Walter Maestri, Director of Emergency Management is interviewed. West Jefferson Parish is worried about being overwhelmed with refugees from East Jefferson in the deteriorating conditions. They don’t have the resources. No federal assistance. FEMA made its first visit in the morning. Despite emergency declaration beforehand, nothing has happened. They have no resources. They’re appealing to FEMA, the Red Cross etc. for help. They got their first delivery of water last night and it’s now gone. They were expecting trucks last night but they didn’t arrive. They have no food for these people. They have depleted local supplies. No trucks coming in to replenish. People can’t buy groceries and when people can’t get groceries they do what they need. They have got to get food and water into the community. Have got to give the people shelter and the people can’t leave as the roads are littered with debris. Please anyone call at Jefferson Parish OEC who has resources and can bring them in.
Call 1-504-329-5360.
Then they return to the reporters and the reporters say this plea for help is different from the Governor saying people are not to come in and help with emergency.
The associated press says in Carrollton, looters are breaking into stores and homes stealing not only food but guns. In the French Quarter, the looting is out of control. Looting in Biloxi, MS and ransacking of businesses. They say Walter Maestri has always been calm and now they have nothing from FEMA, the basic life essentials.
