NYT's: "Breakdowns Marked Path from Hurricane to Anarchy":

[rasputin1952]

Long, (11 printed pages), in depth article on the Katrina fiasco, well worth the read. This article puts perspective into the whole thing, and relies on facts:

<snip>

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials expected the state and city to direct their own efforts and ask for help as needed. Leaders in Louisiana and New Orleans, though, were so overwhelmed by the scale of the storm that they were not only unable to manage the crisis, but they were not always exactly sure what they needed. While local officials assumed that Washington would provide rapid and considerable aid, federal officials, weighing legalities and logistics, proceeded at a deliberate pace.

<snip>

As the city become paralyzed both by water and by lawlessness, so did the response by government. The fractured division of responsibility - Governor Blanco controlled state agencies and the National Guard, Mayor Nagin directed city workers and Mr. Brown, the head of FEMA, served as the point man for the federal government - meant no one person was in charge. Americans watching on television saw the often-haggard governor, the voluble mayor and the usually upbeat FEMA chief appear at competing daily news briefings and interviews.

The power-sharing arrangement was by design, and as the days wore on, it would prove disastrous. Under the Bush administration, FEMA redefined its role, offering assistance but remaining subordinate to state and local governments. "Our typical role is to work with the state in support of local and state agencies," said David Passey, a FEMA spokesman.

<snip>

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/11/national/nationalspecial/11response.html?ei=5088&en=fb3d95d685b8f2f4&ex=1284091200&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

*******************************************************************

This is one hell of a journalistic coup, finally investigative journalism returns!

[DoYouEverWonder]

1. Sounds like the NYT and FEMA need to read the NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN

All of the chain of command stuff is covered in the plan and there should have been no question about who was in charge if BROWN had done his JOB.


Fact Sheet: National Response Plan

What it does for America

The National Response Plan establishes a comprehensive all-hazards approach to enhance the ability of the United States to manage domestic incidents. The Plan incorporates best practices and procedures from incident management disciplines—homeland security, emergency management, law enforcement, firefighting, public works, public health, responder and recovery worker health and safety, emergency medical services, and the private sector—and integrates them into a unified structure. It forms the basis of how federal departments and agencies will work together and how the federal government will coordinate with state, local, and tribal governments and the private sector during incidents. It establishes protocols to help protect the nation from terrorist attacks and other natural and manmade hazards; save lives; protect public health, safety, property, and the environment; and reduces adverse psychological consequences and disruptions to the American way of life.

<snip>

Emphasis on Local Response

* The Plan identifies police, fire, public health and medical, emergency management, and other personnel as responsible for incident management at the local level.

* The Plan enables incident response to be handled at the lowest possible organizational and jurisdictional level.

* The Plan ensures the seamless integration of the federal government when an incident exceeds local or state capabilities.

* Timely Federal Response to Catastrophic Incidents

* The Plan identifies catastrophic incidents as high-impact, low-probability incidents, including natural disasters and terrorist attacks that result in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, and/or government functions.

* The Plan provides the means to swiftly deliver federal support in response to catastrophic incidents.

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/press_release/press_release_0581.xml


The NYT is trying to muddy the waters in order to protect their fearless leader who was too busy on vacation to bother and a clueless head of FEMA who can't figure out what he did wrong.

[rasputin1952]

3. I disagree, this article goes to the heart of the problem...

the complete lack of an effective response; and it lays the blme at the feet of the administration controlling Homeland Security/FEMA.


I cannot blame bush for the hurricane, but I sure as hell can blame the administration for dragging its feetin the aftermath.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. Teach me to post without reading the whole article again

the clip above sounded it like they were trying to spread the blame, which has been the MO for most of the media.

Sorry about that.

[Skittles]

6. yes;; what does FEMA stand for again

OMG!

[orpupilofnature57]

2. Just a real look where their priorities are, NOLA, N.K. and Health care

Are problems that take insight and Hard work, therefore they don't exist.

[pippin]

4. In the Final Analysis . . .

" the federal government failed to fulfill the pledge it made after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to face domestic threats as a unified, seamless force."

note the word "failed"

[orpupilofnature57]

7. Impeachable offense!!

[rasputin1952]

8. Failure is the Hallmark of this administration....

Never before has this country seen the likes of pillaging and plundering of the national assets. Teapot Dome is a sparrow fart in a hurricane compared to this gaggle of thieves and traitors!!!!!