HUGE NEWS... DHS did not use NHC during Katrina!

[redsoxliberal]

The Senate Commerce Committee held hearings this afternoon on
Katrina. The House Science Committee will be holding hearing
Wednesday morning (9/21). Sen. Ben Nelson (Florida) asked Max
Mayfield whether it was true that Secretary Chertoff (the head of
homeland security) & Department of Homeland Security (DHS) used
Accuweather for hurricane forecasts of Katrina and he confirmed it.
The National Infrastructure Command Center in DHS prepared
an "overnight summary" for Secretary Chertoff on Katrina that was
based on Accuweather hurricane predictions rather than hurricane
forecast information from the National Hurricane Center. This dates
from when former PA. Governor Ridge was Secretary of homeland
security.

What's even most shocking is that the "NOAA Desk" in the DHS Ops
Center, staffed by a primary & two backup NWS meteorologists, prepared
forecasts for Secretary Chertoff based on the National Hurricane
Center; however, it is unsure that this ever made it to the
Secretary. To make matters worse & even more confusing, FEMA relies
solely on NWS products, which includes those issued by the National
Hurricane Center. So FEMA (which only uses NWS) and the DHS (which
uses Accuweather) are not even looking at the same forecasts! The NWS
NHC's track for Katrina was significantly different & more accurate
than Accuweather's. Just recently, Accuweather's track for Ophelia
brought it across Florida & into the Gulf. In both cases,
Accuweather's forecast was dead wrong. The end result is that the
head of homeland security & DHS & FEMA received conflicting forecasts.

Sen. Bill Nelson also asked Max Mayfield about consolidation and
downsizing of WFOs and Max Mayfield unequivocally said it was a very
bad idea, and that he hopes that it doesn't happen and that the local
WFOs are an essential part of NWS. Senator Nelson also trashed
Accuweather and, without naming Santorum, blasted those who would try
to take NWS off the air and off the internet to help commercial
interests.

[yurbud]

1. I wish I knew what this meant.

[wakeme2008]

5. privatizing the weather for $$$$$

the NWS has some of the biggest puters for their models. Brought and paid for by us.

[katty]

9. repukes make their faithful PAY for gettin God, why not weather?

[ClintonTyree]

12. Rick Santorum's pet project........

piratizing the weather forecasts, just like everything else. Fat contracts to their political backers for services once done by government agencies. Nice, huh? :grr:

[geomon666]

6. Santorum has been trying to privatize the NWS.

He's in bed with Accuweather and has been trying to get NWS (National Weather Service) defunded and eliminated.

[CottonBear]

7. Accuweather is a private company and gives $ to Santorum R-PA)

Santorum has proposed making the American public pay for access to the National Weather Service & National Hurricane Service weather reports and forecasts.

He wants (not so accurate) Accuweather to be the service that provides weather info. to the American public. :(

[lumberjack_jeff]

18. They've already done the same thing with USGS maps

Taxpayers pay to have 'em drawn, then the government gives them to the private electronic mapping companies, who in turn sell 'em to us.

Under Clinton, nautical charts (and other maps) were available for free download. As they should be.

It's all pretty much bullshit. Republicans believe that private companies are entitled to the product of our taxes, and are also entitled to resell that stuff that we commissioned back to us - at whatever price the vendor sets.

[hootinholler]

25. Why doesn't the government

Charge a license fee for the data and use that money to offset the cost?

-Hoot

[CottonBear]

27. I use USGS maps for my work and I'm pissed that I have to pay twice.

I say fuck them Repubs. I wanna vote 'em out, push 'em out, revolution 'em out NOW.

I'm going to the gun range next week and I'm learning how to handle a gun. (This from an animal loving pacifist surrounded by Southern Repub Racists Dixiecrats.) By chance, I live in a town with one of the BIGGEST gun shops in the SE US. Do I need to mention I don't like guns? I'm feeling desperate.

[halobeam]

2. check this thread out....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1800079&mesg_id=1800079

[crispini]

3. Ha ha ha!

There goes Rick Santorum again, trying to help out Accuweather. What bullshit! That really makes me think that the DHS is not really trying to help us at all -- they're just being partisan jackasses.

