Recognizing that CNN does not give the whole story, I find this a disgrace.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/09/search.dogs/index.html

The handlers and dogs are down there to do a good job, made clear what was needed for them to do it, and of course, it was not done. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />
Sorry, things like this make me a little touchy. I know that things are still in pieces around there but it looks like they had enough warning to get everything in place for the search teams. Thoughts? rebuttals? constructive criticism? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Sounds to me like typical bureaucratic bungling, which began in earnest a few days before Katrina hit there and will continue ad infinitum regardless to what extent New Orleans is rebuilt. I notice there's a story correction stating LA had no contract with FEMA to bring in the teams. Too bad the team from Maine wasted the time/effort/expense to go there, but the situation doesn't surprise me. I'd like to think that someone in the city or state gov't would step up and handle the expenses, but it may not happen.

On a lighter note, heard there was a t-shirt going around New Orleans on Fat Tuesday that read, "Drink 'til Nagan makes sense." <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

it is to bad i agree. it is sad that the state won't step up and pay for it. imagen all those families that won't get closer. i am deployed to a clssified area over seas right now and i must say the people that are going out there deserve as much respect as all of us out here. we are here doing one job while they are there trying to do. i take my hat off to those guys knowing they are going down there to find people that aren't alive and all the kids they may find. honestly, if any of you that read this are one of those people my hat off to you and thanks on behalf of all those families you are trying to help. the world could use more people like you.

I am originally from Louisianna myself. There are alot of things they are not doing right down there. My grandparents still live in New Orleans. When my dad and his brother went down there to look for them, they caught all kinds of problems. They would not take my dad to go look for them, told them that they were probably dead. So my dad and his brother got the boat out and into the water and went themselves, found my grandparents beat up but alive. They need those dogs, and badly. It is ridiculous that they have nowhere for the search and rescue. Just goes to show you how much teamwork they actually got going over there.

I am glad your grandparents are OK.
I would have thought that it would have been possible to find even the tiniest space for the people and dogs they need. I guess the disorganization that led to the disaster has not yet been fixed.

There are so many problems in New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. There are roughly 1300 people missing in New Orleans area and 100 to 150 missing on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We don't know if these people are safe scattered around the country, still in their homes or washed away to never be found.

I agree, they could have found a place to put the teams even if it was only a tent. Unless, you've been through a storm like this you can't comprehend the destruction and mass confusion. It pisses me off when the media pundits compare 9/11 to Katrina. Katrina devastated an area of 900 sq miles. There are small towns that were destroyed. You have 500 to 600,000 people displaced and homeless. The city of New Orleans has only a 1/3 to 1/2 of it's population.

The Mississippi Gulf Coast was completely leveled there are very few buildings or homes left within 5 miles inland of the Gulf. All you see are concrete foundations of the buildings washed away. Try to imagine thousand of homes and businesses level. It will take years of hard work to get things back to some level of normal.

Don't get me started on FEMA,State or local officials. The morons running the recovery at all levels should have to live in the tent cities among the locals.

On the bright side, if you have construction skills there will be steady work for years. If, you're willing to work.

I understand completely