Katrina Response Mismanagement

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I take it upon myself to be as prepared as I can be. I honestly do not expect anything from the government should there be a disaster. I buy insurance...
I expect my state to be prepared. I expect the city of Phoenix to be prepared.

So what's the difference between you buying insurance and expecting your insurance company to fulfill the promise you paid them for should something befall your home that's too catostrpohic to pay for out of your own pocket vs. a state/state's residents sending tax money that fund FEMA and expecting FEMA to fulfill the promise to support them when something happens that's too catostrophic for them to handle?

Yeah, the state dropped the ball and didn't pay their deductible, but if your home colapsed tomorrow, would you rather your insurance company squabbled with you about deductibles that morning, or start the process of getting things taken care of and deal with that crap later?

[wendybeth]

What was the state to do? Strong-arm the feds for the funding? Here is an article that lays out much of what I've been reading and hearing about these past few weeks: Did it have to happen?

[scaeagles]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

So what's the difference between you buying insurance and expecting your insurance company to fulfill the promise you paid them for should something befall your home that's too catostrpohic to pay for out of your own pocket vs. a state/state's residents sending tax money that fund FEMA and expecting FEMA to fulfill the promise to support them when something happens that's too catostrophic for them to handle?

I mentioned I'm a states rights/responsibility kind of guy.

I look at the federal government - regardless of which party or who is in charge - and see incompetence. This is why I support a smaller federal government, and this is where GWBush has failed me. Sadly, the republicans are no longer the party of smaller government. I can't say the dems are either. I'd go libertarian if they didn't have primarily whackos as their candidates, but that's another story.

Scrooge mentions that no city can handle its own forced evacuation. How, then, are the feds to do it? The feds have no right to do it, and in fact weren't asked to help in the evacuation. I could be wrong - I have vague recollection that some help was requested 12 hours or so before it hit, but that's enough time? I would guess using the literally hundreds of busses might have been a good way to start helping those who couldn't get out. Yes, there was certainly traffic congestion trying to get out of NO, but there weren't people dying on the highways because they couldn't wait the traffic out.

The feds cannot be responsible nor expected to plan/prepare for the events can take place in any municipality. This is what local government is for. I believe that everything is managed - or at least should be - better at the local level.

Anyway, back to the GD quote -
The government is not an insurance agency. They have no obligation to protect me as an individual. There was a case a while ago - some may recall it, but I can't site the time period or even where - regarding a law suit of someone who had called 911, but the police didn't get there in time to prevent the crime. The supreme court, I believe - and again, it might have been an appeals court - ruled that the police force is not a private security force and cannot be expected nor required to be there in time to assist you in your time of need. There are broader implications of this rulig going across government.

And regarding the comparison to an insurance company, I would say the feds are acting a lot like one - bailing out a lot of people who would be losing everything. I don't think they are reneging on their commitment whatsoever.

While slow in response, the failure here was not on the part of the feds. It was on the part of the locals. Sure, I hope the next time they are faster, but I am not counting on it. Nor should anyone. It is a local responsibility.

[Scrooge McSam]

Originally Posted by scaeagles

Scrooge mentions that no city can handle its own forced evacuation. How, then, are the feds to do it? The feds have no right to do it,

Wrong! Read the FEMA charter.

Originally Posted by scaeagles

and in fact weren't asked to help in the evacuation.

Why in the hell does the FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY need to be asked to assist with an EMERGENCY situation that they have been placed in charge of?

We had a national disaster looking us in the face, one that could have been avoided with some federal government investment that never came, one that threatened to cost hundreds of live at least, threatened to destroy 1/4 of our NATIONAL natural gas supply network, threatened to destroy 1/5 of our NATIONAL petroleum supply network and threatened to cripple the NATION'S LARGEST INLAND PORT.

And you prattle on about how it's a local issue?

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I have a vague recollection that some help was requested 12 hours or so before it hit, but that's enough time?

Where do you get this stuff?

Blanco started the process of involving the fed on August 27th in a letter delivered to the President.

That's 2 days, Leo, not 12 hours.

The President actually declared a state of emergency on August 28th, a day later, clearing the way for FEMA to step in.

There is a very clear cut chain of events that must take place, and those events transpired, no matter how Bush's minions have tried to paint it.

Originally Posted by scaeagles

I would guess using the literally hundreds of busses might have been a good way to start helping those who couldn't get out.

It would have. I'm sure state and local officials will answer for that.

[alphabassettgrrl]

I did hear New Orleans used to be above sea level until they built the heavy modern buildings and then it sank.

Las Vegas is also having some issues concerning heavy buildings. Their water table is rising from all the weight.

[lindyhop]

Originally Posted by alphabassettgrrl

I did hear New Orleans used to be above sea level until they built the heavy modern buildings and then it sank.

Las Vegas is also having some issues concerning heavy buildings. Their water table is rising from all the weight.

Sorry, I'm pulling this quote from the distance past (as I try to catch up on two weeks of new posts) but it's too weird.

I was supposed to attend a conference in New Orleans in mid-September which had to be cancelled for obvious reasons. The conference has been rescheduled for Las Vegas in late October.

Does this mean Las Vegas will be underwater soon?