Louisiana sent letter begging Bush for help on 28th

[sarahlee]

http://gov.louisiana.gov/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf

This letter was written on Sunday. The GOP is trying to spin that the local and state government hadn't asked for help.

[CottonBear]

1. They've been begging for help since 2000 when* was appointed. n/t

[Nothing Without Hope]

2. Nope, nyet, NO F***ING WAY that turkey is going to fly.

They will not succeed in lying their way through this one.

Never again. This is the turning point.

[formernaderite]

3. there's already another thread addressing this...

governors call up their own state guard...not the pres.

[LeahD]

4. Link?

It's impossible to read all of the threads...posts are happening so fast.

[formernaderite]

9. Okay...here's one...but there are other repititive topics as well

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=4598659&mesg_id=4599159

[ClintonTyree]

5. But there's no specific request for food and water..........

who could have known that in a disaster of this magnitude that people would need food and water? :shrug: If you don't spell it out, literally, for Der Failure, he's not going to take it upon himself to extrapolate further needs. He wants it in writing, in triplicate, with all necessary stamps and seals attached.
The man doesn't have a clue. I thought the "grown-ups" were in charge now? :shrug: Time to google-bomb bush again with "utter failure".

[MellowOne]

6. My god

What's really at the bottom of all this? Why would Bush intentionally let these people suffer, it doesn't make sense.

[oldcoot]

20. When is Gov. Blanco up for reelection?

Perhaps he is hoping to get a Republican elected governor in Louisiana.

[BlueStateBlue]

31. He was on VACATION, remember? n/t

[Mz Pip]

7. Send this to the RW media

who has been spewing the Repug talking points that no help was requested until Wednesday. :crazy:

Mz Pip
:dem:

[JohnnyBoots]

8. Is this a Downing Street equivalent for Katrina?

[mzmolly]

10. Get this to the media.

Thanks for the thread.

[madame defarge]

11. Here's the problem...

It was addressed to uncurious George at his White House address where he (presumably) works... He was on vacation and probably forgot to have his mail forwarded. Well, that explains & excuses it all... :sarcasm:

[Roland99]

12. White House authorization didn't come until THURSDAY...Congress to probe

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/katrina_national_guard

[Emit]

13. Here's the state emergency plan:

If you can follow it. Oh, the bureacracy. There has to be an easier way to dispatch the guard! I think the poster above who said something about sending the wrong form to the wrong person or something might really be right. New Orleans is drowning and they're expected to do all this to ask for help?:

Found somehwere here: http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/plans/plansindex.htm

http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/plans/frp2003.pdf
<<snip>>
d. Requests for military support at the Disaster Field Office (DFO) are processed through the DCO, the military official specifically designated to orchestrate DOD support. To ensure a coordinated and consistent DOD disaster response, the DCO is the single point of contact (POC) in the field for coordinating and validating the use of DOD resources (excluding those provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) when operating as the primary agency for ESF #3 — Public Works and Engineering, and those of the National Guard forces operating under State control).

<<snip>>

Specific responsibilities of the DCO (subject to modification based on the situ-ation) include validating requirements for military support (i.e., determining if the military could and should support the request); forwarding mission assign-ments to the appropriate military organization(s); and assigning military liaison officers to provide technical assistance to applicable activated ESFs. The DCO, through appropriate military channels, refers problematic/contentious military support issues to DOMS. DOMS facilitates resolution of issues at the national level.

e. Based on the magnitude and type of disaster and the anticipated level of resource involvement, DOD may establish a Joint Task Force (JTF) or Response Task Force (RTF) to consolidate and manage supporting operational military activities. Both task forces are temporary, multiservice organizations created to provide a consequence management response to a major natural or manmade disaster or emergency. The JTF responds to major disasters such as hurricanes or floods.

<<snip>>

4. Federal Law Enforcement Assistance
a. In a disaster or emergency, each State has primary responsibility for law enforce-ment, using State and local resources, including the National Guard (to the extent that the National Guard remains under State authority and has not been called into Federal service or ordered to active duty). Accordingly, the FRP makes no provision for direct Federal support of law enforcement functions in a disaster or emergency.
b. If a State government should experience a law enforcement emergency (including one in connection with a disaster or emergency) in which it could not provide an adequate response to protect the lives and property of citizens, the State (on behalf of itself or a local unit of government) might submit an application in writing from the Governor to the Attorney General of the United States to request emergency Federal law enforcement assistance under the Justice Assistance Act of 1984 (42 U.S.C. 10501-10513) as prescribed in 28 CFR 65. The Attorney General will approve or disapprove the application no later than 10 days after receipt. If the application is approved, Federal law enforcement assistance may be provided including equipment, training, intelligence, and personnel.
c. In the event that State and local police forces (including the National Guard operating under State control) are unable to adequately respond to a civil disturb-ance or other serious law enforcement emergency, a Governor may request, through the Attorney General, Federal military assistance under 10 U.S.C. 15. Pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 331-333, the President will ultimately determine whether to use the Armed Forces to respond to a law enforcement emergency. Under Title 10 authority, the President may federalize and deploy all or part of any State’s National Guard.

