HeldUp
Sep 10th, 2005, 10:22 AM
I heard this last night on 20/20.
Two days prior to Katrina, after word came down from the hurricane folks that this was the Big One, the Governors of both Louisiana and Mississippi asked Bush to declare a state of emergency, and he did for both states.
At that point, it's FEMA's job to take over.
One day prior, FEMA director Brown said FEMA would do everything it could to assist the Gulf Coast in the upcoming disaster.
The mayor of NO told everyone to get evacuate, but didn't tell them how to get out. He assumed he would get help from outside sources, but didn't spearhead the evacuation, only the notice to leave the city.
100,000 residents didn't leave the city.
Due to new terrorism related laws, FEMA denied teams of medical, search and rescue, law enforcement, and relief supply deliveries in the affected areas until proper documentation was filed.
One FEMA medical response team spent 11 days bouncing from city to city but skipped the Gulf Coast, treating only person with a cut finger.
There is lots of blame to go around, and I think we found the main source of the red tape/ineptitude (Brown), but unfortunately it was too late for too many people.
Personally, I think Brown got off easy. For now...
Two days prior to Katrina, after word came down from the hurricane folks that this was the Big One, the Governors of both Louisiana and Mississippi asked Bush to declare a state of emergency, and he did for both states.
At that point, it's FEMA's job to take over.
One day prior, FEMA director Brown said FEMA would do everything it could to assist the Gulf Coast in the upcoming disaster.
The mayor of NO told everyone to get evacuate, but didn't tell them how to get out. He assumed he would get help from outside sources, but didn't spearhead the evacuation, only the notice to leave the city.
100,000 residents didn't leave the city.
Due to new terrorism related laws, FEMA denied teams of medical, search and rescue, law enforcement, and relief supply deliveries in the affected areas until proper documentation was filed.
One FEMA medical response team spent 11 days bouncing from city to city but skipped the Gulf Coast, treating only person with a cut finger.
There is lots of blame to go around, and I think we found the main source of the red tape/ineptitude (Brown), but unfortunately it was too late for too many people.
Personally, I think Brown got off easy. For now...