IEM Team to Develop Catastrophic Hurricane Disaster Plan for New Orleans & SE Louisiana

IEM press release ^ | June 3, 2004 | IEM

[XHogPilot]

IEM Team to Develop Catastrophic Hurricane Disaster Plan for New Orleans & Southeast Louisiana June 3, 2004

IEM, Inc., the Baton Rouge-based emergency management and homeland security consultant, will lead the development of a catastrophic hurricane disaster plan for Southeast Louisiana and the City of New Orleans under a more than half a million dollar contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

In making the announcement today on behalf of teaming partners Dewberry, URS Corporation and James Lee Witt Associates, IEM Director of Homeland Security Wayne Thomas explained that the development of a base catastrophic hurricane disaster plan has urgency due to the recent start of the annual hurricane season which runs through November. National weather experts are predicting an above normal Atlantic hurricane season with six to eight hurricanes, of which three could be categorized as major.

The IEM team will complete a functional exercise on a catastrophic hurricane strike in Southeast Louisiana and use results to develop a response and recovery plan. A catastrophic event is one that can overwhelm State, local and private capabilities so quickly that communities could be devastated without Federal assistance and multi-agency planning and preparedness.

Thomas said that the greater New Orleans area is one of the nation’s most vulnerable locations for hurricane landfall.

“Given this area’s vulnerability, unique geographic location and elevation, and troubled escape routes, a plan that facilitates a rapid and effective hurricane response and recovery is critical,” he said. “The IEM team’s approach to catastrophic planning meets the challenges associated with integrating multi-jurisdictional needs and capabilities into an effective plan for addressing catastrophic hurricane strikes, as well as man-made catastrophic events.”

IEM President and CEO Madhu Beriwal is the recipient of a s pecial merit award from the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association ( LEPA ) for her work in New Orleans hurricane emergency preparedness.

[Dolphy]

"I like to hire the smartest people in the country," she added.

Everywhere I go here tonight I'm reading quotes from this woman that are hysterically funny.

[Yaelle]

It was from the link in the post I answered. It can't disappear now; we've got it. Insane that this same man is going to get MORE $$ from teaming up with FEMA now. The Big Expert coming in to oversee the recovery. Yeah, how many papers will print that he got over 1/2 mil last year to make sure this NEVER HAPPENED? I did nothing last year; how come I didn't get $500K?

[Grampa Dave]

"Now what we need to do is find out if the "plan" IEM came up with is the one that NO "gamed" last year -- Hurricane Pam, is that what it was?"

It is past my bedtime, and this connection has given me one of my really rare headaches. So I'm off to bed.

We have the Grandkids tomorrow, so anytime I have to research will be limited.

However, the safe bet at this time is these Clintoon Perfumed Princes did what you have hinted.

[Mo1]

What is Coast 2050?

Taking the Tour: Top Officials See the Sites

[Yaelle]

Brilliant find.

[Grampa Dave]

The La governor as many Freepers have noted is nothing but a hand puppet for the Rat Mob Thugs who currently control La..

She is as dumb as a very dumb rock, and that is what they want.

[claudiustg]

Here's her bio:

---On January 12, 2004, Kathleen Babineaux Blanco became the first woman to serve as governor of Louisiana. In her long, distinguished career, Governor Blanco has served the people with a vision of creating a new Louisiana, filled with hope and opportunity for all citizens.

As Governor, her top priorities include: providing affordable, accessible healthcare, improving the state’s education system, and creating a strong and vibrant economy.

In her inaugural address, Governor Blanco outlined her priorities as governor: “We face important challenges in this new century: expanding our economy and creating quality jobs; building an effective health care system; improving our roads and highways; rebuilding our coastline; protecting our farmers; and ensuring that all our citizens, no matter their age, have superior educational opportunities.”

Governor Blanco believes that Louisiana’s challenges can only be met “if we have the courage and wisdom to pursue a new and different path.” That, she says, means striking “a hopeful chord -- one that unites our people in lifting up all Louisiana families; one that cherishes our children, protects our environment, and creates new economic opportunity for all our citizens.”

