Daunting task: Houston company collecting remains

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3349427

NEW ORLEANS - As the collection of Hurricane Katrina's dead began in earnest over the weekend, a Houston company that has mastered the craft of dealing with the carnage of disasters was at the center of the effort.

Kenyon International Emergency Services is the sole private company on retainer with the U.S. government to respond to disasters and help manage events causing a catastrophic loss of life.

"When we work on one of these incidents, we work on every part from the beginning to the end. Over the past 76 years we have developed that niche, that presence," Kenyon President and Chief Executive Officer Robert Jensen told the Houston Chronicle in his first interview since the hurricane struck the area.

Kenyon already has about 100 people working on the storm's aftermath, and "that number is growing daily," Jensen said. It has provided a portable morgue and has begun its primary job of collecting remains. It has the ability to help identify victims as well, but so far has not been given that job.

[Atman]

1. 100 people working to collect 167 bodies?

How stupid are we, America? These guys apparently think were complete imbeciles.

[KittyWampus]

3. it really doesn't add up, does it?

[aquart]

2. Is this the funeralgate company George committed perjury for?

[MaineDem]

5. Ahhhh, excellent question. (nt)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

6. No, I believe that was SBI

[BillZBubb]

10. Yes it is Kenyon is subsidiary of SCI.

[MaineDem]

11. Verrrrry interesting

As Donna reported yesterday, inept FEMA director Mike Brown told a reporter on Studio B that the removal of bodies from New Orleans was being handled by a company called "Kenyon". Kenyon International bills itself as "Worldwide Disaster Management." How convenient for GWBush to have a disaster management company that enriches his friends and supporters to clean up after him as he spreads disasters worldwide.

Kenyon is a wholly owned subsidiary of SCI Corp., "the largest provider of funeral, cremation, and cemetery services in North America." SCI Corp is owned by major Bush contributor and friend Robert Waltrip, who was at the center of the scandal known as "Funeralgate".

Current FEMA Director Michael Brown was initially appointed to the position of FEMA General Counsel by his chum, former FEMA Director Joe Allbaugh, who was GWBush's Chief of Staff when Bush was governor of Texas. Allbaugh, in turn, was appointed head of FEMA by Bush after the 2000 campaign, of which Allbaugh was Campaign Manager. Along with Karen Hughes and Karl Rove, Allbaugh was part of the Iron Triangle.

http://www.newshounds.us/2005/09/08/bush_cohorts_profiteering_at_all_levels.php

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

12. Oops! GOt that wrong. Good sleuthing

[BillZBubb]

9. Yes! Services Corporation International is the parent of Kenyon

It's the same one that gave BIG bucks to get Bush selected and was given all sorts of quid pro quo in Texas. Now they get their national feed at the public trough, courtesy of their boy.

[Rose Siding]

4. This contract ticked off the local companies

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1771260

[asjr]

7. I don't blame them. But, we outsource everything

these days, why not bodies.

[texpatriot2004]

8. So that's how it goes huh. You send in some privat e firm paid

with tax money to do your dirty work? Is that really how you want to play it? As an aside, I don't think that's very respectful to the dead or their loved ones...although it does reduce your body count, doesn't it?

[Nihil]

13. Body count? Some bodies don't count

Wonder if they've got industrial sized ovens for those bulk orders?
Every dictatorship needs some way to dispose of inconvenient bodies
from time to time so it would be a wise investment ...

[Judi Lynn]

14. Too bad the ones who make the big bucks are so far removed

from the nearly unbearable work, isn't it?