Criminal Incompetence or worse?

[canetoad]

I'm here in OZ, thousands of miles away from Katrina's devestation. I only run an office, not a country, but I sure as hell would not have my job if I didn't have the foresight to recognise problems that may arise and put measures in place to deal with them before they had disastrous consequences.

You will all know these facts already, but here's a brief (and incomplete) re-cap of the news in the days leading up to the flattening of New Orleans.

24th Aug
Tropical storm Katrina expected to become hurricane

25th Aug
2 killed in Fla. as Katrina hits coast

26th Aug
Upgraded to category 2 Hurricane, 100mph winds.
Extensive damage to Sth Florida, 7 dead
Katrina moves into Gulf and and recharges
National Hurricane Centre warning to Florida and SE Louisiana

27th Aug
Classified as MAJOR storm, gains power over gulf
Position: 360 m SE of Mississippi mouth, advisory issued at 10pm NO time
Voluntary evacuation begins
Warning that direct hit will be devastating to NO

28th Aug
Katrina continues towards NO
People are moved into Superdome
Intensifies to Cat. 5 hurricane
Position: 150m south by SE of Miss. mouth
Evacuation order issued

29th Aug
Hits Gulf coast east of NO as a cat.4 hurricane at 6.10 am.
NEW ORLEANS SPARED A DIRECT HIT!!

30th Aug
Damage worse than expected

My question is; what were the 'administrators' of your country, emergency services and aid organisations doing in the days between 24th and 29th August? That is five fucking days! Even if we were kind to them and allowed that 27th Aug was the day they should have really starting to get their sorry, bureaucratic arses into gear, that still gives two full days to swing the evacuation plan into action.

Don't give me the bullshit about 'not expecting levees to be breached'. NO is a city in a unique setting, and besides, there are enough so called experts on the payroll to be able to find ONE with a little foresight and put emergency measures in place.

My heart breaks at the reports of those still stranded in NO. I add that the only white face I have seen on TV news footage is of the occasional Aussie who is still there.

Your efforts to bring to accountability should not only include the Washington administration. Track down and hound those so called managers of departments and organisations who fucking criminal incompetence and lack of foresight caused this situation.

I would like to send a little money, but obviously not to FEMA or Red Cross, can anyone suggest a good, hands-on agency who will make sure donations actually get sent to those poor suffering people?

in peace
canetoad

[blossomstar]

1. Salvation Army

[catnhatnh]

2. Thanks for the thought, canetoad....

...I chose to give through the American Friend's Service Committee (Quakers) who though a "religious" charity have shown no taint or scandal to their actions...Peace

[canetoad]

3. Thanks catnhatnh

I hadn't thought of them, and yes they are good people.

[Larissa238]

4. Im using Craigslist

To donate clothes and such, since I dont have money. You can try and get in contact with families off that website. http://neworleans.craigslist.org/ thats the NO link