New Orleans

[Mamma]

Look guys...relax a bit. How about this....I went overboard and I am sorry. Does that work for you? We are all sounding just like our idiot politicians playing the blame game and getting off track while a catastrophe is going on. How about putting a post or two worth a damn on here instead of hashing over the wording of a post? All I was saying is that I was upset at the time when all these people were stranded/dying and the AMC spokesperson came out and said they cannot help them with airlift because it was uncomfortable. From the post I got the info from, the Lt Col did not go into the fact that the aircraft are busy doing other things or other resources were being used for this task...he just told the media that the aircraft were uncomfortable. That is bung and he should know better. But, I am sorry for my comments and hope all you "offended" folks could forgive me and move on!

Cheers.

 

[TonyC]

I did not hear the Lt Col remarks, ... What an idiot.

...he just told the media that the aircraft were uncomfortable. That is bung and he should know better.

He didn't say they were uncomfortable.

Which is it? You're retracting what you said and you're sorry, or you're standing by what you said and you want us to forget about it?



Either way, I'm movin' on.





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[SIG600]

To all those critisizing the military response (non mil types), first educate yourselves on the logistical nightmare of getting a massive effort like this rolling with zero notice. Not to point fingers, but the local politicians, govenor, etc. had NO plan worked out before hand for this situation, which has been studied ad naseum for YEARS as a "worst case scenario."

ANYWAY, we had an AOM on Friday morning and were briefed as to the role our installation (Meridian NAS, in Meridian MS about 2.5 hours north of N.O.) was playing in the relief effort. Mind you Meridian is a SMALL training base, and our flight line is smaller than most municipal airports. That said here's what was briefed to us, and what I saw last Friday...

Half our flight line is packed with 18 wheelers. About 200 Fri morning, supposedly to be 450+ soon. The base has become a staging area for supplies, and a base for FEMA and supposedly the 4 star heading up the JTF will be setting up shop too.

Half our maint. hangar has been cleared out and cleaned spotless. It's being turned into a 1000 bed MASH hospital. Anyone that knows the base, the old T-2 simulator bay is being turned into a surgery ward.

6 blackhawks are setting up shop, and a C-2 det is supposedly on the way for shutteling casualties from N.O. to NMM... a large section of the ramp has been alloted for C-5 and C-17 loading/off loading. Base housing is supposed to be occupied to full capacity to accomodate families from the USCG station down there, and Navy Pascagoula.

There's also rumor of a 13,000 person tent city going up on the ramp. So far every rumor that we've heard has come true so I'm not doubting that this will actually happen.

This morning the place was a zoo, and all the jets were packed at the south end of the ramp, and as of today we're gonna be up and running among the midst of all of this. Should make for an interesting few months... there was talk of a possible 30,000 bed tent city but their thinking that will be going to Jackson.

 

[ArcherII]

I am currently deployed to NAS New Orleans unloading inbound aircraft. Things are pretty hectic but are running pretty smooth. Shoot me some questions if you have any. I am happy to be here supporting the relief and would love to let you guys know what is going on.

 

[peter185]

Archer II how do you like being in the TX ANG? I hear you guys are a bunch of cool dudes doing great work down there, I just hope that you are talking about something besides aviation.