FEMA - Important to "Convey a Positive Image"

Parent Cafe
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<p>By TED BRIDIS, Associated Press Writer 5 minutes ago</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.</p>

<p>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.”</p>

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<p>Meanwhile, catch this: my state has agreed to take 2,000 evacuees, including many with alcohol/drug problems (most of whom have detoxed in the past week), so we’ve been working (rather feverishly) to arrange for housing, assessments, and services. But we are still waiting. Why? The plan was that they are to land at McChord Airforce Base. But the Airforce Base has refused to allow the planes to arrive, as, get this, there has been no federal disaster declaration! They have been waiting for one to be issued by the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA, and until then, they say, their hands are tied. </p>

<p>Meanwhile, today I received an invitation from the feds today to attend a “colloquy” on ending chronic homelessness (in Seattle, September 22.) Apparently, prior to the flood, the Administration was planning to close all its regional homelessness-related operations, so this was (is?) the last hurrah. Should be an interesting meeting, though I rather doubt it will take place.</p>

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<p>FEMA is not a first responder. First responders are local police and fire fighters. FEMA cannot go into a disaster area until it is secure, but the first responders were AWOL. Did you really expect federal service workers to enter a disaster area where armed gangs/looters, etc. are operating? You would not have done it, so why should they have? The National Guard serves under the direction of the State Governor. FEMA cannot control the National Guard. FEMA has no control over the Coast Guard. The U.S. Military is prohibited by law from operating in a State without that State’s permission. FEMA has no control over the U.S. Military. FEMA is not God, but your expectations seem to be that FEMA has to act like God.</p>

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<p>My expectation is that they simply act according to their legislative mandate:</p>

<p>“On March 1, 2003, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). FEMA’s continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident.”</p>

<p>Meanwhile, we’ve got housing lined up, services lined up, people lined up, and the planes can’t land at McChord because there is no appropriate federal disaster declaration (which Homeland Security/FEMA has to issue.) How about “fourth responders”?</p>

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<p><a href=“http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/NRPbaseplan.pdf[/url]”>http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/NRPbaseplan.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>The National Response Plan was accepted and implemented by Bush Administration in December 2004. *According to the PREFACE, President Bush, “directed the development of a new National Response Plan (NRP) to align Federal coordination structures, capabilities, and resources into a unified, all discipline, and all-hazards approach to domestic incident management. . . .The end result is vastly improved coordination among Federal, State, local, and tribal organizations to help save lives and protect America’s communities by increasing the speed, effectiveness, and efficiency of incident management.” </p>

<p>I don’t know if anyone has posted this - the link came from tpmcafe.com. You can also go to the Department of Homeland Security webpage to find out more about how FEMA has changed and what the government responsibility is in a disaster like hurricane Katrina.</p>

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<p>At least they could push the paperwork - I mean, they ARE bureaucrats, aren’t they? :confused:</p>

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<p>No wonder the federal response took so long. Just reading the document linked above must have taken a day or two. Then another day to arrange a conference call…</p>

<p>… just think of the planning that must go into the implementation of all those charts…and the time it takes to get a PCC or IIMG going…then you need to staff the HSOC…</p>

<p>Geesh. Razor should do a little more reading. The rules don’t read the way he wants them to. Rather, the policy kicks in when “the resources of state and local government are overwhelmed and Federal assistance has been requested.”</p>

<p>It doesn’t say the feds come in only to secure areas etc.</p>

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<p>The first responders were not AWOL. They were overwhelmed in ALL locations. For you to even say that shows you have no respect for Firemen, Police, Doctors</p>

<p>Amazing</p>

<p>FEMA has to do its job. At a minimum. And to not even now where people are, and to lie to us about it…</p>

<p>Can you defend the lies?</p>

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<p>Citygirlsmom, your intentions are good but I think you should calm down a bit and look to the facts and to the Constitution. There is a hierachy of command , if there wasn’t we would not be living to the Constitution. Local control is first, then state, then federal.
All these branches, enities of our govt broke down during the hurricane. All areas of the breakdown must be investigated.</p>

