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.

[Howlin]

Because it's the job of the local officials to tell FEMA where the shelters are so they can get the food there.

The first day, the people were just standing in the street; they finally BROKE into the CC and took it over.

That's why there were no NG, no water, and no food.

There is a plan for a reason, see?

[Howlin]

You read those reports from Australia and Britain; that's why.

[MediaMole]

Politicians are always a questionable source of information.

DHS and FEMA need to use an intelligence gathering model for building a profile of the reality on the ground. They need to use media reports, technical means (i.e. satellite and aerial photos) and first hand reports from the ground as well as reports from politicians.

Politicians are a notoriously unreliable source of information. They will always shape the information to suit their interests.

Would you trust Nagin or Blanco to give an accurate report? I sure wouldn't.

[hole_n_one]

Nagin knew that if the levee(s) broke, anybody inside NO was going to have to be self sufficient for up to 5 days.

Less than 24 hours after the levee breaks, Nagin is cussing up a storm, furious that superman has yet to swoop in and save the poor souls he left to fend for themselves.

[A Citizen Reporter]

You said THAT? tsk, tsk.

Ping me whem AP settles on calling them "bad guys".

[Howlin]

Those shelters are the responsibility of the local government. No way around it.

And the FEMA plan said 3 to 5 days.

[A Citizen Reporter]

What reports?

[TheOtherOne]

That is one pathetic group of Senators. Seriously, Lieberman might be the best of that bunch. (of course, I'm not sure 5 years is enough to get the Gore stink off of him.)

[smoothsailing]

That's certainly true.

Chertoff has been an adult and lived in an adult world for so long that I'm sure he must be kicking himself.

Probably hasn't been around adults that act like children(and damnit,I'm being unfair to children).

My kids,now grown,but even when barely out of diapers,had more common sense than Nagin and Blanco.

[AnimalLover]

PING

[twoid]

I wouldn't trust *any* politician; that includes Nagin, Blanco, Brown and/or Chertoff. This exercise in big government response, from the local to the federal level, shows that we can only rely on ourselves and, hopefully, each other in a time of crisis.

[Cboldt]

Senate Homeland Security Committee officials announced late Friday they will begin an investigation this week into the catastrophe and have ordered officials to brief the panel Wednesday.

Wednesday? The job will be done by Wednesday so the officials can submit to the almighty Senate?

Senator arrogance is the third most abundent element in the universe, behind hydrogen and stupidity.

[Howlin]

My heart just sank when I saw Levin and Lautenburg on that list.

[Howlin]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1477460/posts

and

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1477472/posts

[flying Elvis]

I imagine when all of this was going down they were busy trying to help instead of watching tv or surfing FR. The would logically think that since they are in contact with the state and local folks in charge of the situation that they would hear it first from them instead of the news, which is ideally how it is supposed to work. What they failed to consider was that those folks were bumbling fools.

[Howlin]

This is my all time favorite (so far)

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."

But:

The Security Czar

Retired Marine Col. Terry Ebbert stepped into the local spotlight last week as the nation went to war in Iraq amid national warnings of possible terrorist reprisals.

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.

"The superintendents of the Police and Fire Departments and the director of the Office of Emergency Preparedness all report directly to me," Ebbert stated in a Feb. 28 interview. "I report directly to the mayor and those three agencies report directly to me." (Nagin later transferred EMS from the city Health Department to Ebbert's command.) If there is a disagreement between the homeland security chief and the police chief or the fire chief, Ebbert says: "I have the final say over bringing them all together so we all agree. It's a team effort."

IT'S HIS JOB, FGS!!!!!

[A Citizen Reporter]

Thanks. And no, I hadn't read those.

[msnimje]

Would you trust Nagin or Blanco to give an accurate report? I sure wouldn't

How could the FEDS possibly have known they were incompetent? If took a few days for that to become apparent when the reality didn't match with what the locals were telling them.

[smoothsailing]

To bad there isn't an IDIOT HALL OF FAME

Terry Ebert could be the tour guide.

[hole_n_one]

"Mr. Ebbert is responsible for all matters related to public safety," the mayor said.

His incompetent ass needs to resign on Tuesday morning as well!