![]() ![]() “We knew there would certainly be some criminal element, but this rampant violence that was reported was definitely out of proportion to the reality. Photograph: Michael Ainsworth/AFP/Getty Images Blanco enlisted the national guard to drive the buses instead.Īs the national guard patrols, Louis Jones, left, and Catherine McZeal help each other walk down flooded Poydras Street in New Orleans as they go to the Superdome on 1 September 2005. For example, she said school bus drivers refused to drive their vehicles into New Orleans to help in the evacuation because of the dangerous situation they heard about on television. Gunshots fired in the air, for example, intended to attract attention from rescuers were often translated as attacks on helicopters.īlanco said the media amplified stories of widespread violence it could not verify, which impacted rescue operations. Since the flooding confined the media largely to one area downtown, journalists could not report with depth what was happening in the neighborhoods, which created an information vacuum. Hyped stories were difficult to verify because of circumstance. Just because a reporter sees some dude in waist-deep water with a TV on his back is not a reason to shoot.”īlanco said her statement was intended to “stop the noise” and send the message, not just to looters but to everyone else, that things were under control. Because while the local press may make you perceive you have civil disorder, you don’t. Honoré said he disagreed with Blanco about the statement, telling her: “I don’t think you want to put that out. Many took her words as a declaration of martial law, although Blanco told the Guardian that was never the intent. These troops know how to shoot and kill, and they are more than willing to do so if necessary, and I expect they will.” In a midweek press conference, Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco warned looters that local troops “have M16s and they’re locked and loaded. At left is Louisiana state police superintendent Henry Whitehorn.įear of looting also prompted local officials to overreact, he said. Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco addresses a news conference at the command center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on 1 September 2005. ![]()
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