Before serving in the state’s top office, Governor Blanco completed two terms as Lieutenant Governor. As the state’s second-highest official, she supervised the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Under her leadership, tourism in Louisiana increased by 41 percent. This growth led to a $2.5 billion increase in the tourism industry’s economic contribution to the state and the creation of 21,000 new tourism-related jobs.

First elected lieutenant governor in 1995, Governor Blanco was overwhelmingly re-elected to her second term in 1999, winning 80 percent of the vote.

Governor Blanco began her career as a public servant in 1984, when she became the first woman ever elected to represent the people of Lafayette in the state Legislature. Five years later she was elected to the Public Service Commission, where she became the first woman to serve as a Commissioner and, later, as the first woman to chair the Commission (1993-94).

Before joining the public sector, Governor Blanco taught at Breaux Bridge High School, a public school in Southwest Louisiana, not far from the city of Coteau, where she was born. She received a B.S. degree in Business Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and her husband Raymond have been married since 1964. They are the parents of six children and the proud grandparents of five.---

[Howlin]

New Orleans Emergency Operations Chief Blasts FEMA
WSAV-TV ^ | Thursday, September 1ST, 2005 | Associated Press.

Posted on 09/02/2005 12:05:22 AM EDT by M. Espinola

FEMA is getting an earful from the man heading New Orleans' emergency operations.

Terry Ebbert says the federal agency's response to Katrina is "a national disgrace."

Ebbert says FEMA has been in the city for three days, but he says that has yet to result in any command and control. He says Mayor Ray Nagin has been "pushing and asking, but we're not getting any supplies."

The emergency chief says the evacuation of thousands from New Orleans to Texas has been "almost entirely" a Louisiana operation -- saying he hasn't seen "a single FEMA guy."

-----

I found this about Ebbert:

Ebbert, 60, has been directing the city's new Office of Homeland Security and Public Safety since his appointment by Mayor Ray Nagin on Feb. 11. A highly decorated war hero and the former executive director of the nonprofit New Orleans Police Foundation, Ebbert has been given major powers and responsibilities as an executive assistant to the mayor. His duties are commensurate with his $114,676 annual salary.

Ebbert is charged with coordinating the city's terrorism response capabilities and obtaining federal and state funds for homeland security. He also will oversee the police and fire departments, the Office of Emergency Preparedness and city Emergency Medical Services, and the 911 Center or Orleans Parish Communications District.

His duties extend beyond a crisis or special events such as Mardi Gras. Ebbert has responsibility for the daily operations and planning of all those departments as well as the management of their budgets, Nagin told Gambit Weekly last week, after presenting his plan to re-organize city government to the City Council. "Mr. Ebbert is responsible for all matters related to public safety," the mayor said.

[Grampa Dave]

You also didn't kill anyone or put them at danger like this Clintoon Perfumed Prince has done.

[Carolinamom]

The spectacle of Blanco's incompetence and inane comments increases my fear of even the whisper of Hillary as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. God help us all.

[HAL9000]

I dub this scandal "Katrinagate".

[Howlin]

Look at this! This aint the first time the NO emergency morons have screwed up!!

Notice the date!


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,132540,00.html

Thursday, September 16, 2004
Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS — The Louisiana Superdome's (search) high-priced sporting events, glitzy shows and top-dollar concerts are not part of Matty Howard's world. But on Wednesday, the 31-year-old homeless mother of three, who'd never stepped inside the massive stadium, saw it as her last hope.

"I usually stay by the Salvation Army (search), but they aren't taking anyone now," said Howard while heavy wind buffeted the stroller where her 18-month-old twins slept and her 4-year-old daughter tugged at her shirt. "If they don't let me in here, how can I keep my kids safe?"

City officials, who originally restricted the Superdome to people with special medical needs, opened it Wednesday afternoon to the general public -- those with nowhere else to feel safe as Hurricane Ivan (search) swept by.

