The lesssons I have learned from the Hurricane Katrina disaster and tragedy

JEFFHEAD.COM ^ | September 5, 2005 | Jeff Head

[Jeff Head]

Over the last ten days I have, with the rest of America and the world, watched a horrific natural disaster and tragedy unfold. I say natural disaster because that is exactly what a hurricane is when it strikes humanity and destroys property and lives and leaves suffering in its wake, as hurricane Katrina did along the Gulf Coast last week. I say tragedy because I have sat transfixed as I have watched as governmental social programs long in place, contributed to the disaster, and as a number of unimaginable and crass mistakes made by those who could have and should have exhibited stronger leadership, failed to do so which also added significantly to the loss of life and to the human suffering.

As I considered this over this holiday weekend, I thought it imperative, if for no other reason than to get these issues of my chest, to write down the lessons I have learned as a result of this disaster and tragedy. Hopefully, there are those who will reads this and benefit from it, most notably my own children and grandchildren and their descendants.

So, here are the lessons, I pray they reverberate within the hearts and minds of those who read them, so that more and more people can avoid some of the circumstances which have led to what will probably be recorded as the worst natural disaster and tragedy in American history.

LESSON NUMBER ONE: When clear warnings of an imminent natural disaster are issued, heed them When the weather service or other agencies, private or public, tasked with making such warnings issue them, take the warnings seriously and move well out of the path of danger. Do not wait for governmental officials to issue a so-called "mandatory" evacuation. Use your own initiative and resource, whatever they may be, to move yourself and your loved ones out of danger. Irrespective of how many false alarms have been raised in the past, irrespective of how well your or neighbor's structures have survived in the past, act for yourself and move yourself and loved ones out of the path of the oncoming danger. Your very life and those of your loved ones could well depend on it...and to err on the side of caution is a good thing in such circumstances.

The specter of those who decided to stay, and who were partying in the path of this storm on live news coverage up to the time the storm began to come on shore, will remain etched in our memory for the rest of our lives. Such foolishness punctuates the need to remember and act upon this first lesson. It is a lesson wholly within each of our power.

LESSON NUMBER TWO: Be prepared. Start now, in whatever sustained way you can. Any preparation is better than none, decent preparation is better than just a little. Realize we live in a world where natural disaster, economic fallouts, upheaval, strife and war exist and can strike us with little warning, leaving our entire lives and livelihoods completely altered in the space of a few days. We should do what we each can, within our respective circumstances, to have food and water supplies set aside to sustain ourselves and loved ones for a period of several months if possible. If possible, have your own well on your property with a manual pump. Also, if possible, have your own septic system.

We should also all strive to have a 96-hour kit set aside for ourselves and each of our immediate families should we have to leave our homes in response to lesson number one above. Such a 96-hour kiy should contain all of the following:

1. Water (Including purification tablets)
2. Food (Including high energy and vitamins)
3. A good First Aid kit
4. Toiletries
5. Temporary shelter
6. Two or three changes of Clothing, including underwear and socks
7. Firearms
8. Ammunition
9. Spending cash, several hundred dollars, or whatever is possible
10. Reading material (The Holy Scriptures, a couple of Classics)

LESSON NUMBER THREE: The welfare state of any nation is a destroyer of human compassion and civilization. It teaches people to be (mistakenly) wholly reliant on government and indolent and therefore lacking in the necessary moral clarity when faced with a crisis. Far too many caught up in that life style either turn into a mob seeking only what they feel at the moment is good for themselves, even to the destruction of those around them, or, they are left without the means to effectively apply lessons one and two, leaving them defenseless and at the mercy of the danger itself, of incompetent officials, or at the mercy of the mobs that follow on the heels of such disasters in sections of cities that are largely populated by those dependent on such programs. Avoid such programs and such areas like the plague...because that is exactly what they turn into in such dire circumstances as we have witnessed over the last ten days, particularly in New Orleans.

Who will ever forget the site of so many woman, with their children, no men responsible for these families within sight, as they waded through brackish, polluted waters in search of safety? The social programs that were manipulated and changed in the 1960s under Lyndon Johnson's "Great Society" have come home to roost and had their thin veneer dashed by these circumstances, revealing the ugly, festering sores just beneath the surface.

