AMERICA - The Right Way!! (Day 1700) [Remember the Trade Center!!]

Do not let the victims of the attacks on New York and Washington, nor the brave members of our Nation's military who have given their lives to protect our freedom, die in vain!!

As I am sure we all know by now, unless you've been living in a cave, the city of New Orleans was reminded, in the most brutal of ways, that man is not the master of nature, but that he lives within the will of his surroundings. That this might be applied to the debate on global climate change--if man could control nature, wouldn't he have eliminated such things as hurricanes?--is, in the words of Alton Brown from Good Eats, "another show."

Naturally, that such a calamity would be the fault of nature beyond the measure of mere men is not in the nature of humans--someone has to be blamed, and blamed he was. And by the end of the second week following the disaster, the personification of personal blame, the director of FEMA (the Federal Emergency Management Authority) was unceremoniously sacked, first from his duties along the Gulf coast (that was public) and then his position heading the agency (that was private--the public sap being that he "resigned").

Unfortunately, and Mr. Brown would probably take little solace in this, he was a political sacrifice; and offering to the great spin machine in Washington, DC, that would much rather look to the grindings of political opportunism than the true investigation into the events of the disaster.

Some of these events have not received wide publicity--and some none at all, far as I can tell--but this space will now endeavor to bring what is known, and what is a matter of public policy regarding disasters, into one report. This report draws upon information available from The Wall Street Journal, newsmax.com, Times-Picayune States-Item, FoxNews, the Department of Homeland Security, the National Hurricane Center, the Federal Emergency Management Authoriity, State of Louisiana, Wikipeida, and, of course, FreeRepublic.com.

As opening rants go, this one is rather long, but it is a tale that is screaming to get out.

Duties of the Mayor of New Orleans When Confronted With an Approaching Hurricane and its Aftermath...

Bureaucracies are notorious for drafting policies and plans that often are never implemented, mainly for the purpose of saying they have a policy, or a plan exists, to address virtually any given situation. This is done irrespective of whether any resources are actually available to implement a plan or policy, or not. Staff in these bureaucracies have an appropriately derisive name for these policies: shelfware.

One such piece of shelfware exists in the New Orleans city bureaucracy, a tome entitled the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.

This plan discusses what should be done in the event of a major hurricane approaching the Crescent City. The city administration, according to the plan, accepted responsibility for the following pre-event requirements (among others):

It is also worthy of note that, according to the Wall Street Journal, the City of New Orleans, on August 1, developed plans for the use of its transit and school buses to move refugees out of the city when and if disaster struck.

What is also interesting about the 9,000-word Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan is what it doesn't say:

Duties of the Governor of Louisiana When Confronted With an Approaching Hurricane, and its Aftermath...

The governor of the State of Louisiana is the primary official responsible for coordinating all phases of disaster relief to the entirety of citizens within that political subdivision. Many of the responsibilities the governor specifically has are spelled out in the National Response Plan of the Federal Department of Homeland Security, namely:

The Louisiana government's Evacuation Guidelines allow for the use of public school buses.

Duties of the Tropical Prediction Center (AKA National Hurricane Center) When Confronted With an Approaching Hurricane, and its Aftermath...

Duties of FEMA, and the Department of Homeland Security, When Confronted With an Approaching Hurricane, and its Aftermath...

The duties of the Federal Government are probably the most misunderstood aspect of what occurs during disaster preparedness and disaster recovery. The abilities and capabilities of the FEMA, the Federal Government's agent in the event of a disaster, are spelled out in statute--the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (PL 93-288, as amended). The law is rather prescriptive and limits the ability of FEMA to respond, probably because of a sensitivity to that quaint notion of Federalism--we are a union of 50 autonomous states--that suggests the first response to disasters should come from the states themselves. FEMA is capable of reacting to an emergency, but that emergency has to be declared by the President...

In addition, the governor of an affected state can request the President to use Federal (as opposed to National Guard) troops, for a period not to exceed 10 days [emphasis added], work on public and private land "essential for the preservation of life and property."

The National Response Plan prepared by the Department of Homeland Security in December 2004, and prepared with full knowledge of the Stafford Act, notes the following:

Duties of the Army Corps of Engineers When Confronted With an Approaching Hurricane, and its Aftermath...

