FEMA Chief Waited Until After Storm Hit

NewsMax ^ | September 7, 2005 | NewsMax Wires

[bobsunshine]

WASHINGTON - The government's disaster chief waited until hours after Hurricane Katrina had already struck the Gulf Coast before asking his boss to dispatch 1,000 Homeland Security employees to the region - and gave them two days to arrive, according to internal documents.

Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, sought the approval from Homeland Security Secretary Mike Chertoff roughly five hours after Katrina made landfall on Aug. 29. Brown said that among duties of these employees was to "convey a positive image" about the government's response for victims.

Before then, FEMA had positioned smaller rescue and communications teams across the Gulf Coast. But officials acknowledged Tuesday the first department-wide appeal for help came only as the storm raged. Brown's memo to Chertoff described Katrina as "this near catastrophic event" but otherwise lacked any urgent language. The memo politely ended, "Thank you for your consideration in helping us to meet our responsibilities."

The initial responses of the government and Brown came under escalating criticism as the breadth of destruction and death grew. President Bush and Congress on Tuesday pledged separate investigations into the federal response to Katrina. "Governments at all levels failed," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said Brown had positioned front-line rescue teams and Coast Guard helicopters before the storm. Brown's memo on Aug. 29 aimed to assemble the necessary federal work force to support the rescues, establish communications and coordinate with victims and community groups, Knocke said.

Instead of rescuing people or recovering bodies, these employees would focus on helping victims find the help they needed, he said.

'Time for Blame'

"There will be plenty of time to assess what worked and what didn't work," Knocke said. "Clearly there will be time for blame to be assigned and to learn from some of the successful efforts."

Brown's memo told employees that among their duties, they would be expected to "convey a positive image of disaster operations to government officials, community organizations and the general public."

"FEMA response and recovery operations are a top priority of the department and as we know, one of yours," Brown wrote Chertoff. He proposed sending 1,000 Homeland Security Department employees within 48 hours and 2,000 within seven days.

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.

Employees required a supervisor's approval and at least 24 hours of disaster training in Maryland, Florida or Georgia. "You must be physically able to work in a disaster area without refrigeration for medications and have the ability to work in the outdoors all day," Brown wrote.

The same day Brown wrote Chertoff, Brown also urged local fire and rescue departments outside Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi not to send trucks or emergency workers into disaster areas without an explicit request for help from state or local governments. Brown said it was vital to coordinate fire and rescue efforts.

Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., said Tuesday that Brown should step down.

After a senators-only briefing by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and other Cabinet members, Sen. Charles E. Schumer said lawmakers weren't getting their questions answered.

"What people up there want to know, Democrats and Republicans, is what is the challenge ahead, how are you handling that and what did you do wrong in the past," said Schumer, D-N.Y.

Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, said the administration is "getting a bad rap" for the emergency response.

"This is the largest disaster in the history of the United States, over an area twice the size of Europe," Stevens said. "People have to understand this is a big, big problem."

Meanwhile, the airline industry said the government's request for help evacuating storm victims didn't come until late Thursday afternoon. The president of the Air Transport Association, James May, said the Homeland Security Department called then to ask if the group could participate in an airlift for refugees.

[M. Espinola]

"It's clear their was either denial, ineptitude, or both going on."

Both.

We can airlift relief supplies around the globe, even to populations brazenly favouring our destruction by Jihadist Inc, yet all branches of government failed Americans stuck in center of chaos caused by a very powerful topical storm, long before this year's hurricane season, and after Katrina departed from the Gulf's ravaged coastline.

Evidently the entrenched minority of those stubbornly defending Brown did not experience going without any food, fresh water, medicine & bathroom facilities for 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 days, stuck in the worst areas of the three states most adversary effected. Storm victims were desperate, especially those with either babies & small children, or elderly infirmed parents striving to keep them alive the sickening heat & humidity. Once the flood water is lowered in New Orleans the real horrific death toll shall become clearer.

Michael D. Brown FindLaw

"No doubt the governor and locals screwed up badly as well. But Brown never should have perpetuated the obviously false belief that they were ready and prepared for a catastrophic event. Hopefully the voters will dump the governor as well. But to hear people rigorously defend Brown smacks of the kool-aid talkin"

I witnessed Brown making the following televised comments on 9-01-05:

5:05p.m.: FEMA's Michael Brown says that any reports of not enough food in the Superdome are incorrect. He said 5,000 people are in the New Orleans convention center and food is being delivered. He said he hasn't heard any reports of widespread violent unrest in the city. He said flood waters are going down. In a news conference aired by cable news outlets, Brown said the U.S. and Louisiana government were dealing with an "ongoing disaster. "We'll continue to meet every need the state puts upon us," he said. source Wall St Journal

This man is a stain on the nation.

FEMA stands for 'Felonious Egregious Mismanagement Agency'.

FEMA fails its core mission (The Washington Times Op-Ed)

[M. Espinola]

This one off DRUDGE. FEMA SENDS EVACUEES TO WRONG CHARLESTON...

[Coop]

You haven't explained what he should have done. We've all attmpted to make it perfectly clear. FEMA is not a first responder 72 hours is the normal response time If they were sent in when we first had notice of a severe hurricane, they would have added to the casualties You haven't read any of the other posts on this thread have you?

Ding ding ding! :-D

[Coop]

If electricity and phone companies can have this kind of foresight, why can't an organization like FEMA?

