Posted on 09/25/2005 12:48:41 PM PDT by WestTexasWend
BATON ROUGE, La. — Military officials told President Bush today that the U.S. needs a national plan to coordinate search and rescue efforts following natural disasters or terrorist attacks.
(snip)
Bush got an update about the federal hurricane response from military leaders at Randolph Air Force Base. He heard from Lt. Gen. Robert Clark, joint military task force commander for Hurricane Rita, and Maj. Gen. John White, a task force member, who described search and rescue operations after Hurricane Katrina as a "train wreck."
With Katrina, "we knew the coordination piece was a problem," White said. He said better coordination is needed to prevent five helicopters, for example, from showing up to rescue the same individual. "With Rita, we had the benefit of time. We may not have that time in an earthquake scenario or similar incident," White said.
"With a national plan, we'll have a quick jump-start and an opportunity to save more people," White said.
Speaking of the helicopter example, White said, "That's the sort of simplistic thing we'd like to avoid." He added, "We're not maximizing the use of forces to the best efficiency. Certainly that was a train wreck that we saw in New Orleans."
Bush thanked White for his recommendations.
"This is precisely the kind of information I'll take back to Washington to help all of us understand how to do a better job," the president said.
(snip)
Under the existing relationship, a state's governor is chiefly responsible for disaster preparedness and response. Governors can request assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. If federal armed forces are brought in to help, they do so in support of FEMA, through Northern Command, set up as part of a military reorganization after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
Bush's appearance was clearly a surprise to the base congregation. The chaplain, Col. David Schroeder, said, "We usually make new people stand up and introduce themselves." Everyone laughed at that, and then he announced the president. Bush stood along with the entire, clapping congregation."
Any such plan will have as the first step to collect firearms of the law abiding.
So what on earth has FEMA been doing for the last 30 years? Wasn't their sole mission to develop a national plan to respond to disasters?
"National" plans don't mean SQUAT if individuals don't have a personal plan. The vast majority of those most adversely and permanantly affected by Katrina had drug, alcohol or financial problems which prevented them from taking even the most rudimentary steps to protect and secure themselves.
Now we've been relegated to the image of a turd-world nation because these individuals could not and WOULD NOT get their shit together. It's time The President stiffen up and let these people have it with both barrels.
Thanks for the perfectly obvious response of total disbelief in this little Kabuki drama.
The military recieve orders... they don't give orders.
And as you are quick to observe, they properly take their direction from local and state authorities.
This whole thing has the fishy aroma of liberal, MSM manhandling all over it.
Sorry, but I would rather be at the mercy of the military coming to the rescue, than politicians and bureaucrats!
Irregardless, the military has no business becoming directly involved in domestic issues - That is a terribly troubling precedent!
The military has a big enough job to do, then worry about domestic natural disasters! - It is hogwash (nicely put) to try and lay that burden on them -
And Rescue yourself - Stop looking for someone else to do it (no disrespect meant).
Although we desperately need the competency of the military in a massive rescue operation, I don't want them to become "first responders". First of all, because the anti-military types would soon be blaming them if someone is not rescued immediately. People will stop making arrangements for themselves and instead assume that our guys will automatically come along instantly and pluck them out of any trouble they might get into.
I don't mind us having a plan for when it's necessary for us to bring them in, but I DO NOT want people assuming our guys will automatically be there the minute they are needed, and thus get the blame when they can't do the impossible.
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