> A "floatilla of aid" TURNED BACK from New Orleans...Explain!
20 December 2005, 16:25
The Florida Airboat Association was responsible for getting over 100 civilian airboaters into New Orleans despite the bureaucratic boondoggle.
It should be understood that the whole New Orleans fiasco was not the fault of the federal government. Rather, the responsibility lies with the Louisiana state government and Governor Blanco.
I personally made several phone calls to the Governor’s office attempting to get authorization for the airboaters to enter Louisiana and New Orleans without success. Later, attempts were made through Washington, D.C. to get through to Louisiana senators and congressmen to get their attention. I even got one senator’s aid out of bed at 5:30 am.
The fact of the matter is that the Florida Airboat Association had over 300 airboats and operators prepared and willing to respond to New Orleans. Many were only a matter of 8 hours away and the Louisiana state government refused to recognize them.
In addition, those civilian airboaters who did travel to New Orleans and provided their services did so at the own uncompensated expense. Many of the volunteer airboaters sustained damage to their vessels that exceed $2,000 per boat. That, in addition to the uncompensated fuel and expenses, became quite costly to the good-ole-boy working man that sought no other reward then the helping of his fellow man in a time of need.
Each civilian airboater that responded to New Orleans knew that he/she had an valuable and unique resource that was inherently suited to perform the job and was unmatched by any other non-military enity.
Those volunteers risked their health and safety and well being to help those in need.
When speaking directly with officials of the Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries, it was their response that the State of Louisiana would be gladly to accept the volunteer efforts of the airboaters, but the State would not provide them with fuel or other compensation. Their response was that “it was not in their budget.”
Those who did assist the State of Louisiana did so at their own expense, shouldered the cost of damages to their vessels and foraged for fuel for their vehicles to make the return trip home.
Further, to date the State of Louisiana has yet to recognize the volunteer airboaters for their efforts, while the Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries continues to take credit for the rescues and evacuations.
Robert Dummett
Chairman, Safety Committee
Florida Airboat Association
The Florida Airboat Association was responsible for getting over 100 civilian airboaters into New Orleans despite the bureaucratic boondoggle.
It should be understood that the whole New Orleans fiasco was not the fault of the federal government. Rather, the responsibility lies with the Louisiana state government and Governor Blanco.
I personally made several phone calls to the Governor’s office attempting to get authorization for the airboaters to enter Louisiana and New Orleans without success. Later, attempts were made through Washington, D.C. to get through to Louisiana senators and congressmen to get their attention. I even got one senator’s aid out of bed at 5:30 am.
The fact of the matter is that the Florida Airboat Association had over 300 airboats and operators prepared and willing to respond to New Orleans. Many were only a matter of 8 hours away and the Louisiana state government refused to recognize them.
In addition, those civilian airboaters who did travel to New Orleans and provided their services did so at the own uncompensated expense. Many of the volunteer airboaters sustained damage to their vessels that exceed $2,000 per boat. That, in addition to the uncompensated fuel and expenses, became quite costly to the good-ole-boy working man that sought no other reward then the helping of his fellow man in a time of need.
Each civilian airboater that responded to New Orleans knew that he/she had an valuable and unique resource that was inherently suited to perform the job and was unmatched by any other non-military enity.
Those volunteers risked their health and safety and well being to help those in need.
When speaking directly with officials of the Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries, it was their response that the State of Louisiana would be gladly to accept the volunteer efforts of the airboaters, but the State would not provide them with fuel or other compensation. Their response was that “it was not in their budget.”
Those who did assist the State of Louisiana did so at their own expense, shouldered the cost of damages to their vessels and foraged for fuel for their vehicles to make the return trip home.
Further, to date the State of Louisiana has yet to recognize the volunteer airboaters for their efforts, while the Louisiana Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries continues to take credit for the rescues and evacuations.
Robert Dummett
Chairman, Safety Committee
Florida Airboat Association