One example, in the 60s, a longer term program that provided governmental relief for children of widows who had been legitimately married, but whose husband had died, was altered to allow any illegitimate children to be included. It wasn't long before more and more desperate woman found that by having four or five children out of wedlock, they could sustain themselves on governmental programs. Men, normally raised to understand that one of their primary roles was to provide for children, found that that role could be supplanted by the government...and so a horrific seed was sown that has resulted in the destruction of the traditional family in a growing segment of American society. It impacted particularly the black family to begin with, but has since spread throughout society...and this is just one example of a myriad of such programs that have had the effect of creating huge segments of society dependent on government for their livelihood, and beholden to politicians whose careers are made by promising more and more of the same. The result is that individuals, families, and entire communities become corrupted...and the outcome is horrific when pitted against circumstances such as Katrina where the foundational building blocks of society such as hard work, strong families, commitment, individualism, creativity and moral strength are indispensable.

LESSON NUMBER FOUR: Large inner cities are breeding grounds for the welfare state. The resulting drugs, indolence, gangs, and other traits make these areas a dangerous place to be at almost any time, but especially during any crisis. Avoid them like the plague, at the mortal threat to your very life.

The site of utter lawlessness, looting, murder, rape and pillaging in the wake of hurricane Katrina has horrified and shocked us all. Much of it is a result of the seeds sown in lesson number three above.

LESSON NUMBER FIVE: Local, liberal politicians are not prepared or equipped to provide help to citizens in a major natural disaster. After their initial (late) warnings, their decisions and indecision resulting from their ideology (which ideology produced the welfare state in the first place), are more apt to significantly worsen the crisis than to provide relief...and this includes planning in advance of such a crisis.

While I am sure there are many civic leaders who will remain unsung heroes in this (such as the numerous initial Coast Guard rescue flights and those who made and coordinated them, I was struck by two examples of this lesson in this particular crisis.

One was the Mayor of New Orleans, at a late date (within 12-18 hours of the storm actually striking, calling for a "mandatory" evacuation. In essence, he told everyone who could get out on their own to do so...and then proceeded to gather large segments of the poor and welfare dependent, at ground zero in the direct path of the storm with little or no food, water or relief for them. The horrific reality was that the mayor could have gotten those people out of there, even at that late date. He had hundreds of school buses that were slated, in normal circumstances, to carry many more children all over New Orleans the next day...and yet they were not utilized but left in their parking lots to weather the storm Instead, he gathered tens of thousands of the most at risk citizens at the Superdome and the Convention Center, or left them in hospitals and rest homes, which later lost all power and water, and were surrounded by flood waters. Left in those circumstances, horrors unparalleled occurred. The pictures of those busses, covered in water the next day, stands at a punctuation and a witness to this lesson number five.

Another example was the governor of Louisiana. When it became apparent how terrible the decision had been to leave the people in the Superdome, she flew there with part of her staff to see for herself how bad the circumstances were. In a later news briefing she described a man holding a small baby who was seriously ill and how that child and many others like it were left in the Superdome and in need of immediate assistance. I could not help but ask myself while she was talking, "Governor, how did you get out?", and, "If you could get out, that sick child could have gotten out". Indeed, the helicopter or whatever transportation the governor used could have been utilized to carry many sick children out of those circumstances. A strong, moral and inspiring leader would have kept themselves and staff at the Superdome themselves, with their security people, and then used their transportation to take out all of the most seriously ill to the safety of the State Capitol from where she later gave the news conference, I was appalled that such a leader could not be found amongst the highest officials of the city or the state. Perhaps there were...but not in the instances I cite here. In addition, the Governor had it within her power, from the beginning to send the Louisiana National Guard into New Orleans as early as Monday to stop the looting. That she did not, and days later complained about the President not reacting fast enough was a classic example of a lack of leadership lashing out at other leadership to fix blame in my opinion. It not on was a disservice to those citizens in New Orleans, it may well have been fatal for a good number of them.

LESSON NUMBER SIX: Federal government programs cannot logistically react quickly enough to provide the level of assistance necessary in the first 72-96 hours. While they may eventually get the needed relief to the survivors (particularly in the hands of a moral, conservative leader), that relief may come too late of good planning and preparation on the part of the people themselves and local leaders is not already in place. In order to ensure the maximum chance for survival, see lessons one and two above and make sure you abide them...better for you and yours to err on the side of caution, than to be caught in such a circumstance.

If people (and particularly my own children, grandchildren and descendants) understand and apply these lessons, they will be in a much better position to preserve the life and liberty of themselves and their loved ones. Having done so, they will also therefore be in a position to help, aid, and provide relief to their fellow citizens in the crisis, as opposed to simply becoming another victim unable to help anyone, even themselves.

