I havn't logged in for a while. Did so just to thank you for this post.
Thank you to all who read and responded to the link I posted about one woman's on-ground in New Orleans experience.
Freezie, do consider I received this late last night and formatted it in haste at 0100; and thus should have given some "qualifiers."
It was never my intention to exonerate the whole bloody monstrosity that FEMA is - - but to speak of what I know about the dedication of the very first DMAT responders - the Medical Units under FEMA'S (actually Homeland Security's) direction.
Numerous times I've gone through Steve's waiting to be sent somewhere - never from the position of a frantic mother, but of enormous pride because of all the Steves & Stephanies of America who drop their lives to HELP OTHERS - 30 minutes after the call to GO NOW...
By the way, when the tsunami in the Far East happened, Steve was On Alert to go there, with his International Insert DMAT Team - not, after all, needed.
In past years, he went to Uruguay, Guatemala and twice to El Salvador on highly effective weeklong medical mission trips...
I did not intend for FEMA administration to be totally off the hook...
however, that said, it WAS the LOCAL LOUISIANA FEMA head who was so derelict.
As you know, in government B has to yield to A, unable to proceed until *asked* in the Katrina situation.
Hi Larry.. not sure if I already asked you this (maybe when I first joined FR).. were you stationed in the Panama canal zone in early 70s? We were at Ft Armador & there was a Larry Johnson ( CEC) and his wife Susan that were in our 4plex tropical officer housing. I went by handle of Darlene Haverkos at that time...
Thanks for possting at the FINEST. And thank you for your service to our county!