FEMA Chief Waited Until After Storm Hit

NewsMax ^ | September 7, 2005 | NewsMax Wires

[Brilliant]

Their big point, though, is that he supposedly gave them two days to get there.

[bobsunshine]

Think Congress put FEMA under HS and I think it was a recommendation of the 9/11 commission. Will check it out.

[VeniVidiVici]

Yeah. FEMA should have prepositioned assets before the storm hit.

For what?

What was FEMA to do the day after the hurricane hit? And what good would such assets be if in the path of the hurricane?

The Red Cross even decided several years ago to NOT have shelters in New Orleans proper due to its elevation.

[geopyg]

---"Knocke said the 48-hour period suggested for the Homeland employees was to ensure they had adequate training. "They were training to help the life-savers," Knocke said."---

This part seems to get overlooked - FEMA is not the lifesavers as far as I can tell. They are there to help and "manage" the first-responders.

And the public is the first responder. Anyone who isn't prepared to last 5-10 days (or more!) on their own should do so NOW. (I'm the designated "gas turner-offer" in my block!)

[M. Espinola]

"Brown needs to be fired IMMEDIATELY. I can't belive Bush ever gave such responsibility to this imbecile."

I fully agree. On Saturday I stated on a Katrina thread Michael Brown was not doing his job but was quick to issue snooty comments to reporters saying 'everyone had plenty of time to get out' (90 year old ladies in wheelchairs & the poor without cars or $$ could not) I was attacked as being a 'liberal' for saying Brown should be replaced. Nice eh?

I am not faulting President Bush for bringing Brown on before, maybe he thought the schlub would work out, but he has not, and should be given a pink slip now.

Check this out: FEMA chief fired from previous job Michael Brown oversaw horse shows, had no significant disaster experience

Mr President I nominate Jabbar Gibson as the new head of FEMA!

This young hero accomplished far more then Brown.

[Lunatic Fringe]

Bush declared a disaster on Saturday, and Brown waits until MONDAY to start moving people....

The guy is completely incompetent.

[Daralundy]

Sounds sensible to me. If they had been there during the hurricane they would probably be injured or dead and their equipment destroyed.

[armymarinemom]

Next time we can send them in before the hurricane. Getting yourself killed is always a good way to help.

[Wiseghy]

FEMA=co-ordinates resources.

Local Authorities=handle rescue, recovery and request said resources.

The big lie was that people (the press) expected FEMA to be in charge and the incompetent, cowardly, politicking local leaders promptly blamed them for everything, thus adding to the myth.

OK, 1000 FEMA Reps given the geographic size still seems small, however how many assessors do you need at the outset to deal with the locals in charge? Did they even HAVE any more trained to respond and properly evaluate and interface with local authorities? Just sending bobble-heads into field wouldn't have done any good.

[Howlin]

I have been in three hurricanes, I have not heard of one instance where fema was there before the hurricane.

Precisely.

Everybody in hurricanes states knows that for the first 48 hours you're on your own.

[Howlin]

DNC Talking Points? NewsMax is on the job.

Isn't that the truth.

Somebody should tell NewsMax that it's not FEMA's job to rescue people.

These sound like non-essential personnel who will handle paperwork.

[Howlin]

It's about time somebody "investigated" and "critiqued" the press' part in this disaster.

[Howlin]

Bump for the truth!

[Cyber Liberty]

That'll be the day...

[pepperhead]

Get a grip. FEMA is not a 'first responder'.

Wish more people would wake up to that fact.

[pepperhead]

And what good would such assets be if in the path of the hurricane?

That is what I am trying to figure out.

[Howlin]

Isn't that the truth.

[Lunatic Fringe]

I think the point is that Brown didnt even START moving people until after the hurricane hit. Bush declared a disaster on Saturday and Brown didn't start moving people until Monday afternoon.

[Eva]

I think that I will once again, ask NewsMax to stop sending me emails. (I stopped it once, but somehow it didn't stick) This article is tells some of the truth, but leaves out the most important facts. Blanco didn't want them giving the orders, she wanted to be in charge. So, yes, they were told to hold off until they were asked to come.

[Bob]

Everybody in hurricanes states knows that for the first 48 hours you're on your own.

Until the locals assess the situation and communicate their needs, any FEMA response is purely guesswork and is likely to be exactly what they don't need.