[July]

14. According to Kos, that was her SECOND letter. nt

[Emit]

15. Did Kos have a link or do you?

I'll go check it out.

[July]

16. I saw it earlier today, I'll check again.

The diaries are constantly changing, but it's there somewhere.

www.dailykos.com

[Emit]

18. Thanks. The reason I need it is 'cause I just got thru to family

in the NOLA area (Hammond). They are w/o electricity and only have access to a radio and can receive calls but can't call out. Discussed this mess--they are safe but they are clueless to what's really going on in the city because they have no TV/Internet and my aunt was really harping on Blanco. While I noted that there is likely lots of blame to go around, and while she is certainly NOT a Bush supporter and never was, I told her there was a letter of request by Blanco to Bush on 8/28, and I read it to her. She just went silent.

I think it really just upset her and I think she's really very frightened with the whole thing---well, of course she is---but more so because of this (mis)administration than just the hurricane/flood (she's lived there 30+ years and knows about hurricanes and floods). But then she thanked me for all the info and asked for me to keep her informed. Anyway, if there was an earlier request, I really want to let these guys down there know what's up.

[July]

21. Some more info.

www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2005/9/2/22509/76629

This gives you a link to the letter of 8/28.

I couldn't find what I saw before, but found this:

www.dod.gov/transcripts/2005/tr20050901-3843.html

That's a Department of Defense transcript of a statement by General Honore, followed by questions from journalists. One journalist asks about when the requests for help came in (about halfway down the page). General Honore says the governors made their requests on the Friday BEFORE the hurricane.

[Roland99]

23. Cha-Ching...there ya go.

[Emit]

26. Thank you so much. I'll pass on the word. n/t

[Roland99]

17. One thing, though. That letter doesn't specifically request Nat'l Guard.

Or is that implied in the State of Emergency declaration?

[Emit]

19. See post #13. Been trying to verify that myself and from the letter

Blanco refers to the Stafford Act, sec. 401. I researched this a bit and landed on the plan above, which explains procedures of how LA requests the guard. But, the part I posted shows that it really doesn't matter whether she did or not, although I can not imagine she didn't, because in an event of this magnitude, FEMA and/or the Fed Gov, it appears, can step in without the state's request. That's how I understood it anyway? What do you think?

[caligirl]

29. bush should have federalized the troops, he could have put

troops on the ground dwithin hours of makinfg the call, if he would have made the call. They do have troops on standby to leave at a moments notice for emergencies like this, they give them the info enroute.


All he had to do was lift that receiver and ORDER IT.

[Sparkly]

33. Their incompetence goes BEYOND the NG -- Homeland Security, FEMA

and coordinating agencies, making a plan and getting prepared beforehand.

The problem goes beyond the delay of the NG, it starts with Homeland Security and FEMA in particular, imho.

[July]

25. Implied or not, a real leader might have brainstormed that the NG would be

of great use, given their traditional role in dealing with disasters in the states.

Of course, we've got a slight shortage of real leaders these days.

[alfredo]

22. Remember the mayor tried to get the chimp on the phone

but couldn't get him. I think that has quite a bit to do with his frustration and anger. bush was busy with a photo op and couldn't be bothered it appears.

[scarlett1]

24. if you haven't heard this listen to the Mayor's

Frustration.
http://static2.podcatch.com/blogs/gems/snedit/WWLAMInterviewNagin.mp3

[alfredo]

28. Now he should know that the governor did

request federal aid.

[lynne]

27. Is this link going to the right letter??

It looks like a request for funding and assistance after the hurricane. Don't see anything about needing help with evacuation, rescue, food, water, etc.

Am I seeing the right letter?

[struggle4progress]

30. W musta been damn excited about Johnny McCain's birthday. eom

[kerrygoddess]

32. Debunking the WaPo

Debunking the WaPo: Gov. Blanco Requested Federal Aid from Bush on Sunday, August 28th - 2 Days Before Katrina Struck

In a well detailed letter to President Bush, Governor Kathleen Blanco requested that Bush declare an “expedited state of disaster for the State of Louisiana… beginning on August 28, 2005 and continuing.”

It appears there is some confusion over at the White House about when Governor Blanco requested aid and for that matter when she declared a State of Emergency for the State of Louisiana.

According to the WaPo, “As of Saturday, Blanco still had not declared a state of emergency, the senior Bush official said.” That’s rather curious because the letter from Governor Blanco to President Bush clearly states that she declared a State of Emergency on August 26, 2005.

MORE & LINKS - http://blog.thedemocraticdaily.com/?p=431