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.

[Mr. K]

I expect they directed them to the superdone thinking that after the storm blew over they would all go right back home

Then the levy broke

[brytlea]

I wonder if it is the governments responsibility to make people completely whole after a disaster.

I really think it would be far better if church's and charities did this work. That way it's done from the heart and it's good for the people who donate/work/help.

susie

[brytlea]

I was amazed at the complete breakdown in basic concepts of civilization.

Yep, took less than a day.

susie

[brytlea]

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 think this is the best suggestion I've heard! Can we get you appointed to something??? :)

susie

[RobbyS]

Stopped by someone because of concern for their safety. Now would that not been a hoot, seeing Red Cross rescue trucks being shot up. To the credit of the Red Cross, they were willing to take the chance. Fact is: the security in the city was problematic. Probably the same reason why Walmart trucks laden with supplies were turned back. In the end, whether it was a good decision or bad depends on when it was made and on what information it was based.

[RobbyS]

A more apt comparison would be federal funds that went to construction elsewhere. The boondoggle in Boston can be multipled many times. Something else that might be looked at, if they really get down to the nitty gritty, is the quality of construction work on shoring up the levies. In the end, the levy that broke, should not have. Why?

[RobbyS]

It was probably already accomplished. NO, like many other cities, teemed with barbarians.

[I. Ben Hurt]

You are correct regarding Louisiana's Lt. Governor being Mary's brother Mitch Landrieu. The woman interviewed on Fox & Friends this morning was Amy Tuck, Lt. Governor from Mississippi. Sorry for the error.

[spanalot]

"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."

Worth Repeating - it seems many here believe that everyone in the Federal gubmint is beyond reproach

And it seems that many here have something against the Repubs that are trying to win in 2008.

[OKIEDOC]

When I worked in Alaska many years ago the natives really resented the US government.

Why?

Because most said the government came in with monthly checks and the Eskimo natives soon quit hunting and fishing and went to the local bars where they turned all their efforts alcoholism.

[George W. Bush]

In the end, the levy that broke, should not have. Why?

I've read it was the most recent upgrade in the levees and was concrete, not just packed earth. There has been speculation that it was hit by one or more drifting barges. We can't rule out corrupt politicians using inferior materials (while charging for first-rate up-to-spec materials) either since New Orleans is a Dim party machine town just like Chicago or New York.

You may be right about the comparison. Some of the African aid does go toward improving infrastructure though.

[spanalot]

"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 Missiing in Action"."

---

"Three out of every four dollars the agency provides in local preparedness and first-responder grants go to terrorism-related activities, even though a recent Government Accountability Office report quotes local officials as saying what they really need is money to prepare for natural disasters and accidents."

---

Ooops - another casualty of the new Homeland Security.

[brytlea]

No doubt correct. We used to like going to NO, but the last time we were there (I think around 1997 or so) I told hubby I had no desire to ever go back. It was filthy (the French Quarter) and felt quite dangerous. We walked up right after someone had gotten stabbed. Not a place I care to vacation.
susie

[brytlea]

Ya know, it would be edifying to see states and localities to spend their own money on disaster preparedness. That should be the top priority. If they feel the Feds are not sending enough, instead of waiting for a disaster and complaining, why not spend their own taxpayer's money???

susie

[OKIEDOC]

Is this the situation where the crowd ripped out seats and did thousands of dollars worth of damage.

Stealing everything not nailed down.

I faintly remember some official saying this would never be allowed again.

[George W. Bush]

Ooops - another casualty of the new Homeland Security.

True. But people worried over a repeat of 9/11 too. And if we had had another 9/11 and Bush had funded FEMA more fully at the expense of DHS, then people would be screaming over that. The truth is that we neeb both FEMA and DHS.

I just read elsewhere that Madame Hillary wants to separate FEMA from DHS and make a cabinet post and rebuild it as it was before Bush came. I smell a Dim presidential issue for '08 here and it's just a coincidence that DeWitt, Clinton's FEMA secretary, is now advising Blanco (and probably Nagin).

I think I smell an ambush.

[CMAC51]

Can you provide an explanation as to why no one except everyone in the US and on FR was aware of the folks at the convention center but none of the federal officials were?

A convenient dodge by the media. In retrospect it may seem like we knew all along that there was a large gathering at the convention center. I don't think that will be supported by review of the tapes. It hit the media at best, late Wednesday night, which would have hit Brown Thursday morning.

Hindsight is wonderful but often ignores actual time lines.

[OKIEDOC]

Welcome to the left wing propaganda machine.

God forgive me for hating CNN and PMSNBC and the rest of the left wing punks calling themselves the Main Stream Media.

Old race baiting Jessie needs to tell the truth.

He also needs to stop his inflammatory racists knee jerk comparing of the disaster to genocidal elimination of blacks by whites.

It wasn't whitey that abandoned his so called people it was the black leadership of New Orleans that abandoned it's poorer citizens.

Discrimination and indifference is not an exclusive club of the white race.

If that was so you wouldn't see millions dying in Africa in all black countries with all black leadership.

[HIDEK6]

If it was last year, yes.

[spanalot]

"I smell a Dim presidential issue for '08 here and it's just a coincidence that DeWitt, Clinton's FEMA secretary, is now advising Blanco (and probably Nagin).

I think I smell an ambush."

---

That is very good dot connecting.