Finally, on a final note: These are lessons we as a society simply MUST learn and apply quickly. The lessons of the impact this disaster and tragedy has had on our society is not something that is being felt, noticed, and learned from here alone. Our enemies are also watching. It is imperative that we learn the lessons and apply them before any such enemies can take advantage of them

[Jeff Head]

No problem...glad to do so. I hope more and more people realize and then spread abroad the true nature of this disaster and the reasons it became an even worse tragedy.

[nascardaughter]

That quote is from DHS's National Response Plan. What about it is obfuscatory or unclear? If you read the NRP -- even just the overview at the beginning -- it makes clear that the whole point of it is to establish a chain of command with the federal government at the top, as it rightly should be, during a national disaster.

Another way to look at it is this: the National Guard has been federalized before without state officials' permission, as people have pointed out elsewhere on this thread. Many have said that this was only allowed as a function of the Insurrection Act. However, the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act -- which was explicitly invoked by both Gov. Blanco and President Bush -- gives the federal government the same powers to federalize the response to a national emergency.

The Homeland Security Act, for example, states:

SEC. 886. SENSE OF CONGRESS REAFFIRMING THE CONTINUED IMPORTANCE AND APPLICABILITY OF THE POSSE COMITATUS ACT.
(a) FINDINGS- Congress finds the following:
(1) Section 1385 of title 18, United States Code (commonly known as the `Posse Comitatus Act'), prohibits the use of the Armed Forces as a posse comitatus to execute the laws except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress. (2) Enacted in 1878, the Posse Comitatus Act was expressly intended to prevent United States Marshals, on their own initiative, from calling on the Army for assistance in enforcing Federal law. (3) The Posse Comitatus Act has served the Nation well in limiting the use of the Armed Forces to enforce the law. (4) Nevertheless, by its express terms, the Posse Comitatus Act is not a complete barrier to the use of the Armed Forces for a range of domestic purposes, including law enforcement functions, when the use of the Armed Forces is authorized by Act of Congress or the President determines that the use of the Armed Forces is required to fulfill the President's obligations under the Constitution to respond promptly in time of war, insurrection, or other serious emergency. (5) Existing laws, including chapter 15 of title 10, United States Code (commonly known as the `Insurrection Act'), and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), grant the President broad powers that may be invoked in the event of domestic emergencies, including an attack against the Nation using weapons of mass destruction, and these laws specifically authorize the President to use the Armed Forces to help restore public order.

[B4Ranch]

What I am trying to get across to you is that each State has a Constitution. This State Constitution is what gives the State Governor the RIGHT to say "Mr. Federal Government, get out of my front yard unless I give you permission to be there. Do not come back until you have my permission."

FEMA, the National Guard, the International Red Cross, all politicians who have not been elected by the people of that State MUST obey the wishes of the STATE GOVERNOR under our system of government.

If we didn't have this system of government there would not be any need whatsoever for State Governors. The various Federal bureaucrats would have TOTAL control of each State. There would be no need to have individual States.

[B4Ranch]

The State did ask for assistance. In an 8/28 letter, when the hurricane had been upgraded to category 5, she says:

I request direct federal assistance for work and services to save lives and protect property.

Would you mind telling me where I can read a copy of this letter. I am specifically interested in the date and time.

[nascardaughter]

- The state did ask the federal government to come in.

- The fact that the federal government can take charge during a national emergency does not mean that there is no need for state government.

- The federal government can call in the military, regardless of Posse Commitatus, during national emergencies. Both the Insurrection Act and the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act explicitly state this. Gov. Blanco specifically said that she was asking the federal government to exercise its powers under the Stafford Act in two letters to the president.

[Xenalyte]

What's to be afraid of? It's not like the gun will jump out of the holster and shoot you. It's a gun, not an SUV. ;)

[nascardaughter]

Yes, thanks for the nudge...
http://www.gov.state.la.us/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf

[B4Ranch]

Would you please explain the difference between a regional disaster / emergency and a national disaster / emergency.

[spunkets]

"it makes clear that the whole point of it is to establish a chain of command with the federal government at the top, as it rightly should be, during a national disaster."

NO! I posted the appropriate order from the appropriate doc to you in #169

AGAIN! From DHS.friggin'gov!:

" National Response Plan Main Page >> Local/Federal Response Strategies & Coordination Structures

" "Emphasis on Local Response

All incidents are handled at the lowest possible organizational and jurisdictional level. Police, fire, public health and medical, emergency management, and other personnel are responsible for incident management at the local level. For those events that rise to the level of an Incident of National Significance, the Department of Homeland Security provides operational and/or resource coordination for Federal support to on-scene incident command structures.

