The current disaster aside for the moment, do you remember several years ago during the Clinton Administration when they said that they were going to make FEMA a part of the Judicial branch under Janet Reno? Everyone at that time it was the worse thing that could happen because it would be come a worthless enity. It looks like it happened just on the wrong watch. You are right, it needs to be cleaned out and done with a big shovel. Most people though, unless they have worked in the military or with the Police or Fire Departments don't know #### about disaster preparedness or even how to set up a plan much less how to execute it.
And yes, I have had experience with DP's and how the are set up and executed. I became very familiar with them both before and after Hugo. You always prepare for a worse case scenario and thus are better able to handle whatever happens. And you train and train and train so that it become rote by the time that a disaster comes. Paper pushers/desk jockies should be made to take part in the active excersises so that they know what is to be expected.
I agree about the Coasties, they didn't wait, they just did what had to be done. They are the heroes of the hour.
"Most people though, unless they have worked in the military or with the Police or Fire Departments don't know #### about disaster preparedness or even how to set up a plan much less how to execute it."
I so totally agree. But the fact is there are plenty, plenty of qualified people who are experts leading large organizations that they could put into FEMA. If I were them, I'd start looking at, say, the Coast Guard as a recruiting pool!