# The Red Cross is NOT in New Orleans. Guess why. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 8, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737 "2005-09-08T23:21:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/1 "2005-09-08T23:21:24Z")
That’s right, after receiving now enormous amounts of donated money, the American Red Cross is not in New Orleans delivering aid. Why? BECAUSE THE MILITARY AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT ALLOW THEM IN! Apparently, the presence of the Red Cross in the devastated areas would encourage people to stay or to return against the advice (okay, orders) of their state and local governrments. They have set up shelters outside the city and are taking care of thousands of (dare I use the word?) refugees. But they can’t take food, water, clothing and medicine into areas where there are still people without any of those things. What’s going on here? ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/2 "2005-09-08T23:27:48Z")
Last I heard, the place has effectively become toxic. All the standing water is supernasty. They want \*everybody \* out of New Orleans with the exception of those allowed by FEMA for reasons of safety. I may be wrong about that, but if I’m right then I don’t see a problem with keeping the Red Cross out for the reasons given. ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/3 "2005-09-08T23:37:29Z")
One problem is that people were directed to go to the Super Dome (is that the right name?) and the Convention Center, even though there wasn’t enough food and water to take care of them for more than a short time. Then agencies like the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, who had supplies and the means to deliver them, were kept out, while the people in those “designated” areas went without. If I’m wrong about that, please somebody tell me. I’m at the library, so I gotta go now. I’ll be back to read any responses tomorrow. Hope I’ll be online again at home soon. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/4 "2005-09-08T23:38:44Z")
Don’t suppose you heard of the _mandatory evacuaction, by force if neccesary_ of everybody in the city, have you? They aren’t allowed in, and any civilian still there must leave. Why send in the aid when the victims are being sent out? Man, it’s gettin’ slim pickin’s on shit to rant about over this. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/5 "2005-09-08T23:42:01Z")
> [@DesertGeezer](#): > > One problem is that people were directed to go to the Super Dome (is that the right name?) and the Convention Center, even though there wasn’t enough food and water to take care of them for more than a short time. Then agencies like the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, who had supplies and the means to deliver them, were kept out, while the people in those “designated” areas went without. If I’m wrong about that, please somebody tell me. > > I’m at the library, so I gotta go now. I’ll be back to read any responses tomorrow. Hope I’ll be online again at home soon. We’re talking about right now, not 5 days ago. I agree with **Harborwolf**. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2005, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/6 "2005-09-08T23:54:35Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Don’t suppose you heard of the _mandatory evacuaction, by force if neccesary_ of everybody in the city, have you? They aren’t allowed in, and any civilian still there must leave. Why send in the aid when the victims are being sent out? Man, it’s gettin’ slim pickin’s on shit to rant about over this. Because it’s summer in New Orleans and, at the very least, water is ESSENTIAL??? I wouldn’t stay there any longer if I were given a bottle of water, but at least then my chances of dying of dehydration go way down while I wait for them to get off their asses and get me out. ---
**Author:** ![lorinada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@lorinada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorinada)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/7 "2005-09-09T00:04:15Z")
I doubt the Red Cross would be doing anything, anyway. I have spent the last three days working the phones at the Dallas chapter of the Red Cross. People are calling in for all kinds of help, and all we’re giving them is phone numbers to other agencies. Red Cross _is_ operating both shelters that were set up for evacuees, that is true. But, the City of Dallas is offering the space, the Salvation Army is providing the food, diapers, and hygiene items. Southwestern Bell is providing the phones. Heck, even Microsoft is providing all the computer equipment. What the heck is Red Cross doing, except staffing the joint (with very poorly trained volunteers, I might add). They SAY they’re going to start the “Family Services Program” (which is the debit card voucher program similar to FEMA’s) “any day now”. But, this is what Red Cross DOES - this is something that is always in place for local disasters, both on a small and large scale. Granted, they’re not used to having to do it on such a grand scale with virtually NO NOTICE (because, remember, Texas sure as heck didn’t know we’d be hosting a quarter million people coming to town with nothing but the clothes on their backs), but it’s not like this (Family Services) is something they’ve never done before. And, speaking of the Salvation Army, one of the people we referred over there called back today, saying she was turned away, because they had no items left - their warehouse had been emptied out. This surprised the heck out of me, becuase before I started working the phones at Red Cross, I was working at Texas Stadium, taking, sorting, shrink-wrapping, and palleting donations from the community. There were several 18-wheelers being loaded up with nothing but non-perishables, toiletries, diapers, and new clothing. SEMI-TRUCKLOADS of shit. And remember, they aren’t passing out any of this clothing at the shelters. So, where did it all go to? I expressed my surprise to my sister, who was also at Texas Stadium all week, and she said that one of the Salvation Army captains told her this was all going to…Louisiana. HELLO!!! There’s no one left in Louisiana - they’re all here!!! So why did the good people of Texas not only offer to house the evacuees, but