FEMA...on the job training?

[tndefender]

I found this story from today's Washington Post more than a litte disturbing.

"Five of eight top Federal Emergency Management Agency officials came to their posts with virtually no experience in handling disasters and now lead an agency whose ranks of seasoned crisis managers have thinned dramatically since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

FEMA's top three leaders -- Director Michael D. Brown, Chief of Staff Patrick J. Rhode and Deputy Chief of Staff Brooks D. Altshuler -- arrived with ties to President Bush's 2000 campaign or to the White House advance operation, according to the agency. Two other senior operational jobs are filled by a former Republican lieutenant governor of Nebraska and a U.S. Chamber of Commerce official who was once a political operative.

Meanwhile, veterans such as U.S. hurricane specialist Eric Tolbert and World Trade Center disaster managers Laurence W. Zensinger and Bruce P. Baughman -- who led FEMA's offices of response, recovery and preparedness, respectively -- have left since 2003, taking jobs as consultants or state emergency managers, according to current and former officials..."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9261552/

[Praxus]

Yeah the FEMA director is a lawyer I believe, whose former
job was head of some arabian horse organization.

I think the director of FEMA should never be a political patronage appointment like it is currently.
Its a position that should require an experienced career civil service or mililtary person.

[soonertwister]

If you want to make a specific point, just come out and say it.

You post makes no particular point, but clearly insinuates federal guilt regarding the response to this disaster.

Rather than focus on personalities and credentials, focus on issues and actions. It's not image that matters, nor experience. It's what the results of critical decisions are.

[Deb321]

Yeah the FEMA director is a lawyer I believe, whose former
job was head of some arabian horse organization.

I think the director of FEMA should never be a political patronage appointment like it is currently.
Its a position that should require an experienced career civil service or mililtary person.

I heard earlier today they are talking about appointing someone to oversee the rebuilding of NO. Someone with experience dealing with disasters. The name of the NY mayor during 9/11 came up.(Rudy G)

[mettski]

If you want to make a specific point, just come out and say it.

You post makes no particular point, but clearly insinuates federal guilt regarding the response to this disaster.

Rather than focus on personalities and credentials, focus on issues and actions. It's not image that matters, nor experience. It's what the results of critical decisions are.

i disagree (for the 1st time on this forum). do you have a cushy job lined up then ?

[Windy]

If you want to make a specific point, just come out and say it.

You post makes no particular point, but clearly insinuates federal guilt regarding the response to this disaster.

Rather than focus on personalities and credentials, focus on issues and actions. It's not image that matters, nor experience. It's what the results of critical decisions are.

Well, uh... hmm. I don't get it. The post simply highlights a story pointing out that most of the senior FEMA folk have no real disaster training or experience whatsoever. I'm sorry if that sits wrong with you, but, hey, thems the facts. Given that everyone, including the president, agrees that the disaster response was unacceptable, why complain when seasoned reporters begin to try to assemble evidence as to why? I mean, isn't that their job?

Lets assume for a moment that FEMA screwed the pooch on this one (as polling shows most people in this country believe): does that mean that it's solely their fault? Is that what this story really insenuates, or are you just being a bit overdefensive? Just because a finger is pointed at FEMA does not mean that it won't be pointed at state and local officials, too. But if FEMA did screw up, it'll be helpful to understand why. The fact that the leadership of the organization had little to no operational or academic experience with disasters seems, to me, a very relevant point, and I have no problem with tndefender pointing it out.

Just my two cents.

[soonertwister]

mettski, do you just blow wind, or do you actually have anything to say? Thus far I'd say your contributions, other than your disdain for what I've had to say, are a big fat zero.

You assume the worst but cannot back up anything you say with any fact of action, and actions are what are most important right now.

If you want to stake a claim of some ground to defend, then I can allow you the opportunity to defend it. But it seems to me, you just disagree because you are pretty sure you know what's right. So what's right?

[soonertwister]

Windy, what most people believe may or may not be what you believe, and may or may not have to do with the information that has been provided to them.

The "lets just assume for a moment that FEMA screwed the pooch" argument holds zero appeal for me. I want to know what specifically FEMA was supposed to do, and I want to hear their explanation if those things weren't done. Isn't that fair? You are assuming that FEMA is the big bad wolf, but have you ever heard of a state government forbidding all non-governmental aid agencies from providing aid in the most important city in that state after a major catastrophe? I never have, and I'm not a young person.

Who do you think does the point work for FEMA in a disaster before they start cutting checks? The non-profit aid agencies like the Red Cross and Salvation Army do. They are the ones who redirect people to FEMA assistance. FEMA is not a gigantic agency that covers all aspects of disaster assistance, their primary focus is to provide specific benefits to those affected, not sustenance of life. They don't operate field hospitals, or food kitchens, or shelters.

All non-profit aid agencies were denied entrance into New Orleans by the direction of Governor Blanco of Louisiana. How did they screw the pooch when they had no one to work with, no one to buffer them from being inundated from the panicked populations of a terrible disaster area?

[Windy]

Everything that you just said is all nice and good, but it still fails to explain why the original article isn't relevant. Just because you have evidence to present does not mean that other relevant evidence must be silenced.

BTW, I am right about what the majority of Americans believe. I can point you to poll numbers from Zogby and Pew, but I don't want to turn this into a political discussion. (Articles that reference the numbers I'm speaking of also speak of approval ratings, etc.)

[soonertwister]

I didn't comment on what the majority of Americans currently believe, and frankly, what they currently believe is entirely irrelevant to me.


