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FIREFIGHTERS STUCK AT HOTEL AWAITING ORDERS |
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by Associated Press Published September 7, 2005 ATLANTA -- Hundreds of firefighters who volunteered to help victims of Hurricane Katrina have instead been playing cards, taking classes on the history of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and lounging at an Atlanta airport hotel for days while they await orders. "On the news every night you hear [hurricane victims say], `How come everybody forgot us?"' said Joseph Manning, a Pennsylvania firefighter. "We didn't forget. We're stuck in Atlanta drinking beer." As of Tuesday, some had been waiting for four days. FEMA official Tony Russell said he is trying to hurry the deployments but wants to make certain they are sent to the right places. |