Posted on 09/06/2005 5:56:44 PM PDT by 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.
"a flash flood of jack booted thugs with no limitations on their power and automatic weapons are far worse. "
Is this what is happening in Iraq, Afghanistan? I thought the US troops were working with exceptional diplomacy.
"Part of the New Homeland Security contract (federal govt) with the states keeps Red Cross out of disaster areas. They are only allowed in after the area is no longer a disaster as their presence could keep people from evacuating. That's the national policy. That might look good on paper but since the evacuation locations were still inside NOLA (convention center, superdome, highways) Red Cross was not allowed to help these people. Red Cross was also not allowed to help
inside the hospitals. This policy works with all relief efforts (Salvation Army, ect). You can call the Red Cross and confirm: Red Cross National Affairs number (202-303-5551). "
We all agree? I have no idea what you really think, since you constantly shift directions and refuse to answer questions. I'll lighten up when you depart the area.
As for this particular memo, I had heard that it was not sent to the regular FEMA employees who were supposed to be there, but to additional VOLUNTEERS from within FEMA. That's why the two day travel suggestion.
When are we gonna stop getting our knickers in a twist because of what the media CLAIMS? The MSM has shown this week that it will say, or allowed to be stated on their broadcasts ANYTHING that they hope will make President look bad. Why are some of us letting ourselves get sucked into that crap?
Joseph Farah can't stand Michael Brown, and he seems glad for anything that stains the President, who he is pi$$ed at too. What this article fails to mention is Michael Brown's other work experiences. No, he may not have been a 'Disaster Specialist', but he doesn't need to be. He is an administrator, and his job is to get resources in place so that they are AVAILABLE to the LOCAL authorities. FEMA does not move a thing into a disaster area without the permission and the direction of the local folks. FEMA doesn't know where the needs in an area are. They have to depend on the people on the ground to tell them where to take materials.
Many DU posters here.
read 782 - I called the number and it is valid - Suzanne told me that they were denied access to NO by the NATIONAL GUARD.
I asked her if it was a new policy to NOT go into ANY disaster areas and she said she would have to get back to me.
The purpose of this is to determine why a vast population were not getting food and water - hopefully the problem gets fixed before Osama comes to your neghborhood (as he did to mine).
Yes I do disagree, IMHO the guy is a hack. I've hired guys in the past who I thought could do the job and later regretted it. Firing them was not a reflection on my skills but on theirs.
PRIVITIZE FEMA!
Let's see do I trust you or Major Garrett? Tough choice.(/s)
Ahhh, still trying to pin all the blame on others...
really? i wonder why they keep saying there were no provisions at the dome? probably a MSM lie.
Disaster FAQs
Hurricane Katrina: Why is the Red Cross not in New Orleans?
"The state Homeland Security Department had requested--and continues to request--that the American Red Cross not come back into New Orleans following the hurricane. Our presence would keep people from evacuating and encourage others to come into the city."
http://www.redcross.org/faq/0,1096,0_682_4524,00.html
You need to get your facts straight
Probably not a lie, but definitely inaccurate.
I am in doubt to and that is why I called the above number for the Red Cross Public Relations Staff.
Instead of diddling with the keyboard, try getting some direct answers yourself.
http://www.redcross.org/faq/0,1096,0_682_4524,00.html
Ignore it all you want.
Of course, it probably never occurred a certain poster to see which department in LA who oversees the NG. If the poster would learn to Google, perhaps the poster would find out that that would be the Military Dept. of OHSLA, and surprise, surprise the head of the Military Dept. (irony: Michael L. Brown) is under Federal Indictment.
Maybe there is a router down between him and Google.;)
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