The duties of the ACE, in the New Orleans area, are one of maintaining the Federal levee system that protects the city against any hurricane of category three or less. The ACE notes:

Joseph Suhayda, who is a retired Louisiana State University coastal oceanographer notes the levees have sunk over the years, and probably wouldn't protect the area against even a category two hurricane. The 17th Street Canal overtop walls, however, probably would mitigate against this.

In addition, the ACE is responsible for a lock system on the New Orleans Industrial Canal which raises and lowers shipping from the 8 inches above sea level that is Lake Ponchatrain and the roughly 10 feet above sea level that is the Mississippi River. The lock was built in the 1920s, and the ACE was attempting to upgrade the lock and entire system in 1998 (indeed $600 million had been appropriated for the work). The residents of the 9th Ward in New Orleans sued the ACE because the work created too much noise. The project was still in litigation at the end of August 2005.

President Bush calls Louisiana governor Blaco. Based on a series of meetings he has had with his Deputy Chief of Staff, the President tries to convince the governor to take needed action, and take it immediately.

The governor of Louisiana demurs, weighing the legalities of accepting Federal assistance, and wondering if doing so would lead to the perception that her office couldn't handle an emergency. Gov. Blanco flatly declares there is a plan for dealing with a large hurricane.

FEMA begins the coordination of disaster relief with a number of Louisiana parishes. FEMA is, however, restricted from interfering in local operations because Louisiana has not authorized such activity.

FEMA activates Texas TF-1 search and rescue and stages them in Shreveport, LA (about 300 miles NW of New Orleans--a day's drive because you would leave the Interstate system at Lafayette due to flooding).

FEMA's Michael Brown (yep, the one that was cashiered) declares: "There's about 36 hours for folks to get ready. Beyond that, it's just too late. I can't emphasize enough to viewers how serious FEMA is taking this storm. The agency has dispatched teams to both states [LA and MS]

President Bush contacts Gov. Blanco and urges her to order a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans.

Gov. Blanco requests that President Bush declare a major disaster for the State of Louisiana as required by the Stafford Act. SPECIFICALLY MISSING FROM THIS REQUEST ARE THE FOLLOWING PARISHES: JEFFERSON, PLAQUEMINES, ST. BERNARD, AND ORLEANS. This means the Federal Government, BY LAW, is specifically PROHIBITED from providing aid to the areas most likely to be struck by KATRINA! [Of note: it appears the August 27 letter from the Louisiana governor's office is now no longer available on the state's website--it has been replaced by a letter dated August 28. Information here is that drawn from Wikipedia.]

President Bush declares a major disaster in the regions requested in Gov. Blanco's letter.

Max Maxfield, of the NHC, contacts Mayor Nagin. He pleads with the mayor to order an evacuation of New Orleans, pointing out the levees were not designed to handle a storm of this size.

10 AM CT: Mayor Nagin and Gov. Blanco issue a mandatory evacuation order--this order is 24 hours late according to the city's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. The buses available in the city are never used.

Gov. Blanco seems to understand what's coming. On Larry King: New Orleans could expect a complete loss of electricity and water services as well as intense flooding.

New Orleans tells people to bring enough personal food and water to emergency shelters for three to five days. Problem would be--people after the storm would be moving to shelters through flood waters incapable of bringing their own supplies.

Seven trucks of food and three trucks with water deliver supplies to the Superdome.

The mayor of New Orleans would make his last address to the city: fill [your] upstairs bathtubs with water, and in case of real trouble, make sure you have a way of hacking through your roof -- so you are not trapped by rising water.

AMTRAK offers the City of New Orleans free transportation to evacuate residents. The offer is turned down.

Early morning: Mayor Nagin closes the Crescent City Connector--this would be the sole remaining land connection to the city over the coming days.

6:10 AM CT: KATRINA makes landfall at Grand Isle, LA. Maximum winds are 145 MPH.

6:44 AM CT: Hurricane KATRINA slams into Buras, LA, with winds of 144 MPH, and pushing in front of it a storm surge of 24 feet.

