The Bush Administration Prevented An Immediate Military Response To Katrina.
The Pentagon has now joined the chorus of those who are criticizing the Bush administration’s response to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Lt. Commander Sean Kelly, a Pentagon spokesman for Northern Command, told the BBC that NorthCom was prepared to send in search and rescue helicopters from the USS Bataan immediately after the hurricane hit. Kelly said, “We had things ready. The only caveat is: we have to wait until the president authorizes us to do so.”
That authorization didn’t happen for days, despite that the ship was docked right outside of New Orleans. The USS Bataan had doctors, hospital beds, food and the ability to produce up to 100,000 gallons of water a day.
That authorization didn’t happen for days, despite that the ship was docked right outside of New Orleans. The USS Bataan had doctors, hospital beds, food and the ability to produce up to 100,000 gallons of water a day.
posted by Alva Goldbook at 9:29 AM
2 Comments:
Miami,
ahh. FEMA just didn't know what was needed. Perhaps they didn't think that people stranded without food and water would need food and water.
Maybe we should compare this to FEMA's reaction to Hurricane Charley which hit landfall on Friday, August 13th, 2004.
this from CNN:
"Convoys of trucks were rolling down I-75 Saturday, loaded with crews and supplies needed in the massive recovery effort. Florida officials said the convoys would keep coming Sunday.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency designated 16 counties eligible for federal disaster assistance, in addition to the four given such designation yesterday. The move allows a quicker rush of funds and resources to the worst hit areas.
Mike Bolch with FEMA said federal officials were going house to house searching for possible victims and providing assistance.
Food and medical supplies were being brought to the state. And FEMA was conducting aerial surveillance, looking for survivors who may need quick assistance.
The Red Cross set up shelters in affected areas, including Punta Gorda. Spokesman Chris Paladeno said the Red Cross mobile food kitchen in Punta Gorda will produce 20,000 meals a day.
The agency has already distributed tens of thousands of meals and snacks across the state, he said."
The difference between Katrina and Charley?
Katrina hit a red state with a blue governor, a blue senator, and a blue mayor. Katrinia hit poor black residents of New Orleans. Charley, on the other hand hit moderate to upperclass homes in the state of Florida, whose govenor is the president's brother.
Perhaps the only way to get FEMA to work is to elect a Bush to the governorship to all 50 states.
It's so much more of an interesting argument when you don't quote from the Gospels.
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