[A-List] Louisiana officials accused of blocking rescue volunteers

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State Police in Lafayette, Louisiana, have been accussed of
hindering attempts by private citizens to rescue people
trapped by floodwaters in New Orleans. The accusations were
contained in an unconfirmed report received via email by
Jason Robideaux, an attorney from Lafayette.



LOUISIANA OFFICIALS ACCUSED OF BLOCKING RESCUE VOLUNTEERS

by Wikinews Reporter Friday, Sep. 02, 2005 at 3:43 AM

<http://neworleans.indymedia.org/news/2005/09/3952.php>
<http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Louisiana_officials_accused_of_blocking_rescue_volunteers>


State Police in Lafayette, Louisiana, have been accussed of
hindering attempts by private citizens to rescue people
trapped by floodwaters in New Orleans.  The accusations were
contained in an unconfirmed report received via email by
Jason Robideaux, an attorney from Lafayette.

The email was written by a person who claimed to be part of
"a group of approximately 1,000 citizens pulling 500 boats"
heading into New Orleans to rescue people still stranded in
places such as hospitals. The email claimed that the members
of the flotilla were ".. experienced boaters, licensed
fishermen and hunters, people who have spent their entire
adult life and teenage years on the waterways of Louisiana."

The email reports that a Dept. of Wildlife & Fisheries (DWF)
agent ordered them to turn around and go home.

"We then specifically asked the DWF agent that we (and other
citizens in the flotillia) be allowed to go to the hospitals
and help evacuate the sick and the doctors and nurses
stranded there. We offered to bring these people back to
Lafayette, in our own vehicles, in order to ensure that they
received proper and prompt medical care," the email said.

"The DWF agent did not want to hear this and ordered us
home. We complied with the DWF agent's orders, turned around
and headed back to Lafayette along with half of the
flotillia. However, two of my friends were pulling my other
boat, a smaller 15ft alumaweld with a 25 hp. The DWF agents
let them through to proceed to the rescue operation launch
site," the email continued.

The email also reported hundreds of DWF agents who were not
being utilised.

"My two friends were allowed to drive to the launch site
where the La. Dept.  of Wildlife and Fisheries were
launching their rescue operations (via boat).  They reported
to me that there were over 200 DWF agents just standing
around and doing nothing. My friends were kept there for
approximately 3 hours.  During that time they observed a
large number of DWF agents doing nothing.  After three hours
had passed they were told that they were not needed and
should go home. They complied with the DWF's orders and
turned around and went home to Lafayette," the email said.

The accusations are yet to be confirmed.




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