Evacuation of the Superdome has halted due to gunfire at a medivac helicopter, groups of armed people threatening paramedics, and arson fires set around the Superdome, preventing buses from getting near enough to embark passengers. (The flood waters still surround the Dome, so the buses have to get right up to it.)
UPDATE: FEMA suspends rescue efforts due to violence. (from CNN)
As police and National Guard troops struggled to restore order Thursday in New Orleans, federal emergency teams suspended boat rescue operations because conditions in the flooded city were too dangerous, officials said.
There is now no one looking for survivors.
Associated Press
NEW ORLEANS - The evacuation of the Superdome was suspended Thursday after shots were reported fired at a military helicopter and arson fires broke out outside the arena. No immediate injuries were reported.
The scene at the Superdome became increasingly chaotic, with thousands of people rushing from nearby hotels and other buildings, hoping to climb onto the buses taking evacuees from the arena, officials said. Paramedics became increasingly alarmed by the sight of people with guns.
Richard Zeuschlag, chief of the ambulance service that was handling the evacuation of sick and injured people from the Superdome, said it was suspending operations "until they gain control of the Superdome."
He said shots were fired at a military helicopter over the Superdome before daybreak.
He said the National Guard told him that it was sending 100 military police officers to restore order.
"That's not enough," Zeuschlag said. "We need a thousand."
complete AP news article
How will this end? The Army is going to have to move in in force (many thousands of troops) to secure the city if it's ever going to be rebuilt.
The Chief of Police in New Orleans had to go out personally with riot troops to defend a police truck bringing food in from armed looters. As they pick up survivors, the police are asking for weapons and ammo in an attempt to match the firepower of the looters.
If I were a terrorist, I'd be watching this and learning that, with a good shove, any large American city would disintegrate.