FEMA Chief Waits hours Before Requestin Mobilization(FUNDR)

[KillingCokes]

YES BLAME THE GOVERNMENT FOR NOT DOING MORE FOR ITS OWN CITIZENS. IRAQIS FAIR BETTER THAN THIS. BUT LETTING PEOPLE DIE IN A DEMOCRAT STRONGHOLD IS ONE WAY TO TAKE THE STATE IN 2008.

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 (news, bio, voting record), 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.

"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 (news, bio, voting record), 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 (news, bio, voting record) 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 (news, bio, voting record), 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.

[crashnburn'd]

Can you find some old, obvious, politcal news relating to the hurricane for me to post? There doesn't seem to be enough of the same thing in the main forum.

[KillingCokes]

this memo broke today.

[crashnburn'd]

this memo broke today.

You needed a memo to figure this out? Maybe you should run for office.

[KillingCokes]

No but a memo is evidence that will allow charges of neglignce to be filed. They have to go after these people. The governemnt is for the people. Which seems to be something that has been forgotten. Massive corporate blackmail/bribery is the norm. We have to take back the government for the people.

[crashnburn'd]

No but a memo is evidence that will allow charges of neglignce to be filed. They have to go after these people. The governemnt is for the people. Which seems to be something that has been forgotten. Massive corporate blackmail/bribery is the norm. We have to take bake the government for the people.

VIVA LA REVOLUTION!!

Considering the amount that has already been posted here, is posting one more finger pointing, hurricane related article going to do anything for a place that is already overwhelmingly leftward tilting and feels something should be done?

I agree with you, something does need to be done. But what do you really expect to happen by posting on a SKIING message board? Perhaps you should go into the real world and let them know out there. Nothing against you, sorry for singling you out, but you just happened to have the newest post.

[BakerBoy]

Massive corporate blackmail/bribery is the norm. We have to take bake the government for the people.

Did you mean take and bake, or bake-sale? Either way, I'm hungry. And not for tacos.

[trainnvain]

Have I told everyone I like waffles?

[trainnvain]

Sorry, no joking around. this memo broke today.

[crashnburn'd]

Have I told everyone I like waffles?

I'm having them for breakfast tomorrow, want some?

Or maybe I'll just have cereal or maybe pancakes.

[crashnburn'd]

Sorry, no joking around. this memo broke today.

Oh shit, today? I didn't realize... You should make a new thread about it, since it was just today.

[trainnvain]

Do you find pancakes funny, mister?!?? Do you?!? I don't!!!!


Blueberry or buckwheat?

[crashnburn'd]

Do you find pancakes funny, mister?!?? Do you?!? I don't!!!!


Blueberry or buckwheat?

I take my pancakes very seriously.

Maybe blueberry, but buckwheat sounds good. I might have waffles though.

[trainnvain]

Thattaboy.

[freshie247]

Bump since this is so unpopular with some that don't like to hear what's really happening.

Yes this is a skiing forum,but it's summer & a part from those down under, how many people are actually skiing?The inter-connectedness of seemingly unrelated things is massively under appreciated.

[BakerBoy]

Bump since this is so unpopular with some that don't like to hear what's really happening.

Yes this is a skiing forum,but it's summer & a part from those down under, how many people are actually skiing?The inter-connectedness of seemingly unrelated things is massively under appreciated.

You're from Colorado, fuck off. You're supposed to be talking about tacos and waterramping. I thought everybody was in the B-Crew?