[dawn53]

--“Michael Brown has not done a good job and is in over his head. But, in fairness, FEMA is not organized to handle a catastrophe of this size.”

My gripe with Brown was this: He said they were holding back supplies until it was "safe" to go into the city.

Why didn't he push for protection of his people so they could deliver the supplies sooner.

And if FEMA is truly supposed to handle "emergencies," they had better make some provisions for getting into areas, even if they aren't "safe."

[wildwood]

the only thing i don't like about rich lowry's post is the comment that FEMA wasn't prepared for such a large catastrophe on a huge scale.

if that is true, what on earth encompasses the term FEDERAL? sheesh.

[MNJohnnie]

Why didn't he push for protection of his people so they could deliver the supplies sooner.

Because FEMA doesn't have any Law Enforcement authority. That has to come either from LOCAL City of NO authorities. If they cannot handle it, the City asks the State for MORE resources both Law Enforcement and NG. The City has to ASK because they are RIGHT THERE, the State cannot read their minds and just KNOW what they need. So why, after all we saw, did Blanco ONLY send 300 Armed NG troops on Thursday? According to Sunday's Washington Post, Bush was asking Blanco to turn control over to the Feds. She refused. He DID get her to allow Reg Army Troops to be sent. SHE had to OK it, Bush cannot legally send troops into a state that has an operating Govt to perform Law Enforcement functions without their approval.

[USNBandit]

And if FEMA is truly supposed to handle "emergencies," they had better make some provisions for getting into areas, even if they aren't "safe."

I think one of the big obstacles in this whole exercise has been that nobody expected the collapse of civil order or the collapse of the police force, and the breech of the levees.

I think they all expected 48 hours of bad weather, some flooding which could be pumped out over a reasonable amount of time, restoration of power, and then pushing some FEMA paperwork to get some roofs rebuilt.