“National disgrace” is not the phrase Americans wanted to hear this week on the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. But that is exactly — and angrily — how the director of homeland security for New Orleans Terry Ebbert put it yesterday.
The whole recovery operation, Ebbert said, “has been carried on the back of the little guys for four goddamn days.”
Thousands are in emergency centers without food or water. There is widespread lawlessness and chaos in the streets. “The city is being run by thugs” said another top New Orleans official.
Hear about anger, responsibility, and chaos in the Big Easy.
Guests:
Chris Bury, correspondent for ABC news program Nightline.;
Will Bunch, senior writer for the Philadelphia Daily News. He writes the daily blog “Attytood.” ;
Shirley Laska, Professor of Environmental Sociology at The University of New Orleans and Director of the Center for Hazard Assesment and Technology. She evacuated from New Orleans last Saturday.;
Susan Cutter, Director of the Hazards Research Lab at the University of South Carolina and expert on emergency preparedness;
Jack Beatty, On Point news analyst.
