Jackson Free Press

Defending the U.S. government's response to Hurricane Katrina, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff argued Saturday that government planners did not predict such a disaster ever could occur. But in fact, government officials, scientists and journalists have warned of such a scenario for years.

Chertoff, fielding questions from reporters, said government officials did not expect both a powerful hurricane and a breach of levees that would flood the city of New Orleans. (See the video on a local paper's prophetic warning -- 3:30 ) "That 'perfect storm' of a combination of catastrophes exceeded the foresight of the planners, and maybe anybody's foresight," Chertoff said.

He called the disaster "breathtaking in its surprise."

But engineers say the levees preventing this below-sea-level city from being turned into a swamp were built to withstand only Category 3 hurricanes. And officials have warned for years that a Category 4 could cause the levees to fail. (See video of why the levee's breech was devastating -- 1:53)

Katrina was a Category 4 hurricane when it struck the Gulf Coast on August 29.

Last week, Michael Brown, head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, told CNN his agency had recently planned for a Category 5 hurricane hitting New Orleans.

Would someone fire this guy already?!? Thank about it: This is the guy who will direct things should the homeland be attacked by terrorists. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

I like what Joshua Micah Marshall said about Chertoff's brilliant unlikely-hurricanes-then-breach analysis: "This is sort of like the earthquake followed by the building collapse."

You can also find some tasty morsels about old Brownie's horse career over on Josh's site.

Previous Comments

ID

134327

Comment

Andrew Sullivan is quoting Martin Kelly on the End of the Neo-Con Era: "Neoconservatism has always been an ideology dependent on the global projection of national power. What gave it its strength was that after 9/11, Americans were so angry at the assault that they wanted to go overseas and attack those responsible ñ thus was 'The War on Terror' born. They were lied into thinking that the removal of Saddam Hussein would make the world a safer and more prosperous place. Clearly it hasnít; if anything, youíre more at risk riding the Tube now than you were three years ago. The lie has been shown not to stand up; and when that has not only failed but has been shown to have failed, what can an ideology based on the global projection of national power do when confronted with a crisis which shows it to be nationally powerless? Nothing. The collapsed levees of New Orleans will have consequences for neoconservatism just as long and deep as the collapse of the Wall in East Berlin had on Soviet Communism; for when hacks and fulminators like John Podhoretz are openly criticizing the president, the Great Leader, the ideology is on the way out. And hopefully all of those who urged the ideology on, myself included, will have a long time to consider the error of our ways.' - Link Turn out the lights when y'all leave now.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-09-06T18:46:14-06:00

ID

134328

Comment

Y'all should check out FEMA's revamped mission statement/strategic plan under the Bush administration. Bush far scaled back their scope, and their resources, and moved them under Homeland Securityóbut they clearly weren't up to the task of their edited-down charge: Disasters cause suffering and disrupt peopleís lives and the normal functioning of their communities. States, Territories, Tribal Nations, and local governments bear the primary responsibility for responding to and recovering from disasters. FEMAóat the direction of the Presidentótakes action when State, Territorial, Tribal and local resources are overwhelmed and the Governor requests assistance. In concert with its partners, FEMA will respond quickly and effectively, bringing the right people and resources to bear where and when they are needed most. FEMA will provide timely and appropriate disaster assistance to hasten the recovery of individuals and communities while ensuring that efforts to prevent, avoid, and reduce the impacts of future disasters are an integral part of every recovery. Throughout, FEMA will continue its work with States and Territories to ensure the most effective sharing of disaster management responsibilities, allowing FEMA to focus on preparing the Nation for truly catastrophic events, whether natural or man-made. [...] Quick and Effective Response Objective 2.1 Respond quickly and effectively when States, Territories, Tribal Nations, and local governments are overwhelmed. Strategies a. Establish FEMAís capability to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, while maintaining key, ongoing functions. b. Monitor potential emergencies and disasters and be prepared to deploy assets to assure a quick response. c. Develop, acquire, and coordinate a national operational capability, and the resources and assets to simultaneously respond to four catastrophic plus twelve non-catastrophic incidents, anywhere in the country. d. Lead the development and implementation of a consolidated, all-hazard Federal Emergency Response Plan. e. Develop effective organizational and business process relationships among FEMA program areas, support organizations, and regional offices to ensure a coordinated response and recovery effort. f. Lead a collaborative effort to ensure a coordinated response and recovery effort among Federal agencies, emergency responders, and State, Territorial, Tribal, and local emergency managers through FEMAís leadership and through mutual incentives for cooperation and coordination. g. Lead the collaborative establishment of a National response network and standards for interoperability of wireless communications to enable communications among all responders. [...] Performance Measure 2.1 By Fiscal Year 2008, FEMA has coordinated and established the capability to respond concurrently to four catastrophic and twelve non-catastrophic disasters. In addition to its daily response and recovery activities, it is critical that FEMA possess sufficient operational capability to respond to a large, complex disaster, or the real possibility of two or more such disasters striking within hours or days of each other. Such large, complex, or catastrophic disasters could include: a major hurricane or earthquake impacting a large metropolitan area; catastrophic flooding, as seen in the Midwest in 1993 and 1997; or a major terrorist attack, especially an event involving weapons of mass destruction. Any combination of these or other major events occurring within a short span of time would create an unprecedented demand for response capabilities. To ensure an adequate level of operational capability, FEMA has established a target of "4 and 12". This means that FEMA, with its Federal, State, and other partners, will have the capability to coordinate response and recovery efforts for as many as four catastrophic disasters and twelve non-catastrophic disasters anywhere in the Nation. The enhancement of FEMAís standing operational capability and the development of plans for responding to catastrophic disasters within high-risk areas will be a key part of this effort. [...]

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-09-06T19:16:00-06:00

ID

134329

Comment

One more FEMA paragraph of fiction: As the Nation faces the risks associated with changing weather patterns, violent storms, sudden earthquakes, and the aftermath of terrorist attacks, the demand for emergency management information is ever increasing. FEMA will serve as the Nationís portal for emergency management information before, during, and after disaster strikes. As a portal FEMA is not the originator of all information, nor is it the only source of information. Rather, FEMA will provide a single entry point through which users can access a broad spectrum of relevant emergency management information. This effort will take several forms and will require that FEMA become a knowledge manager with responsibility for coordinating and integrating the broad spectrum of emergency management information available to government and the public. As part of this new role, FEMA will ensure that the Federal government speaks to the public with a single, coordinated voice in times of disaster and national emergency. [...] Well then.

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-09-06T19:16:25-06:00

ID

134330

Comment

AP on Brownie's foot-dragging: 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 workers to support rescuers in 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." [...] 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. [...] 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. Full story

Author

DonnaLadd

Date

2005-09-06T23:36:43-06:00