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Subscribe to RSSFive years ago tonight I was part of an NBC News team hastily flown down to Louisiana to be in place for the anticipated early morning landfall of hurricane Katrina. We took off from a suburban New York airport that day bound for New Orleans, but as we flew south the pilot informed us the New Orleans airport had just closed. We ended up diverting to Baton Rouge. During the flight we chatted and speculated about whether this could be a false alarm, and whether the storm might veer away from land at the last minute, and we'd end up going right back to New York. As soon as we got on the ground however, our BlackBerrys came to life with urgent messages about the intensity and track of the storm and updated predictions about the "possible widespread loss of life," a storm of this magnitude could bring. It was heading straight toward New Orleans and the city was under mandatory evacuation. As our technical crews unloaded their gear from the plane, we got on the horn with New York to go over the coverage plan. My colleague Brian Williams and his team would head to New Orleans and try to reach the Superdome. Another group was to head to Houma, Louisiana. I was told to set up at the state command center in Baton Rouge. Other NBC personnel were already in place at various points along the Gulf coast. As we climbed into our rental cars we put on our game faces and exchange quick goodbyes and knowing glances. This was going to be a story for the ages.
I just spent the past week in New Orleans and along the Mississippi coast with many of those same colleagues assessing the impact of Katrina 5 years later, reliving those awful days and catching up with some of the memorable characters we met along the way. We're covering this grim anniversary all weekend long. On tonight's program you'll hear my interview with the man who became the symbol of the federal government's poor response, former FEMA head Michael Brown. He's taken a lot of blame, but as I discovered he's dishing out plenty of blame too. Also, Brian Williams is in New Orleans tonight and returns to the convention center, the scene of some of the disaster's most enduring images of suffering, with a famous son of New Orleans, singer Harry Connick, Jr.
I hope you can join us tonight for NBC Nightly News.
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Good Evening Mr.Holt, A fine broadcast tonight as always. Very Moving posting tonight Mr.Holt
First of all the report by Mr.Viqueira concerning President Obama and his fulfillment of keeping his word about the withdrawal of US Combat Troops from Iraq. The US Combat Troops have withdrawn from the country as 50,000 US Troops remain in the region for a training mission of the Iraqi Forces and Police not in a combat mission. It is disturbing the recent violence in the country wit over 50 people killed and more attacks are being threatened by al-qaeda in the region. It is tragic for the civilians having to try to survive in a city on high alert and one hopes the Iraqi Forces will be able to secure the areas.
It will be a major speech for President Obama on Tuesday regarding the US Combat Troop withdrawal and the future of the remaining US Troops in the region. One always hopes for peace.
The report by Mr.Seidel from the Weather Channel on the three gathering storms in the Atlantic tells of storms that will cause much rip currents and possible beach erosion. Hopefully, people along the coast will keep safe from the waters.
The report by Mr.Sanders on the 3-D images of Titanic even though one could only see 2-D images on tv was really interesting and fascinating to see. Seeing the glass still in the windows, portholes, the ladder from the mailroom still standing in one piece is incredible. The crew is getting some great footage and the more gathered will be again incredible to see. It is good they are safely moving away from the area right now due to Hurricane Danielle, but when it is calmer the work will be able to continue. Very Interesting!
The interview by Mr.Williams with Harry Connick Jr. on Mr.Connick's reflections of what he saw right after Hurricane Katrina at the convention center was heartbreaking and difficult to hear and see. Images very hard to forget of the people suffering without any help. Being in desperate need of assistance and nobody was there to help them. It was awful to see. People dying, children ill and everyone needing help. Hard images for Mr.Connick to forget. He did a wonderful thing coming up with the idea of the "Musicians Village" rebuilding the neighborhood with help from Habitat for Humanity and many other organizations. So many people helping to rebuild homes and make a neighborhood better. It was great to hear from Mr.Marsalis too about how he cried and was moved everytime he saw more homes built in the area. One hopes it keeps thriving.
One hopes the city of New Orleans and the Mississippi keep thriving!
Thank You for the broadcast Mr.Holt. Looking forward to Sunday's broadcast with Mr.Williams and his interview with President Obama. Peace to You and to All!
Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie,Stephanie,Claudia,Celine,Anna,Lori,Cary and Matt!
Be Well Always!
Stay Extra,Extra Safe and Well Richard! Hope you are enjoying being home!
Take Extra Good Care Richard and Crew!
XOXO
Lisa
Hello Lester and all:
Many saw Katrina as just another hurricane that needs to be reported on.
Boy, were we wrong.
Brian's last Sunday's Dateline Special was moving and very telling. He explains being there and we see through a screen the suffering and agony but I imagine the reality of being there must have been shocking.
Thank you both for braving it all and reporting it all.
To err is human. We all fail, at one point in life. We are flesh and blood.
What makes us great though is we pick ourselves up off the floors of failure and be better, do better.
Brown admits to failing grand ole New Orleans ..
And for that he deserves respect.
It takes a strong man and a good man to admit failure.
One hears the pain in the native son's voice. Harry Connick Jr. cares. When you care deeply..it is natural wanting to protect your hometown, your city, your people.
I am a fan of Harry and his music..and Jazz will live on ..flowing through the streets of New Orleans.
We so enjoyed the view from Brad's and Harry's perch. Thanks to Brian.
We all plan to meet and tune in to "Today" and "MTP" and while we are at it....have breakfast.
