Posted on 09/06/2005 5:56:44 PM PDT by bobsunshine
WASHINGTON - The government's disaster chief waited until hours after Hurricane Katrina had already struck the Gulf Coast before asking his boss to dispatch 1,000 Homeland Security employees to the region - and gave them two days to arrive, according to internal documents.
Michael Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, sought the approval from Homeland Security Secretary Mike Chertoff roughly five hours after Katrina made landfall on Aug. 29. Brown said that among duties of these employees was to "convey a positive image" about the government's response for victims.
Before then, FEMA had positioned smaller rescue and communications teams across the Gulf Coast. But officials acknowledged Tuesday the first department-wide appeal for help came only as the storm raged. Brown's memo to Chertoff described Katrina as "this near catastrophic event" but otherwise lacked any urgent language. The memo politely ended, "Thank you for your consideration in helping us to meet our responsibilities."
The initial responses of the government and Brown came under escalating criticism as the breadth of destruction and death grew. President Bush and Congress on Tuesday pledged separate investigations into the federal response to Katrina. "Governments at all levels failed," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.
Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said Brown had positioned front-line rescue teams and Coast Guard helicopters before the storm. Brown's memo on Aug. 29 aimed to assemble the necessary federal work force to support the rescues, establish communications and coordinate with victims and community groups, Knocke said.
Instead of rescuing people or recovering bodies, these employees would focus on helping victims find the help they needed, he said.
'Time for Blame'
"There will be plenty of time to assess what worked and what didn't work," Knocke said. "Clearly there will be time for blame to be assigned and to learn from some of the successful efforts."
Brown's memo told employees that among their duties, they would be expected to "convey a positive image of disaster operations to government officials, community organizations and the general public."
"FEMA response and recovery operations are a top priority of the department and as we know, one of yours," Brown wrote Chertoff. He proposed sending 1,000 Homeland Security Department employees within 48 hours and 2,000 within seven days.
Knocke said the 48-hour period suggested for the Homeland employees was to ensure they had adequate training. "They were training to help the life-savers," Knocke said.
Employees required a supervisor's approval and at least 24 hours of disaster training in Maryland, Florida or Georgia. "You must be physically able to work in a disaster area without refrigeration for medications and have the ability to work in the outdoors all day," Brown wrote.
The same day Brown wrote Chertoff, Brown also urged local fire and rescue departments outside Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi not to send trucks or emergency workers into disaster areas without an explicit request for help from state or local governments. Brown said it was vital to coordinate fire and rescue efforts.
Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., said Tuesday that Brown should step down.
After a senators-only briefing by Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and other Cabinet members, Sen. Charles E. Schumer said lawmakers weren't getting their questions answered.
"What people up there want to know, Democrats and Republicans, is what is the challenge ahead, how are you handling that and what did you do wrong in the past," said Schumer, D-N.Y.
Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, said the administration is "getting a bad rap" for the emergency response.
"This is the largest disaster in the history of the United States, over an area twice the size of Europe," Stevens said. "People have to understand this is a big, big problem."
Meanwhile, the airline industry said the government's request for help evacuating storm victims didn't come until late Thursday afternoon. The president of the Air Transport Association, James May, said the Homeland Security Department called then to ask if the group could participate in an airlift for refugees.
umm, why are so sure it was a "him"?
Please, if Bush said the sun was hot, the bush-haters would call him a liar. Damn, you sing the song of hillery. It is not a disaster for Bush. I don't give a rats-ass about fema or Brown, but I will not lay down and let them be the scapegoats for the state and local officials of La. That's all they are, they are being used as scapegoats and I'm sick of it. If you want to scream from the rafters start with Nagin and Blank-o, and Landrieu. That's where the criticism lays. On them. They are doing what democrats always do...deflect and project, and so many are falling for it. I was one of them for 32 years, I know how they operate. This is a textbook example of what the dims are made of and how they react.
THINK
You are spinning from a lack of understanding of the logistics in responding to a natural disaster.