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<p>But if that hierachy isn’t ready, what is the point</p>

<p>I know my constitution and I understand that there is a portocal…doesn’t explain incompetence though</p>

<p>But still doesn’t explain away the lies</p>

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<p>Citygirlsmom-if there are lies there are possibly lies on all levels. The hierachy is key in our government. Otherwise, we are not a democracy. The federal govt can’t just swoop in and control any state.<br>
There was a breakdown possibly at the local, state and federal level.<br>
All needs to be investigated.</p>

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<p>But as someone else said here, I am not a citizen of NO. I am not a citizen of LA. But I am a citizen of the USA, and it is its response that I am responsible for. That’s why I, and many others, are questioning the federal response. They represent me, and I think they did so very poorly.</p>

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<p>“The federal govt can’t just swoop in and control any state.”</p>

<p>From what I’ve read that is not true anymore - they can and will if need be. The new rules are designed to give greater flexibility to the federal government in case of man-made terror or natural disasters.</p>

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<p>Oh, well - having tied us up for days of planning, for landing, assessment, medical services, substance abuse services, temporary housing, food, etc., the feds just decided this morning they aren’t going to send us 2,000 folks after all.</p>

<p>Just a false alarm, I guess. There really isn’t that much need…</p>

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<p>The whole things is a giant mess</p>

<p>The fact that they had no real plan to deal with all the bodies is what amazes me- wouldn’t that have been something to talk about after 9-11…</p>

<p>And anyone yet want to admit that Bush has lied? Anyone?</p>

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<p>CGM, </p>

<p>Doesn’t lying imply the ability to distinguish right from wrong? Guess GWB is off the hook?</p>

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<p>The hierarchy of responsiblity starts at the locality and works its way up through the state and only then to the federal government. Here is a link that better explains my position: <a href=“http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007219[/url]”>http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110007219&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Those of you who keep blaming FEMA and Bush are doing so because you dislike the President and see this as an opportunity to bash him and becuase you actually believe the federal government is intended to provide you with the nanny state you so desire. Fortunately, FEMA and President Bush are handling this matter like adults while the rest of you are running around like emotional chickens with your heads cut off (complaining but never offering actual solutions). </p>

<p>As to cgm’s comment regarding the police and firefighters, yes, they failed in their duties. There were approximately 1500 police in New Orleans for approximately 485,000 people. At least 75 percent of those people were smart enough to get out of town, leaving the police to deal with a fourth of the population they dealt with before the hurricane. Looting should not have occured on the scale it did and there should not have been any need to call in the National Guard to secure the city. Your lust to attack the President blinds you to the common sense reality of what has happened.</p>

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<p>" At least 75 percent of those people were smart enough to get out of town, leaving the police to deal with a fourth of the population they dealt with before the hurricane. "</p>

<p>However, that small percentage of the population contained a disproportionate number of troubled people and opportunists as well as extremely vulnerable people in need of assistance. Add to that the catastrophic flooding and other problems, and there were far more problems than the police were equipped to deal with.</p>

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<p>razorsharp,</p>

<p>Obviously your screenname is meant as some kind of joke? Your response was anything but sharp. </p>

<p>To imply that a poor performance by the locals justifies a flatfoot, leaden response by FEMA is just crazy. And then, to justify your position with an article from the Right Wing Journal (excuse me, ahem, Wall Street Journal) just confirms my initial dull impression.</p>

<p>Come on Razor, live up to your name. Surely you can do better?</p>

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<p>newmass~ are you giving odds on that? I would like some of that action if you are.</p>

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<p>Uh…looting on that scale will occur in any American city that is left in total darkness, night after night, without communications; ie without effective means of enforcing law and order.</p>

<p>Unless, of course, you don’t have drug addicts and criminals in YOUR American city, LOL.</p>