Early Morning: Waters from the Gulf of Mexico, being pushed up into marshes in Plaquemines parish, begin inundating this region. As the storm moves north, winds begin to shift, driving the waters from Lake Borgne into St. Bernard parish.

9 AM CT: Wind direction continues to move counter-clockwise. As winds start moving from the ENE, with KATRINA approaching Mississippi, water is shoved past the Chandelier barrier islands, into Chandelier Sound, and ultimately into Lake Ponchatrain. These waters slam into the Industrial Canal and spill over its eastern bank, flooding the 9th ward of New Orleans.

1:00 PM CT: Winds start diminishing in New Orleans, and water levels begin to fall on Lake Ponchatrain. Residents of New Orleans think they have dodged a bullet. Shortly afterward, however, a barge breaks from its moorings.

2:00 PM CT: New Orleans officials admit a breach in the 17th Street Levee. This resulted from the barge that broke loose slamming into the concrete overtop wall of the 17th Street Canal--this concrete barrier is several feet thick. The wall breaks, and the inundation of New Orleans commences. [The barge, incidentally, has been found at the bottom of the breach.]

3:00 PM CT: New Orleans Homeland Security Director Terry Ebbertt: "Everybody who had a way or wanted to get out of the way of this storm was able to."

12:00 PM CT: The Department of Homeland Security's Secretary becomes aware the levee breach cannot be plugged.

10:00 PM CT: Mayor Nagin reports that attempts to sandbag the 17th Street Canal breach have failed--80 percent of New Orleans is now under water.

FEMA and DoD personnel, as called for in the National Response Plan are moving doctors, nurses, rescue experts, support personnel, and supplies toward New Orleans. They are, however, powerless to use any of these as Gov. Blanco still had not declared the situation beyond the capability of Louisiana to handle, thus preventing Federal assistance because of Federal law (the Stafford Act)!

Mayor Nagin of New Orleans leaves the Crescent City Connector closed to all outbound traffic--including pedestrian.

By evening, Gov. Blanco was watching, most assuredly, the same newscasts the rest of us were, showing rapes, looting, and even the report of one of New Orleans' police officers being shot in the head. Bullets are flying by relief workers; indeed, the city was clearly out of control

Gov. Blanco calls for the evacuation of New Orleans "within 48 hours", but provides no assistance to undertake the operation.

Mayor Nagin finally opens the Crescent City connector to allow refugees to go to the West Bank to "find whatever relief they can locate". This means that for three days, by force, the mayor has kept people locked in the Central Business District of New Orleans. Now, unfortunately, no one who would need to know this can learn of this because: (1) there were no electronic means to distribute information in New Orleans anymore; and (2) the city government didn't make this fact known to the people in the CBD.

Looting prompts state officials to send an armored personnel carrier and 70 additional officers into New Orleans.

People are trapped in the Superdome and Convention Center with no electricity, no food, no water, and no sewer capability.

Officials in the city of New Orleans first realize people are using the Convention Center as a refugee center.

Media outlets begin to criticize the slow response of Federal assistance to New Orleans--in fact, it was not possible because there had been no request from Louisiana to provide relief. The Stafford Act prohibited FEMA and other Federal agencies from doing anything.

Gov. Blanco finally signs Executive Order KBB-2005-23. This Order requests Federal assistance. It would still be several hours, because of the road network in southern Louisiana allowing only two routes of access to New Orleans, before relief supplies could reach New Orleans.

Federal officials would rescue 10,000 people in the first 12 hours after Gov. Blanco gave permission for them to operate in Louisiana.

Buses arrive in New Orleans to remove people. This encourages some, who realize there is now a land outlet, to steel cars from parking garages to get out of the city.

FEMA is informed by New Orleans officials that people are located at the Convention Center.

Fires start breaking out in places within New Orleans--fortunately, most of the city doesn't become ablaze as there is little that can be done to constrain these fires.

A 50-member Canadian force (who, remember, are not under the strictures of the Stafford Act) reach New Orleans. Louisiana State Senator Boasso would comment they beat the US military by five days.

Red Cross officials request permission to distribute supplies in New Orleans from state officials; their request is refused to avoid creating an incentive for folks to stay at the Superdome.

California swift water rescue crews rescue hundreds from New Orleans, but have to stop when shot at by thugs.

President Bush requests unified control over all local police and National Guard units reporting to the Louisiana governor. Note carefully, unified control, not a takeover, was being sought. Gov. Blanco rejects this saying such would be comparable "to a Federal declaration of martial law."

Fifty relief vehicles arrive in New Orleans ("the cavalry"). Sick and wounded are finally evacuated from two hospitals (presumably Charity and Tulane Medical Center).

Gov. Blanco requests that the State of Louisiana take over the recovery of bodies in the delta region, including Jefferson, Orleans and St. Bernard parishes.

The breach in the 17th Street Canal is closed. The sheet pilings at its connection to Lake Ponchatrain are removed so the canal can be used to aid in draining the city.

Forced evacuation of New Orleans ordered by the mayor. Gov. Blanco, however, refuses to endorse this order, so its legitimacy is questionable.

President Bush issues and Executive Order suspending the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931; this will allow Federal contractors to pay wages below the prevailing rate to those rebuilding after KATRINA.

Michael Brown is relieved of KATRINA recovery responsibilities by Secretary of Homeland Security Chertoff.

Michael Brown steps down, probably after being cashiered in private as the political fall guy, as head of FEMA.

There's a lot of blame to go around, but some things present themselves as clear when the facts are analyzed:

On its face, then it would hold the Governor of Louisiana is directly responsible for the needless deaths of hundreds of people in Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes. The legislature of Louisiana should begin an immediate investigation into this barbarous act, and initiate impeachment proceedings. If need be, the United States Department of Justice should enter into the equation also to the extent allowed under Federal law.

Secondarily, an investigation should also be launched into the culpability of Mayor Nagin into the suffering and death of people in New Orleans for failing to follow, to the extent he had the flexibility under state law, his own disaster plan.

And finally, the United States Congress needs to conduct its own investigation into where hundreds of millions of dollars in Federal funding for flood protection in the Bayou State actually went.

Some updates to the timeline, so...

...long post follows so folks who wish to have the whole thing don't have to cut and paste. [Edits noted.]

The Sinking of the City of New Orleans

As opening rants go, this one is rather long, but it is a tale that is screaming to get out.

Duties of the Mayor of New Orleans When Confronted With an Approaching Hurricane and its Aftermath...

One such piece of shelfware exists in the New Orleans city bureaucracy, a tome entitled the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.

Issuing a warning
Ordering mandatory evacuations, if required, 48 hours ahead of the event
Arranging for buses for those who didn't have transportation of their own
Position supervisors and dispatch buses to evacuate those without transportation
Setting up emergency shelters
Maintaining those shelters
Coordinating with the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and others the provision of food and supplies to emergency shelters

What is also interesting about the 9,000-word Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan is what it doesn't say:

There are only four (4) mentions of FEMA.
There are NO, repeat NONE, as in ZERO, references to the Department of Homeland Security--not even in a section discussing catostrophic events.

Duties of the Governor of Louisiana When Confronted With an Approaching Hurricane, and its Aftermath...

Coordinating state resources
Utilization of police powers, including capability to make, amend, or rescind orders and regulations
Leadership in communicating and helping people cope
Enters into mutual aid pacts with other states
Is commander-in-chief of the state's military forces (National Guard and authorized state militias)
Requests Federal Assistance when it becomes clear that state capabilities will be insufficient or have been exhausted

The Louisiana government's Evacuation Guidelines allow for the use of public school buses.

Duties of the Tropical Prediction Center (AKA National Hurricane Center) When Confronted With an Approaching Hurricane, and its Aftermath...

The duties of the TPC are actually fairly simple and straight forward:

Provide an assessment of severe tropical weather
Provide a forecast of where that phenomenon will head
Educate local officials, as appropriate, as to the extent of the peril they face

Duties of FEMA, and the Department of Homeland Security, When Confronted With an Approaching Hurricane, and its Aftermath...

If an event is beyond the combined response capabilities of the state and affected local governments; and
If a joint Federal-state-local preliminary damage assessment (which can be waived in the event of "clearly devastating disaster") shows the damage to be of sufficient magnitude to warrant assistance under the Act.