And BTW, this is the second time the Superdome was used for evacuation with the exact same results.
Would I like to see Louisiana federalized, you bet. And NJ too for that matter.
This is not the Soviet Union my friend.
Some of the things I see FReepers saying has taken me aback.
Why don't you read his bio. Do you think FEMA didn't bring in security sooner? Give me one fact how FEMA failed.
No, you're not.
I would have demanded Chertoff send the ATF down to crack down on all those paperwork violators.
Speculation, not fact. And if/when the LA governor refused you (Mr. Chertoff) permission?
These things are better addressed beforehand.
Implication, and a false one at that. This event was addressed beforehand. That might explain all the pre-positioned assets, flooding simulations on TV, evacuations, etc.
You guys need to call in some reinforcements. Your arguments are quite weak and making the forum look bad.
Do you think FEMA didn't bring in security sooner? Give me one fact how FEMA failed.
He is refering to volunteers who will come into help you idiot.
What ARE you whining about now? Did I say that they did an exemplary job? I just said that Brown was qualified. Look at his biography on the FEMA website. He was more than just a horse show guy. What he has done in this particular disaster is open for debate. Get off this horse before you fall.
So sarcsm and opinion are your only debating skills?
REAL Freepers prefer to back their opinions with facts.
Please, go back to your chatrooms.
A. Shelter Demand
Shelter demand is currently under review by the Shelter Coordinator. Approximately 100,000 Citizens of New Orleans do not have means of personal transportation. Shelter assessment is an ongoing project of the Office of Emergency Preparedness through the Shelter Coordinator.
The following schools have been inspected and approved as Hurricane Evacuation Shelters for the City of New Orleans:
Laurel Elementary School
Walter S. Cohen High School
Medard Nelson Elementary School
Sarah T. Reed High School
Southern University Multi Purpose Center
Southern University New Science Building
O. Perry Walker High School
Albert Wicker Elementary School
It should not be assumed that all of the approved shelters listed above will be opened in the event of a hurricane or other major tropical storm. The names and locations of open shelters will be announced when an evacuation order is issued. This list is not for public information and should not be duplicated and distributed. In the event that shelters are opened, people who go to their nearest listed location may find, for one reason or another, that the facility is not open as a shelter, forcing them to seek an alternate location. It is also possible that people anticipating the opening of shelters may arrive before shelters are set-up and ready to receive them. For these and other reasons, shelters which are to be used will not be identified until they are ready to open and not until an evacuation order, related public announcement is made.
Last Resort Refuges and Super Shelters are described in specific SOPs covering their applications.
Shelters for Citizens with Special Medical NeedsMayor's Press Release Aug 27
If it becomes necessary, other shelters will be opened in various cities. The Superdome will be opened as a refuge of last resort for special needs patients if it becomes necessary. All individuals may have one caretaker.
Anyone planning to spend time in a shelter should bring three to four days’ worth of food, sleeping gear, and medical supplies including oxygen, medicine and batteries for any necessary devices. No weapons or bulky items are allowed in any shelters.
Hey, get in line! I'm still waiting for my Brown firing criteria. :-)
"Governments at all levels failed," said Sen. Susan Collins (news, bio, voting record), R-Maine.
Susan Collins must be a liberal troll!! Only the state and local govts failed. Good to see the pro-Brown nuts are out in force today. Kool-aid tomorrow, I suppose.. "Defending failure at all costs"
bump
She's not a troll, but she's darned sure liberal. But why are you relying on a politican's words (always a risky venture) to make your point? Show us how FEMA failed. Step by step. (Be sure to provide some facts and not simply adolescent insults or ego-driven opinion.)
Well, I don't know about the "troll" part.
"And BTW, this is the second time the Superdome was used for evacuation with the exact same results"
What were the problems during the previous two storms? Do you know? (I don't, and am curious.)
Nope.
"And BTW, this is the second time the Superdome was used for evacuation with the exact same results."
The President wanted results.
"This is not the Soviet Union my friend."
What does that havve to do with anything?
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