[wtmusic]

4. But W used PCP, FYI

[rzemanfl]

8. Privatize! Privatize! Holy fucking shit! What a bunch of hopeless

incompetent nincompoops!

[doublethink]

10. Anyone remember the Interview with Chertoff where he ......

stated he woke up like two mornings after Katrina hit, he either read the Newspaper, or saw it on CNN that the levees broke? He may have been speaking to Keith Olberman at the time? The video was on Crooks and Liars at the time. Anyway ..... this government hasn't a clue. Peace. :)

[KT2000]

11. the more I hear -

the more I am convinced that DHS and FEMA are there to secure contracts for GOP contributors and set up a system that assures no one, including volunteers, can affect the value of those contracts.

Why else would our security agencies be top loaded with lawyers?

It appears they have not even attended one day conferences to learn about emergency management. :shrug:

[ClintonTyree]

14. That's true, but before that happens........

bush appoints his backers and pals with fat government jobs that HEAD these agencies, THEN they sell the contracts to their OTHER pals. It's a great system, for them. They get richer and the people who rely on these agencies in a crisis, well......somebody has to hold the shitty end of the stick!

[Sapphire Blue]

13. Mayfield: “We were briefing them way before landfall,” also briefed bush.

SPECIAL REPORT:
‘Unacceptable’: The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina
by Walter Brasch

(excerpt)

In addition to previous studies, the National Weather Service was aggressively trying to make officials aware of the probable impact from Katrina. “We were briefing them way before landfall,” Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center, told the Times-Picayune. Mayfield said he told both the FEMA director and Homeland Security secretary “It’s not like this was a surprise. We had advisories that the levee could be topped,” said Mayfield. The National Hurricane Center had also briefed FEMA at both its Washington headquarters as well as its Dallas and Atlanta regional headquarters, said Mayfield. The briefings, beginning days before Katrina hit land, according to the Times-Picayune, included “information on expected wind speed, storm upsurge, {and} rainfall.” Mayfield also briefed Bush, by video conference phone, the day before Katrina hit, according to the St. Petersburg Times. The President also had access to dozens of advisories from the National Weather Service, which detailed what destruction was likely.

http://www.walterbrasch.com/katrina.htm

[Chi-Town Exile]

15. Just When You Think You've Seen It All From These "Morans"

:wtf: They couldn't be any more inept.

Man, they suck!

[preciousdove]

16. Has to be asked: Was ACCUWeather wrong on purpose? n/t

[femrap]

20. That's the $64,000,000,0000 question!

Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

[The Backlash Cometh]

17. Dreadful indictment on Republican methodology.

[mirror wall]

19. Can we have a link to the original story please?

If this is from a reliable source, it's a HUGE story.

[redsoxliberal]

22. here

http://www.easternuswx.com/bb/index.php?showtopic=53706

[electron_blue]

21. ya know, they are idiots if this is true.

I live in Minnesota - I'm not involved in Katrina except as a concerned American. I looked at accuweather and NWS forcasts, as well as my local weatherguy's prediction, as well as looked at the maps myself and always came to the same conclusion - New Orleans was in big friggin trouble with Katrina.

Please - li nk to original story?

[mom cat]

23. do you have a link for this?...thanks

[redsoxliberal]

24. here

http://www.easternuswx.com/bb/index.php?showtopic=53706

[Oilwellian]

26. Interesting group

Welcome to the eastern United States weather forums. Since ‘03, easternuswx.com has been providing an outlet for weather hobbyists and professional meteorologists alike, to discuss current weather conditions; all while providing free access to the thoughts of some of the east coast’s top weather forecasters.

Whether you are primarily interested in winter storms, severe weather, hurricanes, or summer heat waves, easternuswx.com has something for you. Our ever growing eastern United States user base provides a quick and in-depth look at the weather over a sprawling region, through the perspective of people who share a similar love for meteorological phenomena as you.

This is an interesting website and find the post to be quite credible. They also mention Santorum's efforts to destroy the NHC.

Can we get Accuweather's forecast during that period?

[Independent_Liberal]

28. Really?

This is very interesting.

[enough]

29. kick