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

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

[Oldeconomybuyer]

First responders are by definition State and local operations. It seems clear there was no plan in place for a flood of this magnitude in New Orleans. As an example, FNC reported the NO police/fire/rescue departments had only 3 boats. This is a city 18 feet below sea level and prone to flooding.

Mayors, Governors, and county officials who rely on the Feds to be first responders are fools.

[spanalot]

"IF FEMA has failed, it is because it has been given a mission it could not possible execute"

How do you whitewash the fact that the Red Cross was not allowed into NO while 30,000 had no food or water for 5 days.

[HIDEK6]

Are you saying the same horrible behaviors and desperation existed there during/after Hurricane Ivan?

Yes, to a point. The people weren't there as long, but the Superdome was trashed and gang rule had been declared.

Since it was just 24 hours or so, though, it wasn't as bad, but the NO after action report said that the situation was something that had to be addressed.

Naturally there were no MSM reports.

[.cnI redruM]

Boy, there's a lot of buck passing going on these days....

The Redskins could use one of these guys at QB.

[cvq3842]

A picture is worth a thousand words . . .

[brytlea]

Trust me, you do not want to be there. No Elect, No Phone, No AC, No water, No Computer, No TV, NO FAN !!, Temp was above 90 Degrees and no breeze blowing. It was Miserable !!!

I broke down after last hurricane season (we in southeast FL) and bought a battery operated fan. It was a Godsend for the two days we were without electricity after Katrina. I am going to go buy a couple more. I got the good ones at Bass Pro, my friend bought one from Home Depot, and hers didn't seem to blow nearly as much air as mine did.

Also, about pets in shelters. Some FL shelters did a pilot project last year allowing pets into certain shelters. AFAIK they said it was a success. I know alot of people will not go to shelters because they have pets. I have 2 dogs, so I have paid attention to this.

susie (ready for whatever that is off our coast right now!)

[RobbyS]

How are you going to remove human error from the mix? Or are you saying that Brown made that specific call? In the military lieutenants/captains make that kind of judgement call all the time with varying degrees of success. Sometime they say turn right when they should have said turn left. It happens.

In this particular case, the problem may have been (1) bad information or (2) The NOPD was a broken organization that could not mmaintain order or (3) FEMA planning kept the Guard from coming into the mix in a timely manner.
only for the last, I suspect, can one hold Brown accountible. Generals do not make decisions for company grade officers. If they do, then the enemy wins.

[publana]

the only major levees in the country are built and maintained by NOLA area agencies.

This is news to me. The news media has stated it is the responsibility of the Army Corps of Engineers.

---

So I guess it was the Army Corps of Engineers that spent the money on Casinos and private jets?

[brytlea]

If Bush had done that, he would have been lionized by the American public despite a hostile MSM.

I doubt that.

susie

[Captain Kirk]

Anyone who watched television knew that this was a mess before Thursday. Sorry but no dice.

[brytlea]

I wonder which part of the media they should have believed...Shep Smith saying NO dodged a bullet and all was well, or Shep Smith melting down saying the world was coming to an end?
susie

[dirtboy]

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.

It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Superdome was gonna turn into hell on Earth once the toilets went out.

I realize that Chertoff had to wait for the state and local idiots to some extent - but they should have followed the lead of Houston's mayor and said "so sue us" in getting in aid.

Years ago Homeland Security guidelines told us to keep some duct tape and plastic sheeting around. They should have followed their own advice and used copious quantities of duct tape to wrap up Governor Blanco and get her the hell out of the way.

[I. Ben Hurt]

Never forget that Mary Landriue's BROTHER is Lt. GOVERNOR!

Fox & Friends interviewed a woman this morning that is the Lt. Governor. Can't remember her name, Ann somebody...

[brothers4thID]

Sorry, I'm not blaming Chertoff for this disaster but this excuse is WEAK. You cannot convince me that his senior staff do not have televisions turned on to FOX and CNN.

[brytlea]

Ultimately, the federal government is responsible.

And, you really believe that? Then, you will probably not survive in a disaster.
B susie

[WHBates]

"And maybe your complacent posts make other people's heads spin. You really oversimplifies the issues, I think."

No, just trying to put things in perspective

"It has to do with perceptions about federal response to emergencies and the privatization of many FEMA functions."

I noticed that you didn't provide examples of this FEMA privatization and what went wrong with it. It's hard to respond generalizations. But I guess you knew that didn't you?

"Actually, I welcome the upcoming hearings. I want more representation from my spineless senators. They pass far too many things without even reading them. They've granted OMB and the White House far more influence than most conservatives really want IMO. And I welcome the national debate over the use of National Guard as regular troops in the occupation of Iraq and the NG role in disaster relief."

It was the peace dividend don't you know. Exactly who drew down the armed forces? Maybe you should make yourself aware of the NG role in every war we have ever had. Do you just make this stuff up or what?

"Much of this will be about the size and role of FEMA. Someone like Brown shouldn't head FEMA. You just don't put cronies into important jobs."

What are you talking about? I guess James K. Witt is you example of a good appointment? What was Witt's responsibility in the current crisis in LA? Give me a break please.