Sad, ya know- The Gulf being hit Twice!
Hi Lester! In my opinion, the failure in New Orleans was the Mayor's and not President Bush who called him.
Salvation is a phone call. With the Martin Luther King family it is about time and location and most
Americans feel that way about a Mosque being built two blocks from Ground Zero. I saw the Beck rally
as Christian, and he is right: We have wandered too long in darkness." which I connect with darkness
in Isaiah 60 but the sun will shine seven-fold soon as predicted. An excellent broadcast. as always and
have a nice weekend.
Phyllis
hola, phyllis, on page 308 of carl sagan's book 'cosmos', there is a small graphic of a painting by jon lomberg which represents 'a schematic representation of an advanced technical civilization which rebuilds its solar system into a spherical shell of matter surrounding the local sun, so the valuable starlight is not mainly lost to space.' it looks pre-colombian, aztec, mayan . . . . i emailed jon lomberg and told him maybe that's what dark matter is, the civilization of an entire solar system would be vast, so LOTS of matter, and no light would be escaping, which would make it 'dark' . . . . . but that would be VERY BRIGHT sunlight within the spherical shell. i can't remember the scripture, but isaiah wrote about 'plummet'. plummet is what is left after hazardous nuclear waste has decayed to the point where it is no longer radioactive. so, how did isaiah know about plummet? the bible is a very interesting testament. and there is nothing new under the sun! have a great sunday, anna martina
So... the current failures in THE GULF region, the BP mess, is not Obama's failures..
The Republican Mayor should take the blame.
President Obama, you need to retract, "I own this."
Lester,
Sorry for another mischievous post.
Just woke up from the crazy alarm of my pal's text message.... Her text is a woozer....and it reads:
"Glenn Beck claims the date of his gathering is accidental. He claims of not being aware of the significance of the date. Lacks basic historical knowledge..or maybe, just maybe, a total DOUCHE."
Tuned, now, in to the REV Sharpton on CNN and CNN asks- "Who owns the dream?"
Dr. King wanted equality for ALL. Not a Black or White thing..King asks for a united America..as in these 'UNITED' States. Too bad, Glenn Beck just don't get it..or ya know...this GAME he plays is all a shadow.
"Raising his own platform."
"Shock Jock."
Beck, -Hollering God's name...?? Silly GAMES..
Puhleezee!!!!
A sincere apology to Phyllis. Learned early this morn, CNN, that the Mayor and then Governor did not do their jobs with early evacuation. CNN showed the Governor whispering her failure, on camera and buses sitting in deep, high water and they could have been used as means of evacuation.
Failures at the local level and national level. I guess everyone thought Katrina would simply be a hurricane.
Happy CNN revealed the "detached" New Orleans' Mayor and the Governor. Sorry again Phyllis. You are more knowledgeable than I.
Michelle, apology accepted but not necessary and thanks for the information,. You are cooler than me.
Anna Martina, I have the Carl Sagan book and will take another look at it soon.. Phyllis
Good Evening Mr.Williams, This comment is for the Sunday broadcast on August,29, 2010. A fine broadcast from New Orleans. Seeing some of the footage from the broadcast on August, 29,2005 was heartbreaking and all the terrible damage to the city of New Orleans. The sounds from the Superdome of the storm battering the roof was ominious and frightening. Later after the storm had passed the levees breaking and all the areas being flooded was simply horrible. So many lives were lost and we should remember them always.
Now on to the broadcast. Your interview with Presidebt Obama told of how there is much more to be dome in New Orleans to keep rebuilding and making things even better and safer. It is true there is a long way to go and everyone should be concerned and committed. One hopes the Gulf Coast will continue to recover and become even stronger and better that before Hurricane Katrina.
The piec e by Kate Snow was touching about people remembering those who were lost in the storm. Many survivors giving thanks and it was heartbreaking to hear the names being read of those lost loved ones.
The piece by Mr.Quintanilla from the Lower Ninth Ward showed how some homes are rebuilt, but others are not with just vacant lots and overgrown vegetation. As Mr.Quintanilla stated residents feel like this is the country and more businesses need to open in the area. It was interesting to see the color of the homes all being bright and hearing the reason was understandable.
The report by Mr.Holt frm the Mississippi Gulf Coast showed massive devastation from the most powerful part of Hurricane Katrina and how many lots are still vacant. It was heartwrenching to see the family who had lost everything living in their car right after the storm, but now it is hopeful with their move to Florida and a new home. Many people may never come back to the area and that is underdstandable, but it is difficult for those who stayed to be living in neighborhoods that have changed so much since the storm. One hopes more peopel will rerturn. Time will tell.
Thank You for the broadcast Mr.Williams. Excellent Job hosting "Meet the Press" this morning! Wonderful job broadcasting from New Orleans. Peace to You and to All!
Lots of Love to Laurel,Jackie,Stephanie,Claudia,Celine,Anna,Lori,Cary and Matt!
Be Well Always!
Stay Extra,Extra,Safe and Well Richard!
Take Extra Good Care Richard and Crew!
XOXO
Lisa
Anna Martina: I have four books by Carl Sagan, one is a novel Contact The other three:The Cosmic
Conection; Comet by Sagan and Ann Druyan and Cosmos which you mentioned. I am big on Carl Sagan,
Albert Einstein, and Isaiah which was the book most quoted by Jesus Christ. Thanks for sharing Phyllis