God we have learned – that the govts have learned – Fed, State and Local govts seem to have a handle on what they need to do and they are doing it.
Again, being politically incorrect — besides the human factor – this is not going to be good in relation to the GOP Convention. I feel bad for McCain – this is an incredible tightrope he has to walk. With everything that has been thrown his way – it’s amazing he still in the race and that it’s relatively close still even after the Dem Convention poll bump.
My prayers for the safety of all involved – the public and those staying behind to serve, police, fire, Red Cross, etc.