also spend their three-day weekend collecting truckloads of goods - to send to Louisiana? Where are all these goods and the what now must be hundreds of millions of dollars going to? I’ve always heard that Red Cross has a tarnished reputation, but I always give the benefit of the doubt until I have reason to believe otherwise. I’m sorry to say, I have reason to believe otherwise until someone can explain it to me. I have been a long-time Salvation Army contributor and volunteer, but this is the first time I’ve been involved in their disaster operations. The Salvation Army has always had a sterling reputation, but after my experiences these last two weeks I think I’m going to not be giving them cart blanche with my trust in the future. And as far as the local chapter in New Orleans not being allowed in? People from the HSUS and Houston SPCA are being allowed to go in and rescue _animals_. But Red Cross is “not allowed?” I hope someone can explain these incidents to me. Please note that I’m not whining about the evacuees being here - but the agencies who collect millions of dollars worth of money and goods but seem to still be unable to offer any help! ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/8 "2005-09-09T00:16:46Z")
There are a lot of them in Louisiana. I heard we have about 25,000 up here, and I don’t know how many but too many in Baton Rouge. But Texas has more, and it’s crazy that it’d all be going here. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/9 "2005-09-09T00:23:42Z")
**lorinada** , I’ve no idea what is happening on the ground there, but as far as the supplies go, I can tell you this. There are still families here that have dozens of buckets and mops in their garage from the '97 flood. That was more than 8 years ago. Some home will never have to buy bleach again. At one point there were Shop-Vacs given away to help clean out basements. The abuse became so bad that anyone picking one up had to show picture ID proving they lived in the city. That list of people was compiled every night. If an address came up twice, they went to the house to collect the extra to give to someone that missed out because of the greed. There is no easy way to say this, but many were already sent out of state to family members of seasonal workers. If you have 800 pallets of food to give out, you can only give out 800 pallets of food. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/10 "2005-09-09T00:32:07Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Last I heard, the place has effectively become toxic. All the standing water is supernasty. They want \*everybody \* out of New Orleans with the exception of those allowed by FEMA for reasons of safety. I may be wrong about that, but if I’m right then I don’t see a problem with keeping the Red Cross out for the reasons given. > [@duffer](#): > > Don’t suppose you heard of the _mandatory evacuaction, by force if neccesary_ of everybody in the city, have you? They aren’t allowed in, and any civilian still there must leave. Why send in the aid when the victims are being sent out? Man, it’s gettin’ slim pickin’s on shit to rant about over this. Except that not everyplace in New Orleans is still under water (many places never were), and except for the fact that they _aren’t_ **forcing** _everyone_ out, and some remaining have legitimate reasons to want to stay. Like, for instance, this couple: > [@](#): > > [http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/08/national/nationalspecial/08cnd-storm.html?ei=5094&en=efe0a58b7fc8e12c&hp=&ex=1126238400&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print](http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/08/national/nationalspecial/08cnd-storm.html?ei=5094&en=efe0a58b7fc8e12c&hp=&ex=1126238400&partner=homepage&pagewanted=print) > > When police officers came to Billie Moore’s 3,000 square foot Victorian to warn her of the health risks of remaining in the city, she pushed her identification tag from the hospital where she works as a nurse through slats in the door. > > “I guess you know the health risks then,” the officer said as he **walked away**. > > Ms. Moore and her husband, Richard Robinson, who do not drive and use bicycles for the 5-mile ride to their jobs at the still-functioning Ochsner Hospital in suburban Jefferson Parish, have no plans to leave. Their circa-1895 home, on the city’s southwest flank, suffered virtually no damage in the hurricane or its aftermath. They have been lighting an old gas stove with a match to cook pasta and rice, dumping cans of peas on top for flavor. > > “We try to be normal and sit down and eat,” Ms. Moore, 52, explained as she showed off the expansive, well-kept home where they have lived for 10 years. “I think that’s how we’ll stay healthy is if I keep the house clean.” > > Ms. Moore said she had not worked since the hurricane because there are few babies left at the hospital, but that she remains on standby; her husband has been on duty the past five days. > > “I don’t want to go, I don’t want to lose my job,” she said. “Who’s going to take care of the patients if all the nurses go away?” ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/11 "2005-09-09T00:51:43Z")
One of the things you always hear about the Red Cross doing is providing aid to emergency workers: coffee, water, food, a place to lie down and take a break, minor medical treatment. Surely there’s a great need for this in N.O. at this time. ---
**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/12 "2005-09-09T01:01:12Z")
The Red Cross is here in Charlotte, NC providing aid to the people at the Coliseum along with FEMA. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/13 "2005-09-09T01:24:12Z")
