Counting the Dead in New Orleans

Posted on September 8, 2005

The truth about the Katrina disaster continues to leak out, despite a massive PR effort to spin the aftermath into a happy ending for everyone. According to MSNBC, 25,000 body bags have been ordered by the government.

Soldiers toting M-16s strengthened their grip on this swamped city as concerns grew about the risks posed by the toxic floodwaters and officials braced Thursday for what could be a staggering death toll by readying 25,000 body bags.
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Officials readied for the potential of a horrendous death toll. Bob Johannessen, spokesman for the state Department of Health and Hospitals, said officials have 25,000 body bags on hand in Louisiana. Asked if authorities expected that many bodies, he said: "We don�t know what to expect."

Whatever the actual number of dead turns out to be, it is important that the truth be reported to the American people. Spinning the tragedy to make it sound not so bad is counterproductive and will only lead to inadequate city planning for future disasters.