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Red Cross Forbidden to Enter New Orleans

excerpts from a report from the American Red Cross

Acess to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities and while we are in constant contact with them, we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders.

The state Homeland Security Department had requested -- and continues to request -- that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city.


The Red Cross shares the nation’s anguish over the worsening situation inside the city. We will continue to work under the direction of the military, state and local authorities and to focus all our efforts on our lifesaving mission of feeding and sheltering.

The Red Cross does not conduct search and rescue operations. We are an organization of civilian volunteers and cannot get relief aid into any location until the local authorities say it is safe and provide us with security and access.

As the remaining people are evacuated from New Orleans, the most appropriate role for the Red Cross is to provide a safe place for people to stay and to see that their emergency needs are met. We are fully staffed and equipped to handle these individuals once they are evacuated.

Acess to New Orleans is controlled by the National Guard and local authorities.. we simply cannot enter New Orleans against their orders... Our presence would keep people from evacuating... We will continue to work under the direction of the military... Acess to New Orleans is controlled... we simply cannot enter New Orleans against orders...

You have been reading excerpts from "Hurricane Katrina: Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?" from the American Red Cross. You can read the entire piece here: tinyurl.com/93omw. Thanks to redcross.org.

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