So Windy, if you would be so kind, please respond to these questions:

I want to know what specifically FEMA was supposed to do, and I want to hear their explanation if those things weren't done. Isn't that fair?

You are assuming that FEMA is the big bad wolf, but have you ever heard of a state government forbidding all non-governmental aid agencies from providing aid in the most important city in that state after a major catastrophe? I never have, and I'm not a young person.

Who do you think does the point work for FEMA in a disaster before they start cutting checks?

All non-profit aid agencies were denied entrance into New Orleans by the direction of Governor Blanco of Louisiana. How did they screw the pooch when they had no one to work with, no one to buffer them from being inundated from the panicked populations of a terrible disaster area?


Being on-topic is important, attacking the poster less so.

[Windy]

sooner, I haven't attacked you, and if you scroll up a bit you will find that you've tread pretty perilously close to attacking others. You're not exactly creating a welcome and open spirit of discussion in this thread. But I digress.

I have no interest in answering your questions, so I won't. You don't get to draw me into this on your terms; if I wanted to have a go-around with you over talking points, I would, but it should have been clear to you from my last response that I don't place a lot of value in the type of conversation you're trying to involve me in.

My point stands, since you haven't addressed it. Your complaints about the original poster's intentions are assumptive and baseless. The article he posted was informative and relevant.

Have a nice night.

[artist]

sooner - you are so right - seems there are some that are just not willing to look at the facts of what went on- rather they would prefer to drum up something that at this moment is irrelevent to what went on. The aid in Florida went relatively smoothly as well as the other states that were hit last year. And the polls that I have seen show that most feel no one is responsible for what went on - that it was the enormity of the situation.

[Windy]

sooner - you are so right - seems there are some that are just not willing to look at the facts of what went on- rather they would prefer to drum up something that at this moment is irrelevent to what went on. The aid in Florida went relatively smoothly as well as the other states that were hit last year. And the polls that I have seen show that most feel no one is responsible for what went on - that it was the enormity of the situation.

That was yesterday's poll. Google "Katrina polls" in google news for today's. Big shift.

[soonertwister]

No soldier had the qualifications to be a war hero before he wore the uniform.

The qualifications issue is only important if the response of the person presumed unqualified is inadequate. Which we have not determined to any appreciable degree thus far. We simply don't know all the facts.

I'm trying to engage in a dialog regarding this disaster. When the dust clears it would at least be helpful if you offered your opinion on some of the questions I've asked.

I do want to know how would you respond when the floodwaters are up to your chest, and your Mayor is saying that the situation is under control.

FEMA is not a disaster first-responder, but a solution finder. There's a reason why they are called an Emergency Management Agency, because that is what they were created to do. The grunt work is for the first and second responders, and if need be the ready response groups of federal government.

It appears to me that the federal people have largely been handcuffed from an effective response by the governor of Lousiana. And as a result, a terrible disaster has become much worse. But that's just my opinion, maybe FEMA caused the whole thing.

Those aren't questions, so maybe you can respond to those statements.

[luvwinter]

I believe the responsability for all the things that have happened before and since Katrina hit, rest with local, state and federal officials. That being said I did not feel this was the point of the original poster. I believe the original poster's point was that top fema officials came to their position with little or no Emergency Management Experience and that it concerned he/she. To me its' like having a banker in charge of Homeland Security.

[Terry]

luvwinter wrote

I believe the responsability for all the things that have happened before and since Katrina hit, rest with local, state and federal officials. That being said I did not feel this was the point of the original poster. I believe the original poster's point was that top fema officials came to their position with little or no Emergency Management Experience and that it concerned he/she. To me its' like having a banker in charge of Homeland Security.

Very well said, luvwinter.

And now these FEMA officials are in charge of an additional $51 billion. This is just pathetic.

[tndefender]

Soonertwister asked just what exactly was FEMA supposed to do. The following is its mission statement:

"On March 1, 2003, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). FEMA's continuing mission within the new department is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and effectively manage federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates proactive mitigation activities, trains first responders, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration."

And yes I do find it troubling that one of the most important agencies in the federal government has become a venue for political patronage.

[oneness]

The question to ask is, if the job were awarded upon genuine and demonstrated professional competence and merit in the relevant fields, would the present crop of people be suitable for those positions?

[mf_dolphin]

Nearly all large private corporations and Federal Agencies have people at the helm that don't have expertise in the field or fields that their organizations specialize in. While the article may indeed be factual it's irrelevent except for political mud-slinging purposes IMO. What is important is the question of how these people led their agency and the decisions that they made in response to this disaster.

What we saw last year in Florida was when the local and state governments do their job and then work hand in hand with FEMA and the volunteer organizations, things get done. Was it perfect? Absolutely not. Last year there was a lot of criticizm about slow response, paperwork etc but things got done. The New Orleans situation is just the opposite.

[RichG]

If you ever work in government you will find that the director, secretary whomever the political appointees are,- almost NEVER have any experience in whatever the mission of the particualr agency. Quite frankly a good manager is a good manager it doesn't matter what the field is. I worked for government in the past and we had about two dozen different chiefs and none had any experience in what we did. Some got it some didn't. I am not here to defend the head of FEMA but I would like to see relevant facts and relevant misdeeds. What has FEMA messed up on? The facts seem to clearly point to local and state governments in being criminally incompentent (bus situation, preventing supplies going to the superdome and so on). To those who have a political agenda here, just remember the disaster in the Gulf, these are real people, AMERICANS whose lives are affected not a tools to be used.