Top federal officials left out of loop (Well wha-da-ya know)

The Washington Times ^ | 09-05-05 | Audrey Hudson

[smoothsailing]

State and local officials did not inform top federal officials early on of the deaths and lack of food among hurricane victims in the Superdome or convention center, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said yesterday.

Mr. Chertoff said neither he nor Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Michael Brown was told of the deteriorating situation in New Orleans until Thursday night.

[Lancey Howard]

Chertoff was very unconvincing in his appearance on TV. No, I don't expect him to watch TV. My point was that, in this age of communication, for him to appear to no know what is going on is unacceptable.

I agree. And for Chertoff to start off by calling the hurricane "Kattarina" emphasizes your point. It was embarrassing.

[claudiustg]

---And he was speaking about the fact that the storm had passed and NO and the press said that they had "dodged the bullet", and the levees broke the next day. That is what Bush was referring too.---

Because they always "dodge the bullet", then stick their hands out for federal money which mysteriously doesn't get used for disaster relief or preparedness.

[cake_crumb]

Why didn't Nagin make use of school and city buses before the storm hit? Drive 'em right PAST the Superdome and out of danger.

[WHBates]

How could you possibly live in a hurricane zone and not know who suppose to do want? For your own safety please evacuate now as you must be living a charmed life and it's possible you won't be so lucky next time.

[river rat]

"It is absolutely impossible to evacuate a large population before a hurricane strikes."

That is an unsupportable assertion...

If one KNEW the following:
1. A Category 5 hurricane was targeting New Orleans, as they were informed.
2. That much of New Orleans was below sea level.
3. That MOST of the folks living in the lowest areas were the poorest welfare dependent blacks ---- Their primary base constituency.
4. That these poor folks lacked the initiative or means to leave the low ground on their own.
5. There was enough time and enough buses available to have moved 100s of thousands of folks before the hurricane struck.
6. There was also enough time to have moved "STOCKED SUPPLIES" to the evacuated folks - IF - there were any to be had..
However -- there is ample evidence that NONE of this took place -----either BEFORE or AFTER the storm...

The only evidence we have to date is the that most of the responsible infrastructure of New Orleans and Louisiana is behaving like the murderer who killed his parents and is begging the court to have mercy on him as an orphan.

The rest of them and the DNC, NAACP, Congressional Black Cacao's, Jackson, Sharpton, etc, etc, etc.....are attempting to ignore the TOTAL failures of the locals -- who in an emergency of ANY type are responsible for pre-storm preemptive and post-storm first responder activity --- and blame EVERYTHING on the Federal Government...

I'm not proposing that the entire population could have been evacuated -- but at least those too ill or old to be left behind and those smart enough to accept a ride out of town could have been saved.

It didn't happen.....and hundreds of CITY buses are still sitting in water up to their axles...

Semper Fi

[claudiustg]

I would welcome an independent commission to investigate what actually happened regarding New Orleans. How about you? Do you think the mayor and governor can stand the facts coming out? You Dims are just setting yourselves up for another big disapointment.

[Snidely Whiplash]

Lets get the facts straight: A Sept. 4 article on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina incorrectly said that Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D) had not declared a state of emergency. She declared an emergency on Aug. 26.

Get your own facts straight, pal. Who spent the weekend on the phone with her, compelling her into action?

August 26 was a Friday, before the weekend and any contact between Gov. Blanco and the President.

And let's see what the good Governor called for, where exactly did she advise the federal government that NOLA was incompetent and couldn't handle the evacuation, couldn't employ its own resources, had insufficient food, water and facilities where they sent their citizens and wouldn't be able to secure the shelters?

Where? Here. Is that what you're after? Looks like the LA state government set things in motion on the 26th, which culminated in that letter on the 28th.

I'm not on some trip to defend Gov. Blanco or anything, but from what I can tell, she seems to have done what she was supposed to do to get the Feds involved. If any part of the Federal government - be it FEMA, Homeland Security, or the Administration itself - dropped the ball, I want them held responsible. Can you see where that might be a good thing to do? I'm not for mindless finger-pointing, but it seems that's all we're getting at this point.

And then there's this bit from the Washington ComPost yesterday, regarding the President's attempts to get Blanco to declare an emergency:

Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state's emergency operations center said Saturday.

The administration sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law.

I know that would make me nervous if I were a governor.

SW

[Iscool]

Doesn't DHS or FEMA have access to CNN or Fox? Lordy, I hope they don't start relying on THEM for their facts.

Facts from Fox are better than no facts at all...

It's easy for us to point fingers without really knowing what the established procedure is...How and how fast did FEMA respond in similar emergencies???

If I or hundreds of other FReepers were in charge, there would have been feet on the ground just as quickly as someone could have hitched a ride (car, boat or mule) into NO and the stricken areas of the other states...But hey, that's just me...What do I know about rescuing hungry, thirsty, and drowning people???

[cyncooper]

Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Louisiana

Saturday August 27, 2005

The President today declared an emergency exists in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local response efforts in the parishes located in the path of Hurricane Katrina beginning on August 26, 2005, and continuing.

The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts which have the purpose of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused by the emergency on the local population, and to provide appropriate assistance for required emergency measures, authorized under Title V of the Stafford Act, to save lives, protect property and public health and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in the parishes of Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Claiborne, Catahoula, Concordia, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Richland, Sabine, St. Helena, St. Landry, Tensas, Union, Vernon, Webster, West Carroll, West Feliciana, and Winn.

Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.

Representing FEMA, Michael D. Brown, Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Department of Homeland Security, named William Lokey as the Federal Coordinating Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600

~snip~

President Discusses Hurricane Katrina, Congratulates Iraqis on Draft Constitution

Sunday August 28, 2005

THE PRESIDENT: This morning I spoke with FEMA Undersecretary Mike Brown and emergency management teams not only at the federal level but at the state level about the -- Hurricane Katrina. I've also spoken to Governor Blanco of Louisiana, Governor Barbour of Mississippi, Governor Bush of Florida, and Governor Riley of Alabama. I want to thank all the folks at the federal level and the state level and the local level who have taken this storm seriously. I appreciate the efforts of the governors to prepare their citizenry for this upcoming storm.

Yesterday, I signed a disaster declaration for the state of Louisiana, and this morning I signed a disaster declaration for the state of Mississippi. These declarations will allow federal agencies to coordinate all disaster relief efforts with state and local officials. We will do everything in our power to help the people in the communities affected by this storm.

Hurricane Katrina is now designated a category five hurricane. We cannot stress enough the danger this hurricane poses to Gulf Coast communities. I urge all citizens to put their own safety and the safety of their families first by moving to safe ground. Please listen carefully to instructions provided by state and local officials.

~snip~

New Orleans orders evacuation

Sunday August 28, 2005

excerpt:

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said that President Bush had called and urged the state to order the evacuation.

~snip~

[LPM1888]

Again, you are part of the problem....gov't welfare dependency class at best. FEMA is not responsible for evacuation, that was up to state and local government. FEMA and other groups are disaster relief and cannot take over the duties of state and local officials.

Once again you don't have any idea of what you are talking about. If you want to understand what happens after a hurricane why don't go down to New Orleans and learn from the experience. Then you will have some knowledge of the subject and your comments will be meaningful.

I never said that FEMA was responsible for evacuation. They do not have any responsibility or capability in that area. During the last year the Gulf Coast state and local governments have been revising their disaster planning to something called "Evacuate In Place". That means getting people who live in flood prone areas and mobile homes into shelters and advising everyone else to board up their windows while seeking interior rooms of their homes. That is all the responsibility of the local government. But after the disaster hits the local governments are crippled. No communications, supplies destroyed, etc.

That is why FEMA must respond within 24 hours after the disaster strikes or lives will be lost.

WE MUST HAVE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND FEMA MANAGEMENT WHO ARE COMPETENT TO DO THE JOB. WHEN ARE CHERTOFF AND BROWN GOING TO BE FIRED?

[HonestConservative]

"Didn't Nagin have access to buses?"

He sure knew how to bus people on election day.

[cake_crumb]

"Pouring dirty water in the back of the toilet would have made them flush. No one else had electricity in other areas either, DOCTOR but they weren't shooting, stabbing, raping or stealing."

Exactly what I've been saying over and over again since at least Thursday. Maybe Wednesday. Seems like months already.

[LPM1888]

Would you please proof read your post? It doesn't make any sense.

[cyncooper]

First you say this:

August 26 was a Friday, before the weekend and any contact between Gov. Blanco and the President.

Then you admit this (there was contact between President Bush and Blanco on Friday):

And then there's this bit from the Washington ComPost yesterday, regarding the President's attempts to get Blanco to declare an emergency: Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans

It's plain to see the Bush administration could see the incompetence and lethargy of the La politicians and tried to do everything they could to intervene in order to save lives.

Yes, as governor it should make her nervous. But her actions since have not demonstrated the administration was incorrect in their assessment of the state's capabilities (and leadership). Blanco's actions apparently were taken only after prodding from the President.

[popdonnelly]

"the convention center is a different place from the super dome"

Yes it is. Good point.

[popdonnelly]

"The 'honorable' Mayor and Governor are going to get totally reamed if there is ever an honest investigation."

Count on the Democrats in Congress to do the CYA job for the Mayor and the Governor, while they rant about Bush.

[cyncooper]

BTW, see my #351

[FreeReign]

Thanks for the info. Excerpts from your post;

BROWN: I think it was yesterday morning(Thursday) when we first found out about it.

S. O'BRIEN: How is it possible that we're getting better intel than you're getting? We had a crew in the air. We were showing live pictures of the people outside of the Convention Center. We had a National Guardsman who was talking to us, who was telling us he estimated the crowd at 50,000 people. That was at 8:00 in the morning yesterday

BROWN: Well, we're busy doing life-saving and life-rescue efforts. We rely upon the state to give us that information. And, Soledad, I learned about it listening to the news reports.

Interesting.

Whoever told CNN to go to the convention center should have made sure that the information was passed on to the feds first. They didn't. That not being the case, CNN then should have passed the information directly to the feds. Again, that didn't happen.

To summarize;

1. Unnamed locals pass info to CNN about the convention center.

2. CNN broadcasts information about convention center.

3. Neither the unnamed local source nor CNN directly tell the Feds.

4. The Feds immediately learn about the convention center on TV.

5. CNN insinuates with its question to Brown that the Feds were at fault for not knowing about the convention center sooner.

6. Both CNN and its source could have sped that process up and they -- didn't.