Audit: Millions Wasted on Katrina Response

[Eugene]

Audit: Millions Wasted on Katrina Response

Thursday March 16, 2006 5:16 PM

By HOPE YEN

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - The government wasted millions of dollars in its award of post-Katrina contracts,
including at least $3 million for 4,000 beds that were never used, auditors said Thursday.

The five-page briefing paper by the Government Accountability Office, set to be released later
Thursday, blamed poor planning and bad communications.

<snip>

Waste and mismanagement were widespread due to a lack of staffing and disorganization by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency and Army Corps of Engineers, the report concluded.

<snip>

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5690475,00.html

[TaleWgnDg]

1. R U sure that's an "m" and not a "b" . . . ?? just curious. n/t

[MadMaddie]

2. What do you think is going to happen when we are hit again....

like 9/11.

The response will even be worse than Katrina and more Americans will die because of their inability to do their jobs!!!

Millions perhaps billions wasted.....disorganization.....

When the Dems take over the cleaning and rebuilding of these organizations is going to take years....

[Marnieworld]

3. With Katrina they had ample warning

more than any terror attack and still it was maddening lethal incompetence. Paper ballots now. The American people will vote against them I'm sure. If only we could know.

[OKNancy]

4. kick

[Judi Lynn]

5. Katrina funds blown on empty rooms & ice

Katrina funds blown on empty rooms & ice

BY CORKY SIEMASZKO
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

In the aftermath of Katrina, the feds spent $10 million to renovate and furnish 240 rooms in Alabama that housed just six hurricane survivors, congressional investigators found.

Authorities also spent $3 million on 4,000 beds that were never slept in and blew a fortune on ice that was not needed.

"Previous reports of waste in the aftermath of Katrina have been bad, but this one is worse," said Rep. Henry Waxman of California, the top Democrat on the House Government Reform Committee.

The Government Accountability Office's review of 13 major contracts revealed that poor planning by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and miscommunication resulted in widespread waste. The renovated rooms in Alabama, for example, were in military barracks at the Army's Fort McClellan.
(snip/...)

http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/400467p-339176c.html

[truthisfreedom]

6. hey, at least it's Army property and can be used in the future for the

next big hurricane down there... i'm glad they didn't blow it on old hotels!

the ice thing, that's another matter...

[JPZenger]

7. As Long as the Politically Connected Companies Got the Cash

What is important is that the companies with the strongest political connections got the cash for the trucking, cruise ship and other FEMA contracts. Many of these contracts were no bid, but the system was in place in advance by FEMA for those companies to be selected.

Meanwhile, the local residents are still getting the crumbs from the Federal reconstruction contracts. Even when local companies are hired as sub-sub-sub-contractors, they are getting only a fraction of the amount the Feds are spending for that particular work.