The National Response Plan prepared by the Department of Homeland Security in December 2004, and prepared with full knowledge of the Stafford Act, notes the following:

Federal resources arriving at a Federal mobilization center or staging area remain there until requested by state/local incident command authorities, when they are integrated into the incident response effort [emphasis added].
Unless it can be credibly established that a mobilizing Federal resource identified in the National Response Plan is not needed at the catastrophic incident venue, that resource deploys.
The occurrence or threat of multiple incidents may significantly reduce the size, speed, and depth of the Federal response. If deemed necessary or prudent, the Federal Government may reduce the availability or allocation of finite resources when multiple venues are competing for the same resources, or hold certain resources in reserve in case of additional incidents. [Emphasis added.]

Duties of the Army Corps of Engineers When Confronted With an Approaching Hurricane, and its Aftermath...

The duties of the ACE, in the New Orleans area, are one of maintaining the Federal levee system that protects the city against any hurricane of category three or less. The ACE notes:

Settling of lands in and around New Orleans has occurred because of levee projects along the Mississippi, increasing the inundation threat to New Orleans.
The 17th Street Canal levee was improved in several locations with concrete overtop walls.

What Actually Happened...

August 25, 2005

KATRINA strikes Florida as a category I hurricane. At least 11 die.

August 26, 2005

Gov. Blanco declares a state of emergency in Louisiana.

August 27, 2005

KATRINA becomes a category III hurricane.

President Bush declares a state of emergency for Louisiana.

President Bush contacts Gov. Blanco and urges her to order a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans.

Mayor Nagin calls for a voluntary evacuation of New Orleans.

[UPDATED--Issue surrounding timeliness of LA designation noted.] Gov. Blanco requests that President Bush declare a major disaster for the State of Louisiana as required by the Stafford Act. A disaster declaration is made, however SPECIFICALLY MISSING FROM THIS ARE THE FOLLOWING PARISHES: JEFFERSON, PLAQUEMINES, ST. BERNARD, AND ORLEANS. This means the Federal Government, BY LAW, is specifically PROHIBITED from providing aid to the areas most likely to be struck by KATRINA! [Note: There is some dispute with this item. What is interesting here is the FEMA declaration excludes the four southeastern Louisiana parishes. FEMA makes disaster declarations, as noted earlier, based upon information from a preliminary damage assessment (which can be waived), but is driven by state input. This piece of the timeline is from a Wikipedia article, and cites a Louisiana letter which has a date of August 28. Where this gets fuzzy, unfortunately, is Lexus-Nexus notes the Louisiana letter of August 28 was actually issued on August 27. The FEMA letter notes the declaration was made "following a review of FEMA's analysis of the state's request for federal assistance". It isn't clear how FEMA arrived at the list of parishes they included in the Declaration given to the President and how it comes to be different that the letter the State of Louisiana indicates was sent to FEMA Region 6.]

Max Maxfield, of the NHC, contacts Mayor Nagin. He pleads with the mayor to order an evacuation of New Orleans, pointing out the levees were not designed to handle a storm of this size.

August 28, 2005

12:40 AM CT: KATRINA becomes a Category IV storm.

10 AM CT: NWS says "devastating" damage will occur from KATRINA.

Gov. Blanco seems to understand what's coming. On Larry King: New Orleans could expect a complete loss of electricity and water services as well as intense flooding.

Seven trucks of food and three trucks with water deliver supplies to the Superdome.

1 PM CT: KATRINA becomes a Category V storm.

LATER:

AMTRAK offers the City of New Orleans free transportation to evacuate residents. The offer is turned down.

President Bush declares a state of emergency in Alabama and Mississippi.

August 29, 2005

[Updated--Note added for authority.] Early morning: Mayor Nagin closes the Crescent City Connector--this would be the sole remaining land connection to the city over the coming days. [Note: This is in keeping with the information provided in the Louisiana letter dated August 29 that indicated bridges would be closed and ferries would cease operation once winds reached tropical storm force (39 MPH).]

6:10 AM CT: KATRINA makes landfall at Grand Isle, LA. Maximum winds are 145 MPH.

6:44 AM CT: Hurricane KATRINA slams into Buras, LA, with winds of 144 MPH, and pushing in front of it a storm surge of 24 feet.

