A congressional committee wants to know why many nursing home residents were left behind before Hurricane Katrina hit, and Louisiana's governor was called upon to answer the committee's questions this morning.Gov. Kathleen Blanco finished her testimony before the committee just before noon.
According to the state's emergency plan, the Department of Transportation and Development was responsible for the evacuation of the state's most vulnerable residents, like nursing homes and hospital patients. At least 140 patients at New Orleans area hospitals and nursing homes died during the storm and its aftermath.
On Capitol Hill today, two senators told Blanco they were disappointed in the testimony given previously by DOTD Secretary Johnny Bradberry, who said he didn't think nursing home and hospital patient evacuation was an appropriate responsibility for his agency to bear.
Committee Chairwoman Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, asked Blanco what the state was doing to fix the problem.
"We certainly agree with you that the Department of Transportation should have planned the evacuation of the most needy citizens," Blanco said. "Let me say that that will never happen again."
Blanco said in the future nursing home evacuations will fall under the Department of Health and Hospitals. She also said nursing home owners have a personal responsibility to follow their evacuation plan.
Thursday marked the second time the governor has answered questions in Washington, D.C., about the response to Hurricane Katrina. Committee members will also take testimony from Mississippi Gov. Hailey Barbour.
Sounds like Justice Alito suffered a more thorough questioning than Gov. Goofup.