Posted on 09/02/2005 11:26:50 AM PDT by capitoltex
The plan hasn't been updated since 2000. I'd like to see a timeline of Blanco and Nagin's actions and compare it to what they were supposed to have done...
http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/plans/EOPSupplement1a.pdf
How about: How do we use the school buses when all the drivers are on vacation?
You can't criticize the execution of supplement 1A out of context with supplement 1B, which reads as follows:
a) Ignore supplement 1A and wing it.
b) If anything goes wrong, blame the President.
Note: Supplemental plan 1B only works when the President is Republican.
Looks like the plan worked perfectly!
Letter D number 7 says evacuation will be the responsibility of the Parishes in the affected areas. So the Mayor, the NO Homeland Security Director, all officialdom in Orleans Parish and the Governor blew this thing. Had they implemented an absolute mandatory evac and provided municipal buses and public school buses statewide, FEMA would be able to inherent a much more manageable situation. Clearly, the Democrats in Louisiana took a dump and are now lashing out in all directions and trying to scapegoat the feds and Bush.
The Feds are late arriving partners in any disaster. This is a consitutional republic where individual states have rights and responsibilities. Pataki and Giuiliani rose to the occasion on 9-11. The LA Rats-- not serious executives, just corrupt panderers have been exposed on this REAL BAD. In a just world with a non-partisan media, they'd be getting the blame, if blame must be assigned.
Most school districts, cities etc. have a list of essential personnel. This means that in the event of an emergency you are on call. I suppose a certain number of bus drivers could have that designation.
Craig's list has postings from individual personas around the country, most of whom are willing to take in people temporarily. See http://neworleans.craigslist.org/hhh/index400.html
It's uplifiting. 100s and 100s and 100s of listings.
ping
bump
ping
IEM Team to Develop Catastrophic Hurricane Disaster Plan for New Orleans & Southeast Louisiana
June 3, 2004
IEM, Inc., the Baton Rouge-based emergency management and homeland security consultant, will lead the development of a catastrophic hurricane disaster plan for Southeast Louisiana and the City of New Orleans under a more than half a million dollar contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
In making the announcement today on behalf of teaming partners Dewberry, URS Corporation and James Lee Witt Associates, IEM Director of Homeland Security Wayne Thomas explained that the development of a base catastrophic hurricane disaster plan has urgency due to the recent start of the annual hurricane season which runs through November. National weather experts are predicting an above normal Atlantic hurricane season with six to eight hurricanes, of which three could be categorized as major.
The IEM team will complete a functional exercise on a catastrophic hurricane strike in Southeast Louisiana and use results to develop a response and recovery plan. A catastrophic event is one that can overwhelm State, local and private capabilities so quickly that communities could be devastated without Federal assistance and multi-agency planning and preparedness.
Thomas said that the greater New Orleans area is one of the nation’s most vulnerable locations for hurricane landfall.
“Given this area’s vulnerability, unique geographic location and elevation, and troubled escape routes, a plan that facilitates a rapid and effective hurricane response and recovery is critical,” he said. “The IEM team’s approach to catastrophic planning meets the challenges associated with integrating multi-jurisdictional needs and capabilities into an effective plan for addressing catastrophic hurricane strikes, as well as man-made catastrophic events.”
IEM President and CEO Madhu Beriwal is the recipient of a s pecial merit award from the Louisiana Emergency Preparedness Association ( LEPA ) for her work in New Orleans hurricane emergency preparedness.
IEM, Inc. was founded in 1985, and is one of the leading emergency management corporations in the U.S. While some organizations include emergency management as one of many business areas, helping to plan for and manage emergencies is IEM’s core business . IEM’s clients include some of the foremost federal emergency and defense organizations in the U.S., including the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. www.ieminc.com
Established in 1956, Dewberry is a multidisciplinary planning, engineering, and design firm, employing more than 1,600 individuals. As FEMA’s largest contractor, Dewberry plays a significant role in the national effort to reduce the impact of both natural (flood, fire, earthquake, tropical storm, cyclone, hurricane, tornado, and winter storm) and man-made (hazardous waste, terrorism, etc.) hazards on people, property, and the economy. www.dewberry.com
URS Corporation provides planning, engineering, architecture, and applied science to hundreds of government agencies and private industrial and commercial companies worldwide. The company has more than 26,000 employees -- the largest Architectural & Engineering firm in the U. S. for the fourth consecutive year.URS has approximately 500 employees in Louisiana. URS has over 30 years of experience in hazard mitigation planning and engineering support work for FEMA and other customers. www.urscorp.com
James Lee Witt Associates, LLC, established in 2001 by the former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is a leader in public safety and crisis management. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., with offices in Atlanta, Chicago and Sacramento, James Lee Witt Associates works with state, local and foreign governments, corporations, hospitals, universities and utilities in conducting vulnerability assessments, after-event audits and reviews, developing all-hazard emergency and continuity of operations planning, as well as with the telecommunications industry on wireless interoperability. www.wittassociates.com
IEM is a minority and woman-owned business enterprise (MWBE) and offers services through the GSA Federal Supply Schedule. Where applicable, all work conducted under the GSA contract will be compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Absolutely incredible.
Thanks, herb; this is just heartbreaking, isn't it?
James Lee Witt? The same James Lee Witt that has now been hired by Gov. Blanco to coordinate disaster response to Katrina? What the hell?
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