New Orleans Mayor, in Tears, Blasts Washington's Response

By JOSEPH B. TREASTER and TERENCE NEILAN
Published: September 2, 2005

NEW ORLEANS, Sept. 2 - Fires and explosions jolted an area near the French Quarter this morning in a city gripped by despair and violent lawlessness, and the city's mayor, by turns angry and sad, blasted Washington for what he said was its slow response to the storm disaster.

Today President Bush called the response "not acceptable," as he left for a tour of the ravaged areas. Soon after his remarks the nation's airlines said they had been mobilized to fly up to 25,000 refugees out of New Orleans beginning today, under an emergency plan put into effect for the first time by the Department of Homeland Security. Under the plan, the refugees will be taken from Louis Armstrong Airport outside New Orleans to Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio.