[Paleo Conservative]

But according to a memo obtained by Knight Ridder, Chertoff didn't shift that power to Brown until late afternoon or evening on Aug. 30, about 36 hours after Katrina hit Louisiana and Mississippi. That same memo suggests that Chertoff may have been confused about his lead role in disaster response and that of his department.

Considering the shakeup of bureaucracies by placing FEMA under Homeland Security, is there any wonder that people were confused about who was supposed to do what? How many DemocRATS insisted on creating the Department of Homeland Security and putting FEMA under it.

[hobbes1]

Actually the only people I see being confused are the posters on this thread.


Page 9 of the NRP clearly states that the DDHS is not empowered to act until Federal Assistance is requested, or Directed by the President.In fact it clearly desginates the Governor and Local executive as being Directly responsible for the People in jeopardy.

[henderson field]

"...creating Homeland Security and putting FEMA under it..."
That's why businesses that are well-managed create small, fast-moving creative-thinking groups.
They get into action quickly and get the job done.
They also have accountability and people get fired for not doing it right.
Congress should have some business consultants and listen to them, and never let a lawyer do an adult's job.

[Eastbound]

"Considering the shakeup of bureaucracies by placing FEMA under Homeland Security, is there any wonder that people were confused about who was supposed to do what? How many DemocRATS insisted on creating the Department of Homeland Security and putting FEMA under it."

I think it was done to establish a chain of command, a flowchart of decision makers, delineate responsibility, delegate authority, eliminate confusion, and prevent a duplication of resources.

Looked good on paper, but apparently nobody studied it. (No 'return' statements in a couple of the the sub-routines.)

[RobbyS]

Exactly what federal agencies were supposed to act? The Governor was in charge of the guard, which might have provided security, and Louisiana state officials refused to use the Red Cross, which was already on the scene. FEMA has been clumsy in execution, but this does not change the fact that at the critical moments it was state officials who failed to act/or did the wrong thing.

[RobbyS]

Exactly what federal agencies were supposed to act? The Governor was in charge of the guard, which might have provided security, and Louisiana state officials refused to use the Red Cross, which was already on the scene. FEMA has been clumsy in execution, but this does not change the fact that at the critical moments it was state officials who failed to act/or did the wrong thing.