"Proactive Federal Response to Catastrophic Events"

The National Response Plan provides mechanisms for expedited and proactive Federal support to ensure critical life-saving assistance and incident containment capabilities are in place to respond quickly and efficiently to catastrophic incidents. These are high-impact, low-probability incidents, including natural disasters and terrorist attacks that result in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, and/or government functions."

"Another way to look at it is this: the National Guard has been federalized before without state officials' permission, as people have pointed out elsewhere on this thread."

For States in violation of 18USC24x and the equivalent violation of the fourteenth AMendment. As I said before, the president had no reason to overrule LA, or any of it's political subdivisions early on, or to hold any of those officials mentally incompitent. IOWs President Bush had no justification to assume dictatorship. NONE! And you've given absolutely no justification for doing so.

[tet68]

I want to own a gun, but I am afraid of them. Perhaps I don't trust myself.

Always wear a condom and you've noting to worry about.
If you slip up, well, what's another little gun to feed,
and they're so CUTE when they're small.

[Jeff Head]

As i suspected, the Governor is very specific in that letter regarding the types of assistance requested.

In my reading and estimation, she does not use the specific language and machanism necessary to implement the out of state federalized) national guard assistance or military assistance to the extent necessary for suprerssion of anarchy or control of those forces by authorities outside of the state. Otherwise it would have been done because Bush responded to this letter be declaring the emergency that day (I believe) according to the terms of the request...but not according to the terms of what has since been shown as being necessary.

Perhaps she has since done that...but my understanding from the reported accounts is that this has been a major stumbling block and point of contention that has in fact hindered the federal response in those areas.

[LibertyRocks]

Bump

[Jeff Head]

Thjanks...please see the up[dated version on my site here that includes several points made by Freepers and an additional seventh lesson I was compelled to ad.

HERE

[B4Ranch]

Have you read the letter? Did you notice that the Governor was very specific in what she was requesting?

This is to CONTROL just how much authority the Federal government officials will have when they are in the State of Louisiana.

[nascardaughter]

It seems to me that you're ignoring everything I give you and then saying that I haven't given you anything... The "lowest possible level" doesn't mean that the president has to wait around for local officials' permission to do anything; it just means that local resources and plans should be the responses of first resort. Actually, I'm not even sure why we're bothering to argue this point, since, as I've already pointed out several times, the state *did* ask the feds to carry out their responsibilities under the Stafford Act.

In any case, it doesn't seem that we are going to agree any time soon. I would like to throw one question your way though: just in terms of common sense, leaving aside what the law currently is, do you think that the federal government should have to wait for a state's permission to take charge of a matter that threatens national security? I promise that's not a gotcha question that I'm gonna use to make some kind of argument -- I'm just genuinely curious.

[Shazbot29]

Did I miss the part about buying a gun and being proficient at its use?

[Jeff Head]

Lesson number two, items 7 and 8 in your emergency preparedness kit. It presumes proficiency.

[spanalot]

AMEN

[spunkets]

You're right in that #211. The administration was aware of it and did it's best to implement what was needed, but was deliberately denied by the LA governor. There's only so much you can do in this regard w/o overstepping your powers on speculation and extrapolation alone. IOWs the LA officials had to demonstrate their incompetence first, before any overruling, or compensating action was taken, because the LA officials claimed compitence and demanded fed compliance to their demands.

LA and NO failed to stock their big shelter. They forgot there were busses. LA blocked all entrance to the State. They even blocked radio techs requested by NOPD that carried authorization letters of passage written by the NOPD. MS doesn't have these problems, just LA.

Some folks are out for defacto fed control of any "emergency". Here in WI a few years back under the 'toon some FEMA goon attempted to take over after a tornado hit. In this case the locals were competent and the feds were incompetent. They were run out of town immediately with no uncertain terms by the sheriff.

[Jeff Head]

the state *did* ask the feds to carry out their responsibilities under the Stafford Act.

Nascar, the LA governor asked for VERY specific assistance under that act.

As I have pointed out to you repeatedly...and again in post 211...I believe there are very specific mechansisms and language to invoke non-state controlled NG within the borders of a state. The Governor's letter was very specific about detailed areas of response she requested under the Stafford Act, but she never goes into the language or the mechanisms necessary for the former.

You seem disinclined to address this point.

And in answer to your strawman...outside of invasion, insurrection, and rebellion...and perhaps catastrophe...that threatens the whole of the US...yes, the Federal Government does need the state's permission to enter, occupy and take control of that state.

While Katrina is a huge catastrophe, it does not rise to that level.