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Posted on 09/04/2005 6:14:35 PM PDT by NautiNurse
Anger ..understandable considering the conditions. What impresses me is that days later- while others are evidently hooked to blame...he's shifted back to the job at hand..not blaming..the mark of a pro.
I know, but that should be the NORM for first responders in a crisis like this, not the exceptions.
it reminds me alot of Columbine, where the local police were too afraid to enter the building.
Thank you! Great summation and time line! You should submit this to as many newspapers as you can!
Lugsoul, you highlighted the following
- Standard procedures regarding requests for assistance may be expedited or, under extreme circumstances, suspended in the immediate aftermath of an event of catastrophic magnitude.
Note that this refers to "standard procedures regarding requests". It does not give the Federal Government the authority to ignore the Governor and take over control of all operations. In this case (New Orleans), the Federal Government remained in direct contact and coordination with state and local officials from the Governor on down to the police chief. Therefore, despite the the hysteria presented by the press concerning the relief effort in New Orleans, this was not an example of an "extreme circumstance". As stated by one of the Generals currently running Guard operations there...(I paraphrase)"When there is even a single New Orleans police officer on the scene we are subordinate to him". This was not an event (like a nuclear or biological attack) that eliminated the State government. It was simply a horribly executed response plan by a completely inept state and local government.
That assumes anyone will listen to them any more. The number of people willing to do so just dropped by a whole bunch.
Three state officials were indicted Monday on federal charges of covering up a misuse of federal funds intended to repair and prevent flood damage. The indictment states that the money was actually used to bridge a $175,000 shortfall in the state's military department, the parent of the Louisiana Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (LDHSEP), which administers the state's mitigation grants.
We initiated this audit based on the preliminary findings of an on-going investigation being conducted by the OIG Office of Investigations. Those findings indicated that certain Louisiana parishes had used HMGP and UN funds to mitigate projects that had not been properly approved by FEMA. Further, articles in Louisiana newspapers contained allegations that parish officials might have acted improperly with regard to FEMA HMGP and UN funds. As a result of the newspaper articles, the Legislative Auditor, State of Louisiana, conducted a review of HMGP and UN projects in the State of Louisiana. We discuss the results of that review in Finding 3 of this report.
Who tried? I saw on another thread that Clinton wanted to make all forms of flood control state responsibilities.
Nagin did screw up and screw up badly, but I can't help but wonder if it was because he knew his city and he knew he was hosed. If one third of the police ran off, who would he have in that city to call upon that could be depended upon to drive those 400 buses to evacuate people?
I'm not making excuses for the man, but I am very glad I didn't have his job after watching all this insanity unfold.
He is a nice speaker .He is not demanding people not return..This could create an epidemic..This is mealy mouthed. There is a cess pool all across that city and the mosquitos are gathering and growing. Clean water is a must..sewers working , electricity working...It is a matter of public health.
As the President said, I commend them for their efforts, the results are unacceptable. Not the fault of the personnel who were straining themselves past their limits -- this was a failure of leadership.
Superb and factual post. Thanks for taking the time to break it all down!
http://www.ieminc.com/Whats_New/Press_Releases/pressrelease060304_Catastrophic.htm
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 was a member of the original team, but did not participate in the project.
Witt again.
Note the DATE.
http://www.lsp.org/lcadeg.html
http://www.lsp.org/evacguide.html
EMERGENCY EVACUATION GUIDE
I. Information Points
LOUISIANA SHELTER TASK FORCE EMERGENCY
SHELTER INFORMATION POINTS FOR HURRICANE EVACUATIONS......
Heard that lying male slut (AKA Bill Clinton) on TV this morning second-guessing, arm-chair quarterbacking, and pushing this commission with the press. He makes me sick. He couldn't resist talking about how "I" would do things differently. Ended the session with the press by saying to the crowd, "bless you." I guess he's now Pope...or perhaps in his own mind, God. I want to puke.
I didn't begrudge him the anger because he wasn't blaming. Just using the television access to make the point as forcefully and repeatedly as he possibly could. I think he's got a future.
Pressure makes one of two things. Diamonds or dust. Nagin and Hecker. I don't think there's much doubt which one became which.
If you find that, could you ping me? I'd love to push Clinton's lie this morning right back in the face of the media.
You are correct. They are sorely in danger of becoming caricatures of themselves.
see #1074....he is a lying, self-centered, SOB.
President disembarking VH-60 in BR.
Governor just "found out" about visit *this morning*.
Oh WOW- any chance you could find that info? Ping if you do please..thanks.
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