The Crusher
Senior Member
- Joined
- Dec 28, 2004
- Messages
- 211
- Reaction score
- 732
To Graywolf,
I have no doubt that there's plenty of blame to spread ALL around and even though there will be several committees created to investigate the disaster and the aftermath, I personally don't think the complete truth will ever come out.
Some questions for you based on the information you provided. Basically, if the federal administration had information that the impending hurricane had the potential to cause a disaster, why did the federal government take so long to respond when the reality of what they thought was going to happen started to actually happen? I'm talking Tuesday night and Wednesday. Based on what you reported, wouldn't you think the feds would have had their resources on alert. I understand the legal ramifications of the federal gov. sending troops into a state without authorization, but it shouldn't have taken so long after Blanco knew she has trouble and publically sounded the alarm.
As a contradiction, I saw an interview on Nightline that Ted Koppel did with a Parrish President (like a State Senator) I believe on Wednesday or Thursday night. Ted was really baiting the politician to point the finger at Blanco, but the Parrish President kept saying that Blanco declared the area a disaster as early as Sunday and Monday, even before the storm hit, and requested federal assistance then, but those in charge (FEMA and Dept of Homeland Security) told her she didn't make the request through proper channels and they couldn't help until she did. Based on this, my guess is she went directly to FEMA, which used to be a stand-alone agency but now is under the pervue of Homeland, and she needed to make the request to Homeland.
In addition, Mayor Naggin called for the city to be evacuated days before the storm hit. He must have given enough warning as up to 80% of NO's population got out in time. The remaining 100k or so did not have the means or the desire to leave.
I'm sorry, I don't buy what you reported. I still think the beauracracy created when FEMA got brought under the control of Homeland Security, coupled with the total lack of any disaster management experience by Michael Brown, the head of FEMA, was the primary cause of the post-hurricane mess. Bush's hands-off leadership style didn't help either.
Also, The US Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency charged, among other things, with maintaining America's infrastructure at home and abroad. The Corps are responsible for maintaining and evaluating the levees in N.O. They have been requesting funds from Congress to not only upgrade the levees to withstand a category 5 hurricane, but to also upgrade the pumps throughout the city. The been doing this for decades. Most recently, they requested $105 million, but only received $40 million. This money received by the Corps cannot be spent on Marinas or anything else. It just wasn't enough and you can blame Congress for this. You can also blame Louisiana's Reps and Senators for not bitching loud enough to get more money. Now, I'm sure the state and the city, on their own, asked for and received money which they said would be used to strengthen the levees. I'm also sure that most, if not all, of that money was spent elsewhere.
Ultimately, there's plenty of blame to go around. Thank God for the American spirit that's coming through to help those people. It's kind of sad, though, seeing that we have the fourth anniversary of 9-11, and the will and internal strength of the American people are being tested again.
I have no doubt that there's plenty of blame to spread ALL around and even though there will be several committees created to investigate the disaster and the aftermath, I personally don't think the complete truth will ever come out.
Some questions for you based on the information you provided. Basically, if the federal administration had information that the impending hurricane had the potential to cause a disaster, why did the federal government take so long to respond when the reality of what they thought was going to happen started to actually happen? I'm talking Tuesday night and Wednesday. Based on what you reported, wouldn't you think the feds would have had their resources on alert. I understand the legal ramifications of the federal gov. sending troops into a state without authorization, but it shouldn't have taken so long after Blanco knew she has trouble and publically sounded the alarm.
As a contradiction, I saw an interview on Nightline that Ted Koppel did with a Parrish President (like a State Senator) I believe on Wednesday or Thursday night. Ted was really baiting the politician to point the finger at Blanco, but the Parrish President kept saying that Blanco declared the area a disaster as early as Sunday and Monday, even before the storm hit, and requested federal assistance then, but those in charge (FEMA and Dept of Homeland Security) told her she didn't make the request through proper channels and they couldn't help until she did. Based on this, my guess is she went directly to FEMA, which used to be a stand-alone agency but now is under the pervue of Homeland, and she needed to make the request to Homeland.
In addition, Mayor Naggin called for the city to be evacuated days before the storm hit. He must have given enough warning as up to 80% of NO's population got out in time. The remaining 100k or so did not have the means or the desire to leave.
I'm sorry, I don't buy what you reported. I still think the beauracracy created when FEMA got brought under the control of Homeland Security, coupled with the total lack of any disaster management experience by Michael Brown, the head of FEMA, was the primary cause of the post-hurricane mess. Bush's hands-off leadership style didn't help either.
Also, The US Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency charged, among other things, with maintaining America's infrastructure at home and abroad. The Corps are responsible for maintaining and evaluating the levees in N.O. They have been requesting funds from Congress to not only upgrade the levees to withstand a category 5 hurricane, but to also upgrade the pumps throughout the city. The been doing this for decades. Most recently, they requested $105 million, but only received $40 million. This money received by the Corps cannot be spent on Marinas or anything else. It just wasn't enough and you can blame Congress for this. You can also blame Louisiana's Reps and Senators for not bitching loud enough to get more money. Now, I'm sure the state and the city, on their own, asked for and received money which they said would be used to strengthen the levees. I'm also sure that most, if not all, of that money was spent elsewhere.
Ultimately, there's plenty of blame to go around. Thank God for the American spirit that's coming through to help those people. It's kind of sad, though, seeing that we have the fourth anniversary of 9-11, and the will and internal strength of the American people are being tested again.
