Wires get crossed in Canada's relief effort

National Post ^ | September 10, 2005 | Chris Wattie & Adrian Humphreys

[Loyalist]

ABOARD HMCS TORONTO and TORONTO - An apparent breakdown in communications between federal emergency officials and the crew of Canadian navy ships en route to help victims of Hurricane Katrina left sailors scrambling to buy $1-million in relief supplies in Halifax stores rather than dipping into stockpiles of emergency gear.

Navy supply officers went on a shopping spree for everything from chainsaws to diaper cream in the four days before a Canadian task force sailed for the disaster area this week.

Navy personnel told the National Post that repeated calls to Public Security and Emergency Preparedness Canada went unanswered over the long weekend, meaning government supplies could not be accessed before the ship's departure.

When supply officers called emergency officials in Ottawa, the officials were not available, said a senior officer who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"We were calling them all weekend," the officer said. "All we got was voice mail ... [and] they never called back."

Approval from Ottawa was needed before emergency preparedness officials in Halifax would relinquish any of their stockpiled supplies, another senior officer said.

"They told us they couldn't get the supplies together on the long weekend and that they needed approval from Ottawa."

That left dockyard workers and the ships' crews with only their ingenuity and Department of National Defence credit cards to rely on, raiding naval supply depots and running from one Halifax retailer to another trying to convince store owners to open their doors long enough to sell them what they needed.

Lieutenant (Navy) Kelly McNab, the supply officer on HMCS Toronto, said her crew had to work around the clock to buy and load tonnes of supplies into almost every available space on the ship.

"They were going to local stores and pulling stuff right off the shelves," she said.

Officials in Ottawa, however, said the sailors must simply have been calling the wrong number.

"We have a government operations centre manned 24/7 -- and if someone had called that number we would have coordinated that effort, we would have been in a position to do so," said Lia Quickert, a spokeswoman for Anne McLellan, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. "I can't explain the alleged disconnect."

Emergency Preparedness and Defence officials were working and available all weekend in Ottawa, officials said.

The Government of Canada Operations Centre staff includes three full-time Department of National Defence officers who were available, working and in "constant discussions" with Emergency Preparedness officials that weekend, said Major Luc Gaudet, a DND spokesman.

"I know because I was here all weekend too," he said.

The problem of obtaining the relief supplies in Halifax was the only glitch in the quick deployment, officials said.

"It was a mobilization of 1,000 people in a very tight time frame," said Alex Swann, spokesman for Ms. McLellan.

"It seemed to me the co-operation was quite good. I haven't heard anything in terms of other issues or complaints or concerns," said Steven Jurgutis, spokesman for Bill Graham, Minister of Defence.

Spokesmen for the Department of National Defence confirmed that they had to pay for all the supplies that were crammed onto the three warships and one Coast Guard ship now headed for the disaster zone. They would not reveal the total cost of the supplies but a naval officer estimated it exceeded $1-million.

The unexpected expenses incurred by the sailors will not likely end up coming from the tight military budget, officials said.

"We're going to have to discuss cost recovery issues and the replenishment of the Canadian emergency supplies at a later date," Mr. Swann said.

The three Canadian warships shouldered their way through five-metre waves and high winds yesterday, charging through the fringes of a tropical storm to help victims of hurricane Katrina.

HMCS Toronto carved through 12 hours of increasingly stormy weather off the Florida coast on its way south. Wind-whipped waves broke across the frigate's bows and driving rain soaked the warship's grey flanks as she bulled her way through the eastern corner of Ophelia, which has gone back and forth from tropical storm to hurricane status.

"This isn't bad -- it's a good blow," said Petty Officer 1st Class Rod Helpard, shouting to be heard over the roar of a five-metre wave shuddering past the ship in a shower of spray.

The three navy ships in the task force -- Toronto, the destroyer HMCS Athabaskan, and the frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec -- are expected to clear the worst of the storm by midnight. They expect to round the tip of Florida tonight and make a beeline for the Louisiana coast.

The fourth ship in the flotilla, Coast Guard vessel Sir William Alexander, is almost two days behind the speedier navy ships.

The navy announced yesterday that the three leading ships will make landfall at the devastated coastal city of Gulfport, Miss., sometime Monday.

The Canadian task force will be operating as part of a U.S. Navy group and are already working up plans for aid and relief projects on the devastated Gulf of Mexico coast.

The first job for the nearly 1,000 sailors and army engineers aboard the Canadian ships will be unloading the relief supplies hastily loaded onto every available space on the warships when they left Halifax on Tuesday.

The Canadian troops will then begin doing their own relief work, although task force planners do not yet know exactly what is needed in Gulfport and what U.S. authorities want them to do.

© National Post 2005

[hombre_sincero]

Even the canadian socialists have a media who would rather DESTROY than to report.

[rahbert]

You have to love the Canadians. Even though they
confound the hell out of me sometimes...

[KateatRFM]

Another example of what life would be like in Canada if we had a Hurricane Katrina event here. Who on earth would not know that trying to get hold of Canadians on a weekend, particularly a long weekend, would be absolutely hopeless -- even suicide hot lines are only open M-F, 9-5 in Canada, the Workers Paradise.

Our military, all 20,000 of them (according to Sir Lew Mackenzie, retired) are the best; but they can't do a thing with both hands tied behind them by the eternally vacationing bureaucrats of Ottawa. Where, incidentally, they have discovered that if one highway out of town is blocked, the city cannot be evacuated at all ...

[dts32041]

Will Canadian jokes replace polish jokes among the politically incorrect.

[snowsislander]

I certainly appreciate the goodwill and the friendship that Canada is extending here. But I think if one had just telephoned Wal-Mart, they could have delivered these types of items right on whatever spot you wanted when you wanted it, probably at far less cost. From what I understand, Wal-Mart has already done a spectacular job of exactly that, making much needed deliveries of emergency goods directly to relief centers.

[micho]

Will Canadian jokes replace polish jokes among the politically incorrect. It seems to be going that way. Another government like Paul Martin's (Lieberals) should do it.

[Condor51]

"Officials in Ottawa, however, said the sailors must simply have been calling the wrong number.

"We have a government operations centre manned 24/7 -- and if someone had called that number we would have coordinated that effort, we would have been in a position to do so," said Lia Quickert, a spokeswoman for Anne McLellan, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness. "I can't explain the alleged disconnect."

"Helloooo, this is the Phone Company,
how may I direct your call?"
"I'm sooorry, that number is not in service."

[Dog Gone]

We appreciate the aid from Canada, even if the government makes the good sailors look like keystone cops.

[Snowyman]

Our military, all 20,000 of them (according to Sir Lew Mackenzie, retired) are the best; but they can't do a thing with both hands tied behind them by the eternally vacationing bureaucrats of Ottawa. Where, incidentally, they have discovered that if one highway out of town is blocked, the city cannot be evacuated at all

What are you talking about? The article is about what was done , to use your words , "with both hands tied behind them ". As for Ottawa evacuating , when did they discover their inability to evacuate ? Certainly more than one highway leading out of Ottawa . Or did you bother to look?

[Daralundy]

I live in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. It is a suburb of Vancouver. It is located on the delta of the Fraser River. It is underwater er below sea level and has dykes. Someday there will be a giant earthquake and there will be a disaster. I am pretty sure disaster response will be inadequate and the US will help us out.

[ordinaryguy]

What destroying did you read into the article?

[hombre_sincero]

The subtle destruction of confidence in ones own country or military through ridicule and by consistent exposure of minor goofs/errors (since to err IS human) and almost total disregard of positive events. IF there is positive news, it must be offset by a prominent negative item in the opening paragraph.

The press in the USA are the world's prime experts at this form of propaganda.

In times of emergencies, you should not try to denigrate efforts to save lives --- there is plenty of time afterwards to destroy people's lives, reputations, and destroy political machines --- but during an emergency - to do so is tantamount to treason and really should be treated as such.

You want positive motivation to HELP.

But who cares about that? Unless you get your name in the headline.

[recce guy]

When the big one comes on the West Coast the US may have their hands full as well. Move to the Prairies. Nothing but blizzards to worry about here.

[ordinaryguy]

I guess we all find exactly what we are looking for. Thanks.

[Savage Rider]

I think if it was an emergency and I kept calling an emergency number where all I got was voice mail, I would keep looking for emergency numbers until I found a live person. I would not wait to be called back.

[OneLoyalAmerican]

Hooray for our seagoing allies. Over the summer, the HMCS TORONTO was the first Canadian warship to visit Cleveland, OH since 1812. And she also paid a port visit to Chicago, IL.

[concrete is my business]

I hope you are renter.

I love Richmond, but I will never buy property in a flood plain.

Also the hurricane underlined the fact that in these situations all government is local government.

If your mayor is more interested in casinos, malls, bars and hotels than taking responsibility for the safety and well being of his constituents, I suggest you have a big SUV, access to a boat and a plan for yourself and your loved ones.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

Canada IS our friend! They are making the U.S. effort look like a well oiled machine. By the time they get there N.O. will be rebuilt. As it is, it seems what they are taking would have been useful at one time, had they been allowed in the city, but now everyone is gone. Maybe Mississippi can use them.

[Ciexyz]

well, now they know what procedures to improve upon, for the time when they must respond to the NEXT disaster.