8 AM CT: Water rises in the Industrial Canal of New Orleans.

11 AM CT: Up to 10 feet of water is reported in St. Bernard.

[UPDATED--Barge issue explained and location rectified from 17th Street Levee to the Florida Avenue breach on the Industrial Canal.] 2:00 PM CT: New Orleans officials admit a breach in the 17th Street Levee. There is also a break in a levee near Florida Avenue along the Industrial Canal. The latter break reportedly results from a barge that broke loose slamming into the levee. The levee breaks, and the inundation of New Orleans is now progressing rapidly. [The barge, incidentally, has been found at the bottom of the breach, though there is contention whether the barge caused the break, exacerbated the break, or just happened to be there and flowed through the break.]

3:00 PM CT: New Orleans Homeland Security Director Terry Ebbertt: "Everybody who had a way or wanted to get out of the way of this storm was able to."

At other, unspecified, times:

Michael Brown, director of FEMA, is in Baton Rouge
Nagin, Blanco, and, like, everyone, knows what's going to happen--storm surges of 28-feet, which would dwarf the storm levees (nominally 15 feet, but possibly 12-13 feet)
There were 360,000 MREs delivered to the Superdome
Sen. Landrieu remarks: "It's going to be very terrifying for a lot of people, but the command center is fully aware of what is going on."
Michael Brown urges fire and rescue departments outside Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama not to send trucks or emergency workers into disaster areas without an explicit request for help from state or local governments. (This fits the requirements of the Stafford Act.)
President Bush declares major disasters in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama as provided for in the Stafford Act.

August 30, 2005

1:30 AM CT: The 17th Street Canal levee breach is two city blocks wide.

12:00 PM CT: The Department of Homeland Security's Secretary becomes aware the levee breach cannot be plugged.

10:00 PM CT: Mayor Nagin reports that attempts to sandbag the 17th Street Canal breach have failed--80 percent of New Orleans is now under water.

At other, unspecified times:

Mayor Nagin of New Orleans leaves the Crescent City Connector closed to all outbound traffic--including pedestrian.

The Louisiana governor still doesn't request Federal assistance.

Gov. Blanco calls for the evacuation of New Orleans "within 48 hours", but provides no assistance to undertake the operation.

USS Bataan begins what relief operations it can under Federal law.

Other US military assets are ordered to the Gulf region.

August 31,2005

Looting prompts state officials to send an armored personnel carrier and 70 additional officers into New Orleans.

People are trapped in the Superdome and Convention Center with no electricity, no food, no water, and no sewer capability.

Officials in the city of New Orleans first realize people are using the Convention Center as a refugee center.

President Bush declares the Gulf coast a Public Health Emergency.

First relief supplies reach the Superdome.

Louisiana workers begin closing the 17th Street Canal breach.

September 1, 2005

[UPDATED--LA EO order reference deleted. Governor's specific Federal Assistance request added, located on Lexus-Nexus. Previously, this entry cited Executive Order KBB-2005-23, which, while it may have some bearing on the relief effort, dealt with the delegation and exercise of police powers. The updated information relies on a Lexus-Nexus article indicating specific needs. Also a minor editorial correction for grammar and style.] Gov. Blanco finally requests specific assistance from the Federal Government. Gov. Blanco specifically asks for: 40,000 troops; urban search-and-rescue teams; buses; amphibious personnel carriers; mobile morgues; trailers of water, ice and food; base camps; staging areas; housing; and communications systems. It would still be several hours before any of this could reach New Orleans over the only two roads still open that could reach the city.

Gov. Blanco finally allows the Red Cross access to New Orleans.

[UPDATED to reflect Gov. Blanco's request for assistance.] Federal officials would rescue 10,000 people in the first 12 hours after Gov. Blanco requested specific assistance.

Buses arrive in New Orleans to remove people. This encourages some, who realize there is now a land outlet, to steel cars from parking garages to get out of the city.

FEMA is informed by New Orleans officials that people are located at the Convention Center.

New Orleans mayor delivers his "SOS" speech.

Fires start breaking out in places within New Orleans--fortunately, most of the city doesn't become ablaze as there is little that can be done to constrain these fires.

