Black people at the Astrodome turn down free shelter on cruise ships...
 

Can't swim. I thought that was a stereotype, lol, wtf...

I'd be on that baby in a MINUTE, telling the crew to get that buffet ready baby.

Cruise Ship Housing for Evacuees on Hold
By PAM EASTON, Associated Press Writer

HOUSTON - A plan to move thousands of Hurricane Katrina evacuees from the Astrodome to cruise ships was put on hold Tuesday after many of them objected, some because they were terrified by the thought of living on the water.

"I can't live over water. I can't swim," said Donna Smith, 24. "I wouldn't want to see no more water. I saw enough already."

Others said they wanted to stay at the Astrodome so that they could concentrate on finding lost loved ones, according to the Coast Guard. And some simply wanted a little stability after so much turmoil.

Carnival Cruise Lines had provided three ships to the federal government ? the Ecstasy, Sensation and Holiday ? for six months to be used as shelters for up to 7,000 hurricane refugees.

Coast Guard Lt. Joseph Leonard, directing the emergency response in Houston, said workers would try to persuade some of the evacuees to try out the ship.

"The bed on a cruise ship is a little bit better than a cot out here," he said. "It is not a perfect solution. It is a better solution than we have right now."

Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Ed Conley said the evacuees need time to think through their options.

Meanwhile, an airlift to take some Katrina refugees from overburdened Texas to other states was at a standstill Tuesday.

FEMA spokeswoman Mary Margaret Walker said that two American Airlines flights to carry refugees from Corpus Christi to Nashville, Tenn., were canceled late Tuesday because the people in the shelters didn't want to pack up and go someplace else.

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh :1orglaugh

I wouldn't want to live on a cruise ship right now, either! It's not even the height of hurricane season yet.

They would trash the ships and turn them into ghettos. Good thing it was put on hold.

I would let them live in my house and I'll go live on a cruise ship... :)

The sad thing is, that the blame is being pointed at everyone but the people that are causing part of the problem.

One thing I heard on the news that I didn't think of was people were afraid to be surrounded by water again. Good point. And can you imagine if another one of these hurricane's hits the ship.

Cyn

Many of you sound like you've never been on a Cruise ship...

First off, these ships would serve as floating housing. They're going to stay near the shore. The odds of "another Hurricane" hitting them are slim and none. They also have small thrusters along the hull that allow for extreme seas to be endured with minimal disruption. I've been on them on occasions where a storm hits, and even in 15 foot white cap seas, where the Captain was telling everyone to "stay in your cabins!" the movement was minimal. They're like floating skyscrapers, it's amazing.

Trust me, those cruise ships would be one HELL of a lot better for those people than the shanty-town Astrodome. Comments like "oh they don't want to endure any more water, I can see that" are nonsense, and officials onsite agree.

Sometimes you can lead a horse to water, but you just can't make it drink...

heeelllp me helllpp me jesus!!

i can picture thme fanning thmeselvses all scarred and stuff on the deck of a fancy cruice ship. I wonder who the first one was who stood up and objected. Who's gold tooth fell out and left him boss.

Duke

government leased cruise ships. sounds like fun.

all the food and drink you want.

plus i'm sure they will all have to get shots of some kind.

if it took the government so long to respond, why would anyone want
to be on their ship? why not one of those bases they plan to close on dry land?

if i were surrounded by flooding waters, not knowing if i were going to live or die, why would i want to be around water? that shit will mess with your head.

conspiracy theroist nightmare.

Fuck old military bases on dry land, I want the midnight buffet with the ice sculptures goddamnit, and the Baked Alaska dessert! :1orglaugh

I'd be on that ship in a heartbeat... On the other hand I understand the ones still looking for their families points. If I had family missing I wouldn't even be thinking about where I was going to be sleeping..

the last time black people were asked to get on boats and leave their home..it didnt work out too well..

Here's the truth.

It wasn't only black people that were suppose to evacuate on those ships... it was elderly. Carnival cruise lines said they were going to revaluate their plan because most didn't want to leave. They didn't want to move again after getting set up at various shelters.

That's the truth... Carry on.