Disaster plans
In this post, I rather ineloquently expressed my anger regarding how the .gov reacted to Katrina. I leveled plenty of blame, specifically at the feds for spending our money and not dealing with this mess efficiently or even competently. I rescind that, at least in part. The reason is that this weekend I had a chance to talk to a terrorism and disaster recovery expert. He explained that the function of FEMA and DHS was to provide long term aftercare in the event of such an incident. The early response to such events rests squarely at the state and local level. A lot of our federal DHS dollars go to cities and states to fund what are essentially first responders. The state/local response teams’ responsibility is to be in first and ready to deal with massive loss of life and provide for folks in need for the first twenty-four to seventy-two hours. In New Orleans, this system broke down and, perhaps, the money was squandered. The mayor did not run buses out and was invisible for the first three days. The governor waited to long to take control.
Even though the locals failed in New Orleans, it still took the feds four plus days to get there so there is also plenty of valid criticism at the federal level. That is equally unacceptable. The problem is systemic and exists at all levels of government. However, blaming this administration for the levee breaking is ridiculous. Period. Partisan sniping in this case is rather lame. There’s plenty both parties could have done in the aftermath of this incident and tying it to party lines is not particularly helpful nor is it constructive.
I still want my money back.
September 5th, 2005 at 11:34 am
The City of New Orleans did an awful job preparing for and responding to this disaster. The Superdome was the official place of refuge, but it was largely unprovisioned and unmanned. Police officers complained of being sent into the streets with little or no guidance. This means they were not trained for such circumstances, though everybody and his brother knew this would happen at some point. It also means there is a deep leadership vacuum in the state and local emergency agencies. You would think that if the top few lacked the ability to improvise and organize, somewhere lower on the ladder a natural leader would take charge. Somehow, there was no strong leadership until Gen. Honore showed up.
That’s all very sad, but the uncomfortable truth is that the state agency that traditionally provides manpower and leadership for the first response is the National Guard. The would-be heroes of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast watched the disaster unfold from a desert thousands of miles away.
September 5th, 2005 at 6:15 pm
Blanco declared a state of emergency on Aug 26th. The law that established the Department of Homeland Security gives all response power to DHS after a state of emergency is declared. This Gen. Honore deserves more than a medal, if that is possible.
September 5th, 2005 at 6:51 pm
Metulj, that dude is a the epitome of a take charge kinda guy.
September 5th, 2005 at 11:21 pm
“The law that established the Department of Homeland Security gives all response power to DHS after a [Federal] state of emergency is declared.”
DHS and FEMA top levels do not exactly inspire confidence (Brown in particular – totally clueless, like Powell was at TSA).
But for perspective, try
*Katrina’s Timeline*
and
*aftermath*
About the Aug26 state of energency – I’m confused. Yes, there is a PDF of a declaration, but it shows typed names. Was it ever actually signed? And if it was, why did the Governor wait for Bush, on Aug28, to suggest evacuation as a possibility? Why was the disaster plan not implemented?
Are any of these failures apparent in MIssissipi, eg Biloxi?
September 6th, 2005 at 10:08 am
“it still took the feds four plus days to get there so there is also plenty of valid criticism at the federal level”
I think FEMA could have done better, but it’s worth noting the Feds tell people not to expect a Federal response for 72 to 96 hours. Local first responders and citizens have to be on the front line because they’re already there, then the Federal cavalry arrives days later.
September 6th, 2005 at 6:01 pm
They tend to forget you cant hustle a brigade of soldiers to an area without sufficient backup. No one thinks about how you are going to feed/water/care for your soldiers once they get there. I blame a good portion on the NOLA .gov in particular and then blame Bush for acting aloof for 48 hours before commanding his plane to fly at 2500 ft (god knows how many gallons of $4 JP that big bitch sucked in at that altitude).