"It's primarily for senior citizens and those with small children," Mayor Ray Nagin said. He promised no one would be turned away and organized city buses to bring evacuees from pickup points.

By nightfall, 1,100 took refuge in the dome and were served spaghetti and meatballs, though they'd been told not to expect to be fed. Big cheers greeted news they would get blankets -- inside temperatures were in the 60s -- and word that television sets would be turned on.

There were also 300 National Guardsmen to prevent the kind of misadventure that marred the last time the 72,000-seat dome was opened as a shelter. In 1998, when Hurricane Georges aimed at New Orleans, about 14,000 people stayed inside, but there were numerous problems.

"While this building certainly can accommodate a large crowd for a four-hour event, we're not equipped to handle 30,000 or 40,000 people for three or four days," said Superdome general manager Doug Thornton.

In 1998, people showed up with insufficient or no food, and complained when the Dome served them hot dogs and orange juice. When kept from leaving after the storm because of a curfew, shouting matches erupted with security and police. Some occupants hauled off televisions and furniture.

"I'd say 99 percent of the people were fine," Thornton said. "But we didn't have enough security people to handle the crowd and prevent problems."

The Superdome can withstand most catastrophes; the roof is built to stand up to 200 mph wind and even deep flood water wouldn't reach the second level 35 feet from the ground.

There are potential problems nonetheless. Although the building has its own generators, they would not provide lights or air conditioning for the entire area if electricity went out. Nor would pumps providing water to second-level bathrooms function.

Just as during Georges, the Dome has only a small work crew for Ivan, which means providing security and services gets even harder, Thornton said.

"The office of Emergency Preparedness and the city decided that the Dome would not be operated as a shelter," he said. "That means we are not equipped as one."

The city previously provided shelters for those unable to leave when storms threaten. Now, the Red Cross will not set up shelters for a storm larger than a Category 2, saying New Orleans -- much of which is below sea level -- is not safe in bigger storms. Because of that, the city concentrates on evacuation first.

From a planning standpoint, Nagin said he did not regret keeping the Superdome from use until the last minute. "As far as an empathy standpoint," he conceded, "we could have moved a little quicker."

[Grampa Dave]

Great find.

Be sure to ping our indexers: Backhoe, Cindy, ernest at the beach and of course KCVL.

I'm off to bed with even more of a headache.

[Yaelle]

True. Now, will Witt be outed in the press for this? Will any of this sully Clinton? Is there ANYTHING (picture the horrors of this past week) that could make the MSM stop protecting this cabal?

[Howlin]

Well, she didn't mention it today:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1476911/posts?page=65#65

[Howlin]

I barely got over the "lock and load" comment and now this.........LOL.

[Uncle Ike]

What we really need is a Curt Weldon for this issue on our side.

We have GOT to find a bomb-thrower with enough clout to get face-time on the networks and get this (and information on other threads) out to the world.

And we've got to do it NOW!

Right now the Left Race-baiters own all the media, and we're going to LOSE this thing if we can't break into that drumbeat with some facts.

I'm getting worried.

[lonewacko_dot_com]

The left-wing blogs are praising this choice. At the same time as the last two left-wing blogs are damning Witt's company for disappearing their press release.

Someone else please save off these complete pages lest they disappear:

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/358

http://norwegianity.com/index.php?id=2337

http://thinkprogress.org/2005/09/03/good-news-from-louisiana/

http://talkleft.com/new_archives/012111.html

http://talkleft.com/new_archives/012074.html

http://crookedtimber.org/2005/09/02/3741/

http://leninology.blogspot.com/2005/09/politics-of-weather-3-shyness-of.html

[HAL9000]

It looks like Witt's hurricane disaster plan for Louisiana was - "Let the federal government handle it".

[Howlin]

Oh, good to know. Earlier in the week I was under the impression it was "It always turns at the last minute."

Barack Obama says he's going to have hearings; won't THEY be fun..........LOL.