Strong Criticism of FEMA Response to Hurricane Katrina

Voice of America ^ | 3 Sept 2005 | Dan Robinson

[Our_Man_In_Gough_Island]

I have included the " War on Terror" cross-reference because FEMA is administratively within the Dept of Homeland Security.

[Our_Man_In_Gough_Island]

Here is a working link to the article:

http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-09-03-voa1.cfm

[Eva]

I thought that there was just a new appointment made for an undersecretary that would handle the domestic disasters. Anyway, I will repeat once again, it is NOT the job of the federal gov't to be a first responder in the case of a natural disaster.

Where was the city and state emergency response plan???

[agere_contra]

It is NOT the job of the federal gov't to be a first responder in the case of a natural disaster.

I will also repeat it. :0)

[xcamel]

ummm..

VOA...STFU!

[Our_Man_In_Gough_Island]

Read the article - Republican after Republican in Congress was cited as offering the criticism: DeLay, Foley, Blunt, and so on. President Bush was cited as stating the initial results were " unacceptable".

[Bigh4u2]

"(Democratic Congresswoman Diane Watson, has already called for a congressional inquiry into the government's response to the hurricane emergency."

Good!

Make sure you start at the LOCAL government of the MAYOR and the GOVERNOR of LA!

[xcamel]

VOA shouldn't be airing "dirty laundry" to the rest of the world.

[hombre_sincero]

the leftist at VOA mustr be purged

[rellimpank]

---any Congressional attempt at "fixing" a bureacracy is the equivalent of rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic---

[scory]

I sent this to the President, both my senators, my congressmand and to the minority and majority leaders in the house and senate (Pelosi's site wouldn't acceptit - only constituents can e-mail her):

"The response to the disaster on the Gulf Coast has taught me - and millions like me - a lesson: government at every level is not to be trusted.

For 4 years govenment at every level has been assuring us that it is preparing and planning to respond to attacks. We have spent billions and billions of dollars supposedly beefing up security and providing for assistance and aid to handle a disaster brought about by terrorist activity. Yet, when a hurricane hits the Gulf Coast we see government response at every level falter and fail. This was a disaster that we ALL knew was likely. It was an event predicted and for which we were "prepared" for decades. We had days of advance warning and we could track its path and predict where it would hit hardest. And the result was confusion, chaos and failure of government at every level with the resulting loss of Lord knows how many lives as a consequence.

Terrorists aren't likely to telegraph their attack. And theirs will be aimed precisely to do most damage and spread most confusion and chaos. And the handling of the Gulf Coast disaster demonstrates clearly that we will fail in our response to any such attack(s).

I have watched over the past 4 years as enormous amounts of money are poured into farm bills and transportation bills and homeland security bills. My congress has been spending money at an unprecedented rate an vast quantities. And what do I get for this? I get a demonstration of incompetence and stupidity that is undeniable.

This is NOT a partisan issue though, given the level of stupidity now so clearly shown by this mess, I expect that it will degenerate into just another political sideshow. You people, elected to high office and charged with the task of protecting and defending this nation, have ALL failed. Why should I or anyone believe you can do the job you promise to do? Why should I or anyone believe that come a disaster in my area that I should count on you to act quickly and competently to save lives and relieve suffering?

I am prepared in my home. I have emergency food and water stored to last for weeks if need be. I am armed and prepared to defend myself if need be. I am ready to act entirely on my own if need be.

It is a standing joke that politicians are mainly blowhards and liars who line their own pockets and work hardest to protect their own interests ahead of all else. I had always assumed that while a politician will act in his own interest he will, at heart, have the interests and welfare of his constituents as a high priority and act in their behalf when necessary. I now see that this is not the case. Through indifference, neglect, incompetence, stupidity or venality I see that politicians will only act for the good of their people if forced to do so or as an afterthought. Staying in office is forever number one in the heart of the politician. Scoring political points and staying in front of the cameras is what is important for the politician.

If you think that just because you have an R or a D after your name you will get votes after this mess down south you are more than stupid and venal: you are a fool. You people had better get your acts together and ACT to secure this nation. Talk will not do. If you are going to tax us for trillions of dollars and then look and act like fools when confronted with a challenge to security and the welfare of the people then I think you are very likely going to be looking for a new line of work after the next election.

I am no longer a Republican or a Democrat. I am looking to vote for people who will do the job they say they will and not treat their office as nothing more than an appendage to a giant shake down racket wherewith they line their pockets and the pockets of their friends while spouting meaningless rhetoric about the great nation and people they "serve".

Get off your ass and get to work.

Don't you dare send me a response filled with meaningless reassurances and platitudes. Reply by getting this government in order. Reply by actually doing your job."

Sean Cory

[NittanyLion]

I think there may be some legitimacy to these claims. Combining many bureaucracies into the DHS only works if they work together to remove communications barriers. If bureaucracy hampered the efforts, then it needs to be fixed.

[Our_Man_In_Gough_Island]

VOA shouldn't be airing "dirty laundry" to the rest of the world

Now that is something I totally disagree with, and which I believe gets to the heart of some real questions here. Objective, publiclly known facts should not be spun. We have, unfortunately, seen that again and again in the Administration: in climate change, in intelligence prior to the Iraq War, and here in the body count and aftermath of Katrina. The Administration's friends need to tell them that when objective facts are presented, they should be frankly aired and then promptly addressed. You should air dirty laundry - if you don't, it will eventually stink.

[Our_Man_In_Gough_Island]

As another Southern voter, I strongly endorse your sentiments.

[jwpjr]

Very well said!

I have learned from this event that the only person I will be able to depend on when the chips are down is ME. I know that in most areas of the US the local authorities are much more ready, willing and able to respond quickly and efficiently to an emergency, even a huge emergency. But when all is said and done I know now that I will have to consider their assistance at that point of gift from God and that I certainly can't make my plans around what they will be able to do to help me.

[longtermmemmory]

Has everyone noticed how the DEMOCRAT governor hired form Administerator of FEMA, Democrat, whose FIRST action as the LA aid was toooooo: criticise GWBush for putting Fema under homeland secuirity.

If anythign just the opposite is true. Because of the COLLAPSE of the LA government, the military was able to take over.

[independentmind]

I am no longer a Republican or a Democrat. I am looking to vote for people who will do the job they say they will and not treat their office as nothing more than an appendage to a giant shake down racket wherewith they line their pockets and the pockets of their friends while spouting meaningless rhetoric about the great nation and people they "serve".

My sentiments exactly.

[jwpjr]

re: Combining many bureaucracies

Say no more! The ineptness increases not arithmetically in such cases but to the square! If one is government agency in inept then two are not twice as inept but four times as inept. Ronald Regan found out just how entrenched the federal bureaucracies were and was not able to make any inroads at all in cutting their size or influence.

[Wolverine]

There's a Democrat Mayor, a Democrat City Council, a Democrat Chief of Police, a Democrat Attorney General, a Democrat Governor, a Democrat Lt. Governor, 24 of 39 Louisiana State Senators are Democrat, 67 of 105 Louisiana State House Representatives are Democrat, there's a Democrat Representative in the House from New Orleans, and one of two Senators in the Senate is a Democrat.

[MissAmericanPie]

Where did self reliance go? The state had no plan, I don't see how the FED could have been expected to get aid anywhere faster than three days.

People that decide to wait out a hurricane should have sense enough to make preparations for a wait. There is a difference between being poor and being stupid and entitled.

I don't think the FED failed here, the mover and shakers of the state failed in their duty to have a plan.