Associated Press
Sept. 12, 2005
A Breaux Bridge couple who used an air boat to help rescue civilians in Orleans Parish says government put a dent in their volunteer work.
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Doug Bienvenu and Drue LeBlanc
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Doug Bienvenu and Drue LeBlanc spent three days in the murky city waters. Doug Bienvenu's efforts began long before Hurricane Katrina slammed the US coast.
Bienvenu says he called three fire departments in New Orleans, the city and state police, Coast Guard and Wildlife and Fisheries and left his name to say he had many boats on stand-by.
Days passed and no phone call came from any of the agencies. All it took was one clip from CNN and Bienvenu and his fiance', Drue LeBlanc, were on their way with an air boat in tow.
Bienvenu says CNN showed a guy who was separated from his wife and crying. Bienvenu says she didn't make it and it broke their hearts.
After being turned around a number of times, they realized the only way they would get through was to break in.The couple says they ended up at Ochsner Hospital.
From there, it was the city's survivors who pointed them in the right direction.For LeBlanc, going home was the hardest.She says it was dark and people were screaming for help and they couldn't help them.
Because the state decided to turn volunteer rescue boats around when they showed up to help, Bienvenu blames the federal and state government for the lives lost.
Despite the obstacles, he and LeBlanc brought 797 displaced residents to safety.
Bienvenu owns 10 air boats and has 30 on stand-by.
Though they are disappointed with the state's response, if called, they'd be ready and willing.
As originally published
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There's much more than this at Unknown News.
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Aug. 29, 2005:
As Katrina strikes, FEMA urges first-responders not to respond
Sept. 2, 2005:
Who is this incompetent doofus running FEMA?
by Rachel R., Unknown News
Sept. 2, 2005:
Emergency crews turned back by FEMA:
They lacked "the required paperwork"
Sept. 2, 2005:
FEMA won't allow airboats to rescue Katrina victims
Sept. 2, 2005:
Troops sent to New Orleans for "combat operation"
with comments by Rebecca and Helen & Harry Highwater
Sept. 3, 2005:
FEMA chief had to be 'asked to resign' from previous job with horse club
Sept. 3, 2005:
FEMA turned back 500-boat rescue flotilla
Sept. 3, 2005:
Bush declares "zero tolerance" for New Orleans
survivors seeking food and water
Sept. 3, 2005:
Thousands of New Orleans refugees held at gunpoint,
not allowed to leave growing hell of Superdome
with comments by Helen & Harry Highwater
Sept. 3, 2005:
Homeland Security stops Red Cross from bringing food for New Orleans
with comments by Sir J and Helen & Harry Highwater
Sept. 3, 2005:
Police official says Nat'l Guardsmen 'played cards' amid New Orleans chaos
Sept. 4, 2005:
Red tape keeps hundreds of doctors from helping hurricane survivors
Sept. 4, 2005:
Homeland Security Chief says New Orleans disaster couldn't have been predicted
with comments by Helen & Harry Highwater
Sept. 4, 2005:
College sophomores used fake press passes to circumvent FEMA's rescue roadblocks
with comments by Helen & Harry Highwater
Sept. 4, 2005:
Navy hospital & water purification ship anchored on nearby coast, underused
Sept. 4, 2005:
FEMA turns down water, fuel for New Orleans, cuts area's emergency communication line
Sept. 5, 2005:
FEMA "dragging its feet" as businesses try to help hurricane, flood victims
Sept. 5, 2005:
Firefighters waited five days for FEMA's OK to enter New Orleans, then gave up, returned to Houston
Sept. 6, 2005:
Now is the time for pointing fingers
by John M., Unknown News
Sept. 6, 2005:
No food drops planned for New Orleans
with comments by Helen & Harry Highwater
Sept. 6, 2005:
U.S. military smuggled white vacationers out of New Orleans Superdome squalor
with comments by Helen & Harry Highwater
Sept. 6, 2005:
As New Orleans waits, FEMA sends firefighters to seminar, assigns them to hand out fliers
Sept. 6, 2005:
New Orleans during the disaster:
Police lied to survivors, blocked escape from city
by Larry Bradshaw and Lorrie Beth Slonsky, EMS NetworkFrom inside New Orleans as the crisis worsened, these survivors found that the authorities were never any help, and often an ugly enemy. =H&HH= | LINK
Sept. 6, 2005:
FEMA head specifically ordered lackadaisical response to "near catastrophic" Hurricane Katrina
Sept. 7, 2005:
International offers of help came immediately, but U.S. approval was delayed by days
Sept. 7, 2005:
FEMA's top-level management stacked with Bush's cronies
with comments by Helen & Harry Highwater
Sept. 7, 2005:
Navy pilots reprimanded for rescuing huricane victims
Sept. 8, 2005:
FEMA contractors arrested for looting
with comments by Underground Panther in the Sky
Sept. 8, 2005:
Katrina survivors "evacuated" at the point of a gun
with comments by Helen & Harry Highwater
Sept. 8, 2005:
Canadian search-and-rescue team first to reach New Orleans suburb
Sept. 9, 2005:
"Mission accomplished" in New Orleans
by Harry Highwater, Unknown News
Sept. 9, 2005:
Homeowners' guns confiscated in New Orleans, police threaten evacuation by force
with comments by Sir J and Helen & Harry Highwater
Sept. 10, 2005:
FEMA sent back German plane carrying fifteen tons of food for hurricane victims
Sept. 11, 2005:
"Area's power restoration was set back days"
In devastated Mississippi town, Cheney made restoring oil pipeline's pumping power "a presidential directive"
with comments by Helen & Harry Highwater
Sept. 11, 2005:
New Orleans doctors had to kill their patients
Sept. 11, 2005:
Sheriff threatens to arrest FEMA officials
Countermands FEMA order that stores remain closed
Sept. 11, 2005:
Bush signs executive order lowering wages across Katrina-devastated areas
with comments by Helen & Harry Highwater
Sept. 12, 2005:
Drug Enforcement Agency plays key role in door-to-door searches of New Orleans homes
with comments by Helen & Harry Highwater
Sept. 12, 2005:
Racist police blocked bridge and forced evacuees back at gunpoint
with comments by Chris M. and Helen & Harry Highwater
Sept. 13, 2005:
Chertoff delayed federal response to Katrina disaster, memo shows
Sept. 13, 2005:
As bodies are recovered, reporters are threatened: 'No photos, no stories'
Sept. 14, 2005:
Feds delayed Nat'l Guard's hurricane response for days
Sept. 16, 2005:
Truckloads of ice for Katrina victims trucked everywhere except to victims
Sept. 16, 2005:
Mayor of Gretna says “whole community” backs bridge-blocking racist police
with comments by Helen & Harry Highwater
Sept. 16, 2005:
Doctor says FEMA ordered him to stop treating hurricane victims
Sept. 19, 2005:
Bush OKs racial, other discrimination in rebuilding of shattered Gulf Coast
with comments by Helen & Harry Highwater
Sept. 20, 2005:
New Orleans homes searched by "task force" after residents have been evacuated
with comments by Bruce, Rebecca, and Helen & Harry Highwater
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