Homeland Security Cheif Chertoff: Inaccurate facts

[SouthFLTropics]

I was just reading this story from CNN on comments that Homeland Security Chief Chertoff made regarding the impacts from Katrina. Basically he said that what has happened was never predicted and that no one could have imagined the level of devastation that occurred. I think he needs to consult with the Army Corps, LSU, National Geographic, and the countless other organizations that have studied this impact for years and get his facts straight! Here is the story:

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/03/katrin ... index.html

Just some food for thought, but it kind of makes me nervous knowing that this guy is heading up our "Homeland Security" and comes to the table without having all of his ducks in a row.

[Mac]

Well, he's not exactly incorrect either...

I don't think that National Geographic, LSU, or any of the other agencies predicted that looting, rape, murder, and anarchy were probable outcomes.

I don't think they foresaw the mayor of N.O. sitting around with his thumb up his arse, worrying about what legal authority he had to protect N.O.'s citizens--when he should have been working on getting people the hell out of harm's way.

I don't think they foresaw the local authorities leaving empty buses abandonded in parking lots rather than being filled with people and used to evacuate those in danger.

I don't think they foresaw local and state officials trying to manage the problems themselves rather than requesting federal intervention (such as imposing martial law) immediately.

I could go on and on and on...but I think the point speaks for itself: There is much about how things have unfolded that nobody predicted.

[artist]

yep - watched it myself this morning - seems they were taking bits and pieces of interviews I had seen to amke it appear different from what they were actually saying -

[Windy]

Well, he's not exactly incorrect either...

I don't think that National Geographic, LSU, or any of the other agencies predicted that looting, rape, murder, and anarchy were probable outcomes.

A lot of people don't understand how much the military understands about these sorts of things. This kind of "untidyness" is common and very much expected in areas as devestated as is described by the Red Cross/FEMA/LSU/Nat Geo study. There is roughly 10,000 years worth of history behind this sort of thing -- when a city is sacked or destroyed and left to its own devices for more than a couple of days, anarchy breaks out among the survivors.

The city decending into anarchy may be shocking to most Americans, but I assure you it was surprising to none of the Joint Chiefs.

[jburns]

Well, he's not exactly incorrect either...

I don't think that National Geographic, LSU, or any of the other agencies predicted that looting, rape, murder, and anarchy were probable outcomes.

.

With all due respect the word security does not appear in either their name or responsibility. Are you seriously claiming that we should not expect more detailed planning from our Homeland Security Department than from National Geographic Magizine?