New Orleans mayor C. Ray Nagin has ordered the forcible removal of all New Orleans residents from flood-stricken areas, whether they want to leave or not.

Mayor Ray Nagin instructed all public safety officers “to compel the evacuation of all persons … regardless of whether such persons are on private property or do not desire to leave,” according to a written statement from his office.

The order did not apply to people in Algiers on the West Bank side of Orleans Parish.

Many residents have refused to leave New Orleans despite a mandatory evacuation and warnings from government officials that staying in the flooded city represents a health risk. — CNN

In addition, the governor’s office announced that the Superdome, which housed thousands of evacuees for nearly a week, may have to be torn down.

The Disaster Mortuary Operations Response Team, described as a volunteer arm of Homeland Security, is telling volunteer morticians to prepare for up to 40,000 dead — not counting the disinterred remains of those already buried who washed out of their crypts.

And that’s the news. Now for the stupidity.

FEMA asked for 1,000 firefighters to volunteer to come to various areas, but when they arrived, they found they would be doing nothing but handing out flyers at Red Cross shelters.

On Monday, some firefighters stuck in the staging area at the Sheraton peeled off their FEMA-issued shirts and stuffed them in backpacks, saying they refuse to represent the federal agency. . . .

“They’ve got people here who are search-and-rescue certified, paramedics, haz-mat certified,” said a Texas firefighter. “We’re sitting in here having a sexual-harassment class while there are still [victims] in Louisiana who haven’t been contacted yet.”

The firefighter, who has encouraged his superiors back home not to send any more volunteers for now, declined to give his name because FEMA has warned them not to talk to reporters. — Salt Lake Tribune

But wait, there’s more! On those flyers are instructions on how people can file a disaster claim with FEMA. Just call 1 800 621-3362. Only problem is, when you call that number, you can’t file a claim. Instead, you have to give them your address for them to mail you claim forms.

But most people in the shelters where these flyers are being passed out no longer have fixed addresses where they can receive mail!

I can’t blame the firefighters for no longer wanting to represent FEMA.

In other news, stories are coming out that rescue workers asked stranded women on rooftops and balconies to “show us your tits” and passed by if they didn’t. Now those are some sick people.

And in more FEMA screwups, a plane full of evacuees expected in Charleston, S.C., wound up in Charleston, W. Va., instead.

But the worst is yet to come. On August 29, the day Hurricane Katrina made landfall, FEMA director Michael Brown, who is already being asked to resign by many Senators and Congressmen, sent a memo to Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff asking for 1,000 volunteers for an assignment of up to two weeks.

In it, Brown writes, “We anticipate needing at least 1,000 additional DHS employees within 48 hours and 2,000 within 7 days.”

In closing, Brown says in the memo, “Thank you for your consideration in helping us meet our responsibilities in this near catastrophic event.” Attached to the memo is a list of requirements for employees heading to the hurricane area, including personal supplies, contact points and physical requirements.

One part of the attachment advises employees to “convey a positive image of disaster operations to government officials, community organizations and the general public.” — CNN

Oh yes, the important thing to do in a disaster is convey a positive image.