"The crisis has revealed real leadership from Honore and Barbour and some fine work by the Corps (when you actually give them money).And it will return us to the old debates over national responsibility for vital ports and flood control and the protection of the Gulf Coast which is appropriate as the area from Baton Rouge to the Gulf constitutes the largest port in the world and a port area that contains about 25% of our refining capacity. We need to address refinery regulations and energy policy more forcefully too. And that entire port area is not addressed adequately by state or local or federal agencies."

Other than your compliment of the good General and Governor the rest is a political decision that the President only has marginal control over. Where have you been all of these many years? Have you not heard about the environment arguments? Do you want a refinery in your backyard? The chemical plants and refineries are where they are because that is where the oil is and LA, TX, MS and Al are the only states that would allow them to be built.

"Many of us in the Midwest all the way to Chicago are going to be affected by this so it's simply not adequate to say that it's their problem. If New York and Seattle-Tacoma are national ports, then NOLA is even more so. The human tragedy is bad enough. But the damage to our ports is just made worse by the human disaster."

I would just like you to understand how the system works not how you would like the system to work. Please educate yourself. It was the responsibility of NO and LA to be prepared to handle things for 72 to 96 hours. They were responsible for evacuations and Security. They failed with both. When they were overwhelmed it was their responsibility to ask for additional assistance. They did it through the press, but never actually asked for it to the people that counted. How smart was that? What did they do with the billions of dollars they were given by DHS (mandated by Congress) to improve communications, training and development better disaster plans? Maybe build a Casino or two?

"And spending the $15 billion to upgrade NOLA's levees to Cat 5 protection is obvious in hindsight a far better investment than, say, the $15 billion BushCo shipped off to Africa. Where's the compassion for our citizens here? Well, that kind of hindsight is a little unfair but our ports, chemical plants and port traffic is too important to just dismiss it all. So much of the loss of life and economic damage was preventable."

This is a political decision by the Congress not by the President, the Cat 3 vice Cat 5 decision was made decades ago in the Johnson administration, I believe. Money for Africa had nothing to do with this; if you don't understand that you don't have a clue. Neither of these things had anything to do with responding to this event no matter how it happen.

[brytlea]

Many borderline conservatives have bought in to MSM's slant already.

It would seem that you are correct.

susie

[spanalot]

"How are you going to remove human error from the mix? "

I am not talking shades of grey - I am talking the Red Cross trucks and other NONPOLITICAL Disaster Relief Groups being STOPPED BY HOMELAND.

Now we have pictyures of Oprah and Travolta handing out food, water, and insulin shots.

Do you realize how long it took to put Hollywood and the MSM in its place? Do you realize the human cost of this witheld aid?

Bush needs to Shake up Homeland and do it good - how in hades are they going to fight terrorists - they won't have 4 days warning like they did from the weatherman.

[WHBates]

In my Post "James K.Witt" should be "James L. Witt"

[George W. Bush]

I noticed that you didn't provide examples of this FEMA privatization and what went wrong with it. It's hard to respond generalizations. But I guess you knew that didn't you?

There have been some articles posted in the last week on this. Google yields a lot of info too.

One example would be "Why FEMA Was Missing in Action" from LATimes.

Exactly who drew down the armed forces? Maybe you should make yourself aware of the NG role in every war we have ever had. Do you just make this stuff up or what?

Largely, Clinton and the Gingrich congress. But as we finish the fifth budget cycle led by Bush (starting with FY 2002) and while the Congress was effectively controlled by Republicans, at some point we have to ask when Clinton's shortcomings cease to matter. Most people would say that time has already passed. Perhaps you think that maybe in 2020 we should finally hold Bush accountable for maintaining a proper balance between funding and provisioning the Guard vs. regular Army. Well, I would disagree.

The role of the national guard, particularly in operating beyond our boundaries, is largely a post-WW II story. Their role has been subject to much debate over the decades. Their deployment in Vietnam was somewhat controversial and involved our current president during his NG service. What you don't deal with here is the use of National Guard as though they are regular troops. Again, there are already announced hearings on this topic, probably yet this fall. Short-term Guard deployment overseas is not the issue. It's whether they're going to be there for 20-30 years. Many people feel that's a job for regular Army staff as it has largely been in Germany, Japan and South Korea. But if you hate the idea of your senators discussing it, you'd better start writing some letters because my senators have promised hearings and neither one cares much what anyone else thinks. Heh-heh, I guess they do represent me better than I sometimes give them credit for.

Do you want a refinery in your backyard? The chemical plants and refineries are where they are because that is where the oil is and LA, TX, MS and Al are the only states that would allow them to be built.

Well, you know so much I hate to interfere with your opinions but in this thread I posted today, Congress will be holding hearings on increasing the number of refineries. I guess you think they'll be wasting their time. But I welcome this. So does Rush Limbaugh who's been plugging it pretty hard as a political opportunity for the GOP.

This is a political decision by the Congress not by the President, the Cat 3 vice Cat 5 decision was made decades ago in the Johnson administration, I believe. Money for Africa had nothing to do with this; if you don't understand that you don't have a clue.

I thought the current flood control plan was the one passed by Congress in '95. That's the impression I got from reading on the Corps' site and various articles. And my mention of the $15 billion for Africa (helping Third World with health issues) compared well with the estimates I've read of $15 billion for NOLA Cat 5 protection. But if you don't see the connection, you just don't.