A 50-member Canadian force (who, remember, are not under the strictures of the Stafford Act) reach New Orleans. Louisiana State Senator Boasso would comment they beat the US military by five days.

National Guardsman bring 475 buses to New Orleans, along with relief supplies.

Red Cross officials request permission to distribute supplies in New Orleans from state officials; their request is refused to avoid creating an incentive for folks to stay at the Superdome.

Gov. Blanco requests 40,000 National Guard troops.

California swift water rescue crews rescue hundreds from New Orleans, but have to stop when shot at by thugs.

The 17th Street Canal is separated from Lake Ponchatrain by a sheet piling.

September 2, 2005

Fifty relief vehicles arrive in New Orleans ("the cavalry"). Sick and wounded are finally evacuated from two hospitals (presumably Charity and Tulane Medical Center).

Week of September 4, 2005

Gov. Blanco requests that the State of Louisiana take over the recovery of bodies in the delta region, including Jefferson, Orleans and St. Bernard parishes.

September 4, 2005

The Superdome is completely evacuated.

September 5, 2005

The breach in the 17th Street Canal is closed. The sheet pilings at its connection to Lake Ponchatrain are removed so the canal can be used to aid in draining the city.

September 6, 2005

Forced evacuation of New Orleans ordered by the mayor. Gov. Blanco, however, refuses to endorse this order, so its legitimacy is questionable.

September 8, 2005

President Bush issues and Executive Order suspending the Davis-Bacon Act of 1931; this will allow Federal contractors to pay wages below the prevailing rate to those rebuilding after KATRINA.

September 9, 2005

Michael Brown is relieved of KATRINA recovery responsibilities by Secretary of Homeland Security Chertoff.

September 12, 2005

Michael Brown steps down, probably after being cashiered in private as the political fall guy, as head of FEMA.

September 13, 2005

Gov. Blanco criticizes FEMA for the slow pace of recovering dead bodies.

Conclusions--

There's a lot of blame to go around, but some things present themselves as clear when the facts are analyzed:

New Orleans had a disaster plan; it was not used.
Louisiana knew they were faced with a huge disaster, yet parochial distrust of the Federal Government (endemic in the region) got in the way of sound decision-making.
The poor and the weak were the least helped by the strong (the City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana governments).
The State of Louisiana operated at bureaucratic speed instead of crisis speed, despite being faced with the largest disaster in American history.
The City of New Orleans deliberately locked people in the city for days with force.
The State of Louisiana deliberately blocked relief.
[UPDATED--Changed to fit timeline of actual assistance request from the State of Louisiana as documented by Lexus-Nexus.] The State of Louisiana waits until September 1 to request significant and specific assistance from the Federal Government. [Of note here are some local comments that suggest Louisiana authorities, and, most importantly and tragically, the governor herself, assumed FEMA would automatically know what kind of assistance would be required and it what quantity. These are in other articles on Lexus-Nexus; not the direct article cited in the references.]
The Federal Government pre-positioned supplies and manpower, but was affirmatively restrained from using them under Federal law; and the Governor of Louisiana understood the constraints of Federal law in this regard because the President had specifically asked her to address the issue BEFORE the storm struck.

And finally, the United States Congress needs to conduct its own investigation into where hundreds of millions of dollars in Federal funding for flood protection in the Bayou State actually went.

Partial list of primary sources consulted for this article:

FreeRepublic.com: Blanco Refused To Act... Governor’s Indecision Cost Precious Time

FoxNews: New Orleans Nursing Home Owners Charged With Negligent Homicide

Newsmax: Amtrak, Nagin Argue Over Rescue Train

Newsmax: Red Cross Blocked Before Levee Break

Newsmax: Gov. Kathleen Blanco's Bureaucrats Blocked Food and Water

Newsmax: Mayor Nagin- Gov. Blanco Delayed Rescue

Newsmax: Why New Orleans Flooded

Wikipedia: Hurricane Katrina timeline

FEMA: National Response Plan

FEMA: Emergency Aid Authorized For Hurricane Katrina Emergency Response In Louisiana

Lexus-Nexus: Did Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Make Every Effort to Get Federal Help?

For AMERICA - The Right Way, I remain yours in the Cause, the Chairman.

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