It did. If the rest of us are able to read stories and see that FEMA had assets pre-positioned, why can't a FReeper like you?

[Coop]

When there a bad apples in the barrel they require being extracted.

Apparently not, since your account is still active.

I admire your persistence, ME, if not your appalling judgment. Despite getting roundly thrashed, you keep waltzing back in here for more.

[OldFriend]

To the left it's ALL about image. The facts don't matter at all.

Never mind this is the fastest response under the worst conditions in history. Added to the savages on the ground shooting at the rescuers.

How come you didn't rush down there and make it all better. You could have brought order to the Convention Center and the Superdome, no doubt about it.

[Coop]

It sweems like alot of people here don't care about the Repubs that have to get elected in 2008

That's your answer?!?!? Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic! You'd sell out a man and an entire organization doing a helluva job just because of your uninformed handwringing.

Please do me a favor. Do a LOT more reading about FEMA and its Katrina response, and a LOT less posting. Thanks.

[Blogger]

Stop your hysterics. What if Katrina would have taken a sudden turn and hit Pensacola or something? Then you would be complaining that he acted too quickly and should be fired. FEMA is NOT a first responder. Use your brain and stop allowing the media to brain wash you. The Hurricane aftermath is NOT FEMAs fault. Could they have improved, yes. But it isn't FEMA that chose to stay behind as so many able bodied did. It isn't FEMA that chose to put people in a large dome without adequate security. It isn't FEMA that didn't provide the means for folks to evacuate. It isn't FEMA that was shooting at any relief that was coming. Brown wasn't perfect, but using him as a scapegoat is entirely inappropriate.

[Coop]

He is a lawyer!! That's worse than I thought.

Okay, based on your constant dodging of facts fully presented to you, combined with your petty jabs, I've come to the conclusion that you've yet to reach puberty. I'm done with you regarding FEMA and Katrina. But if you have any questions about acne or wet dreams, feel free to FReepmail me. (yes, that's a petty jab)

[OldFriend]

Logic is not your strong point. Try DU, you'd fit right in!

Since you knew there were people in the Convention Center why didn't you rush down there and rescue all those people.

You could have convinced the people in the Superdome to act civilized and organize for the greater good too.

[Coop]

Gof forbid if you disagree with the general consensus on Free Republic.

God forbid you throw misinformed accusations around and then have to defend them. Why bother when you can just shriek, piss and moan about how the "general consensus" is being mean to you? You're SUCH a victim!

[Blogger]

Check Brown's Bio before you post drivel about the horse show. He was qualified.

As to if they had plenty of time, yes they did. The CITY didn't provide the means - even for 90 year old ladies in wheelchairs. They KNEW this was an issue. They did NOTHING to help people get the heck out of Dodge.

[BureaucratusMaximus]

Many Americans are too dumb to realize that the Federal relief agencies and military cannot just come barging in at a moments notice in a emergency/disaster situation. They have to be requested and authorized by local and state government first. The resources of local and state governments (police, state troopers, emergency management personnel) have have always been "first responders".

What is so damn difficult about this concept? I mean we don't need or want military boots on the ground in effected communities as a result of a tornado, a mass murderer on the loose, heavy snowstorm, brush fires, etc.

For all you smart liberal trolls and lurkers out there...this is basic federalism...

From wikpedia:

Federalism is a system of government in which power is constitutionally divided between a central authority and constituent political units (like states or provinces). The two levels of government are interdependent, and share sovereignty.

[Coop]

Are you crazy? Brown is a total idiot.

We've already gone through this. You people wanting to hang Brown out to dry are the total idiots. (And I dare say your bio looks rather puny compared to "total idiot" Brown's.) Every one of your pitiful accusations has been proven to be exaggerated or more often flat-out false.

[Coop]

Don't you see that blocking aid for 5 days is not justifiable?

Okay, one more post. You're not just an adolescent. You're a liar. FEMA pre-positioned food. FEMA did not block aid.

[M. Espinola]

"Apparently not, since your account is still active. I admire your persistence, ME, if not your appalling judgment. Despite getting roundly thrashed, you keep waltzing back in here for more."

I am totally converted, a true FEMAite. Buster Brown & FEMA are just... prefect, in all respects! - Happy now?

[Coop]

I'm quite happy to see that dozens of posters set you, spanalot and a few other clueless keyboard critics straight.

That's not to say I'm under any illusions that you'll stop spewing your nonsense, only that I'm pleased to see you're not getting away with it unchallenged.

[M. Espinola]

"Check Brown's Bio before you post drivel about the horse show. He was qualified. As to if they had plenty of time, yes they did. The CITY didn't provide the means - even for 90 year old ladies in wheelchairs. They KNEW this was an issue. They did NOTHING to help people get the heck out of Dodge."

The city officials let their public down in a massive way, yet they want to rebuild another under sea level disaster, without flood walls, waiting for the next nightmare to happen again. I am well aware, however acting like FEMA was the only government agency which curried out an exemplary job is preposterous.

[listenhillary]

I actually heard Bush praise his performance.

[spanalot]

"Contrast that with the great job the state of FLorida did in FOUR hurricanes last year, and the leadership of Jeb Bush."

Agreed but FEMA and Homeland were oblivious on this one - no excuse for the Conv Ctr being w/o rescue till Thurs.