WWL had a reporter live on camera down at a "staging area." On the flip is a summary of what he showed on camera and described regarding a "staging area"...
The WWL reporter was on top of an overpass, looking over the staging area.
He explained that when we see someone being rescued out off a rooftop, etc., they are then taken to one staging area, say, on the top of a highway overpass. They wait there for hours. Then they are brought to another area, where they wait and wait. Eventually they end up at the staging area he is at now.
There are thousands and thousands at this area at best estimate, somewhere off of I-10 I think he said. Some have been waiting for two days to leave the area. They are standing and sitting on garbage and their own human waste. There are only 10 (overflowed) port-a-potties for these masses.
Military helicopters are arriving, taking 10-12 people at a time, but only the "worst cases" - the sick and elderly. And when the helicopter takes off, the garbage and filth goes flying threw the air.
The repoter tried to find out where the people in the choppers are going, but no one knew. Maybe another staging area?
The State Police are frustrated because the rate that people are being moved is so very slow. They are wondering where the help is.
People waiting there were hopeful when they were first rescued, but are now despairing as they continue to wait and wait.
P.S.: THIS IMPORTANT: there is a guy on the station right now who is describing an exercise that took place last year between authorities and LSU that foresaw everything we are seeing now, including the looting/violence!!!! Can we find this anywhere?