Anyone have a link that actually describes the situation? I’m not ready to rant based on an OP without a link to the facts. I did find [this](http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05246/565143.stm), but it’s from the 3rd: > [@](#): > > “The Homeland Security Department has requested and continues to request that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans,” said Renita Hosler, spokeswoman for the Red Cross. > > “Right now access is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities. We have been at the table every single day [asking for access]. We cannot get into New Orleans against their orders.” > > Calls to the Department of Homeland Security and its subagency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, were not returned yesterday. > > Though frustrated, Hosler understood the reasons. The goal is to move people out of an uninhabitable city, and relief operations might keep them there. Security is so bad that she fears feeding stations might get ransacked. > > “It’s not about fault and blame right now. The situation is like an hourglass, and we are in the smallest part right now. Everything is trying to get through it,” she said. “They’re trying to help people get out.” My emphasis. Sounds like it’s not so cut and dry. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/14 "2005-09-09T01:38:36Z")
**lorinada** , the aspca and the humane society are there to get the animals out. The red cross would be in there to help people who are staying. That’s the big difference that I can think of. **Shayna** , I don’t know what the police in your example are thinking. [Cite](http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/nation/12586813.htm) > [@](#): > > Mayor C. Ray Nagin ordered law officers and the military late Tuesday to evacuate all holdouts — by force if necessary. He warned that the combination of fetid water, fires and natural gas leaks after Hurricane Katrina made it too dangerous to stay There’s also this. > [@](#): > > The stepped-up evacuation came as workers trying to get into the city to restart essential services came under sniper fire. More than 100 officers and seven armored personnel carriers captured a suspect in a housing project who had been firing on workers trying to restore cell phone towers, authorities said. This is what I was referring to in my first post. This is why they don’t want more aid workers in there. New Orleans has become several different kinds of deadly. Civilians should not be there right now nor should they be there for a while. If the police and military are letting people stay there despite orders to the contrary, they _will_ be punished. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/15 "2005-09-09T01:38:41Z")
> [@Harborwolf](#): > > Last I heard, the place has effectively become toxic. I’m thinking there a bad sci-fi movie hiding in there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/16 "2005-09-09T01:56:06Z")
One of the reasons that we gave to the Salvation Army is that they were the first agency we actually saw giving food and water to survivors in the first days after the hurricane hit. I don’t know which area it was in. BTW, Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s are matching donations – or at least their catalog order departments are and you don’t have to place an order. The Red Cross is working with evacuees here in Nashville. They are being housed at the gym in a neighborhood church. Some good things are happening. Some of the Catholic high school students are attending a private Catholic school in the neighborhood. The Red Cross has had to turn away some offers of help. Free Cycle Nashville is planning on organizing a “Free for All” to help people set up households. I heard on commentator/observer say that the Dept. of Homeland Security is so focused on terrorism that they have held up much of the relief that was on its way into some of the disaster areas – the trucks had to be searched first. (Sorry, not cite; this was on TV.) ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/17 "2005-09-09T02:10:02Z")
> [@Shayna](#): > > Except that not everyplace in New Orleans is still under water (many places never were), and except for the fact that they _aren’t_ **forcing** _everyone_ out, and some remaining have legitimate reasons to want to stay. Like, for instance, this couple: The patients are to be removed also. It’s a _mandatory evacuation of every civilian_. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/18 "2005-09-09T02:42:58Z")
I’ve heard reports that the population of Baton Rouge has more than doubled since Katrina. So that’s where a _lot_ of evacuees are. And Louisiana isn’t the only state with people who lost everything in the storm. What about coastal Mississippi? There are unknown numbers of folks there with nothing whatsoever but the clothes on their backs, and I’m sure a lot of those supplies are going to them as well. I’m not making excuses, just pointing out that there are an awful lot of people in an awful lot of places needing supplies, and some where it’s harder to get supplies in than others as well. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/19 "2005-09-09T03:29:02Z")
I just thought of another thing to consider. **DesertGeezer** , have you ever been to New Orleans? I ask because a lot of people see New Orleans as Bourbon Street when they watch coverage of _Mardis Gras_. Sure, maybe you see some footage of the French Quarter as a whole, but it’s still a very small area overall of the entire city. And cities like Metairie are nearly forgotten though they are in the same spot. We’re talking about a rather large geographic area. It’s not a matter of getting a few dozen trucks in to hand out water. There is a lot of real estate you’re looking at. ---
**Author:** ![Orbifold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orbifold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orbifold)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2005, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737/20 "2005-09-09T04:38:56Z")
> [@duffer](#): > > Don’t suppose you heard of the _mandatory evacuaction, by force if neccesary_ of everybody in the city, have you? They aren’t allowed in, and any civilian still there must leave. Why send in the aid when the victims are being sent out? Man, it’s gettin’ slim pickin’s on shit to rant about over this. This has been going on since at least the 3rd. Before the victims were being sent out with any regularity, and well before “by force if necessary” became the policy of the day. [This link](http://www.redcross.org/faq/0,1096,0_682_4524,00.html#4524) has been up since at least the 3rd of September. Personally, I find the idea that someone, somewhere is worried that people are going to go _into_ New Orleans just to mooch stuff from the Red Cross to be mind-boggling. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-red-cross-is-not-in-new-orleans-guess-why/320737.md?page=2)