I have been in three hurricanes, I have not heard of one instance where fema was there before the hurricane.
Michael Brown has been FEMA director since 2003. That would, of course, make him a veteran of last year's hurricane outbreak in Florida. I have a hard time believing he did everything right last year, and everything wrong this year. I think it far more likely that the officials in Florida were far more prepared than the officials in LA, and therefore the combination of federal (FEMA) and local emergency government was seamless.
Their big point, though, is that he supposedly gave them two days to get there.
Precisely.
Everybody in hurricanes states knows that for the first 48 hours you're on your own.
The Stafford Act and Declaration process:
The Declaration Process
Assistance Available
FEMA/EPR Regional Offices
THE DECLARATION PROCESS
The Stafford Act (§401) requires that: "All requests for a declaration by the President that a major disaster exists shall be made by the Governor of the affected State." A State also includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia are also eligible to request a declaration and receive assistance.
Also, more on what the federal govt will do for the "evacuees"
http://www.fema.gov/rrr/dec_guid.shtm
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It's ludicrous to believe that Big Federal Brother is responsible for or precognitive about everything that could happen in a severe weather event (an act of God or Mother Nature) or disaster, and that citizens aren't accountable for their own actions and decisions!
And (I) lost it all in Andrew and had to finally leave FL as a result of last year's 4 storms in 6 weeks .... my life, my choice, my decision.
What happened to maturity .. self-sufficiency .. individual responsibility?
My local government is responsible for giving me accurate information and providing evacuation routes and shelters. I am responsible for heeding that advice and the due diligence and provisions for my survival, and for those in my care.
What you're describing sounds like shepherding mindless piggies at the trough.... and a trough that's always been under sea level and surrounded by water.
I used to work for FEMA and I have been on site within 12-18 hours, but I was NEVER pre-positioned.
Talking about jumping the gun.
what are they supposed to do? They are considered too powerful if they act first.
Local and State governments are PRIMARY help. Not fema.