Should Chertoff have gotten the axe instead?

[stormie_skies]

WASHINGTON - The federal official with the power to mobilize a massive federal response to Hurricane Katrina was Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, not the former FEMA chief who was relieved of his duties and resigned earlier this week, federal documents reviewed by Knight Ridder show.


Even before the storm struck the Gulf Coast, Chertoff could have ordered federal agencies into action without any request from state or local officials. Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Michael Brown had only limited authority to do so until about 36 hours after the storm hit, when Chertoff designated him as the "principal federal official" in charge of the storm.

As thousands of hurricane victims went without food, water and shelter in the days after Katrina's early morning Aug. 29 landfall, critics assailed Brown for being responsible for delays that might have cost hundreds of lives.


But Chertoff - not Brown - was in charge of managing the national response to a catastrophic disaster, according to the National Response Plan, the federal government's blueprint for how agencies will handle major natural disasters or terrorist incidents. An order issued by President Bush in 2003 also assigned that responsibility to the homeland security director.


But according to a memo obtained by Knight Ridder, Chertoff didn't shift that power to Brown until late afternoon or evening on Aug. 30, about 36 hours after Katrina hit Louisiana and Mississippi. That same memo suggests that Chertoff may have been confused about his lead role in disaster response and that of his department.

A cabinet level official is confused about what his job is????? What on earth is going on here????

Don't put away the axe just yet.....

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/12637172.htm

[GalvestonDuck]

Heck, I'm confused also. Not sure what "Homeland Security" has to do with hurricanes. What could they have done? Lined up tanks and faced them towards the Gulf?

Seems to me Brown was in charge of emergency management and he didn't do his duties.

(I understand what the "plan" says, but I can also understand how Chertoff would be confused about his role in it. Seems like he (like I) think his role pertains to terrorism emergencies, not natural disasters).

[f5]

I know one thing Katrina was the pop quiz a nuclear terrorist attack is the Semester exam

[Mattie]

i have to agree with you there - and that is a scary scary thought that has been in the back of my mind for days.

[Stephanie]

Heck, I'm confused also. Not sure what "Homeland Security" has to do with hurricanes. What could they have done? Lined up tanks and faced them towards the Gulf?

Seems to me Brown was in charge of emergency management and he didn't do his duties.

(I understand what the "plan" says, but I can also understand how Chertoff would be confused about his role in it. Seems like he (like I) think his role pertains to terrorism emergencies, not natural disasters).

It seems to me that there was alot of red tape that interfered with the whole process of NO, MS & AL getting the help they need. I can't imagine that someone at his level would have to sign off on every decision each of his departments make. I know that this is a BIG decision, but this is what FEMA supposedly does.

I think that the right man left, IMHO.

[huricanwatcher]

the blame game has just begun.. .and its going to go back and forth more times than you can count

[Aslkahuna]

Based on his post storm comments, Jerkoff should ALSO be fired and not instead of.

Steve

[huricanwatcher]

Based on his post storm comments, Jerkoff should ALSO be fired and not instead of.

Steve

hahahahaha

[themusk]

The problem here seems to be that the individuals at the top of the disaster response apparatus in Washington were political appointees with no real experience. It explains why some of the fundamentals of emergency management were ignored or slow to come into play.

I hope this serves as a lesson to future administrations that some positions must be filled by people with experience, and cannot be used as jobs to reward political supporters.

(And, yes, the lesson applies to both sides of the aisle: does anyone really think that only one party has ever made a politically motivated appointment?)

[Windy]

the blame game has just begun.. .and its going to go back and forth more times than you can count

There is nothing "game like" about the blame in this situation. Thousands of people died. The word "blame game" was inserted by political spinsters in order to make it seem like accountability is a silly, political thing. It's not. Accountability is what is needed when all levels of government fail to respond adequately to something catastrophic that has been predicted for many years.

[Stephanie]

The problem here has seems to be that the individuals at the top of the disaster response apparatus in Washington were political appointees with no real experience. It explains why some of the fundamentals of emergency management were ignored or slow to come into play.

I hope this serves as a lesson to future administrations that some positions must be filled by people with experience, and cannot be used as jobs to reward political supporters.

(And, yes, the lesson applies to both sides of the aisle: does anyone really think that only one party has ever made a politically motivated appointment?)

Agree 100%

I saw today that Michael Brown layed all the blame on Governor Blanco. The little sh** hasn't come out ONCE to admit that he didn't do his job! President Bush took responsibility, but not the guy in charge of the main department that handles emergencies like these! Even Blanco "finally" said yesterday that she accepts full responsibility for what the state did and did not do correctly. The only reason why he said he was stepping down was because he thought he was becoming a "distraction". PUH-LEEZE!!!!

[Mattie]

Bush is announcing his reconstruction plan in New Orleans on Thursday night during a televised address also aimed at mending his image as a strong leader in a time of crisis.

Same thing here - it's a political "game". Let's save face, and put the people at ease that the government is doing all that it can, but the big question is . . .

and we don't truly know what the answer is . . .

"IS New Orleans ready and able to be rebuilt??? Do they have the toxicity reports in . . will they be able to allow people back into the city completely confident that they are environmentally safe???

I say this from the experience of toxic chemicals entering the ground water after a train derailment back in 1983 in Louisiana. This little town was totally shut down for about 6 months while the EPA came in and did tests, after tests, studies after studies for the hazard of hydrochloride that seeped into the soil and water.

For 5 years after the train derailment regular samples were taken of the water, a health clinic was established to monitor patients for 10 years and all residents drank bottled water or brought it in from other towns when they went to visit friends. They were told to burn the gardens and any produce and not to plant until all things could be deemed safe.

Now, on a MUCH larger scale, we have probably worse conditions in some areas. I personally wouldn't find myself back in the areas that didn't flood. These communities in close proximity all share the bayous, waterways, drainage, etc. Toxic stuff got everywhere.

So, my opinion is that because the people want to hear good things from our government, our government is taking on risks that I'm not sure they are ready to handle if consequences arise.

Just My HUMBLE opinion.

[themusk]

Bush is announcing his reconstruction plan in New Orleans on Thursday night during a televised address also aimed at mending his image as a strong leader in a time of crisis.

Same thing here - it's a political "game". Let's save face, and put the people at ease that the government is doing all that it can, but the big question is . . .

and we don't truly know what the answer is . . .

<good questions anr examples snipped>

That's why I wish we would be hearing more from the professionals and less from those on both sides of the aisle who see this as one more arena in which to make political waves (pun intended). I'm sure those pros are doing their jobs, or are at least trying to, but that dimension of what is going on isn't filtering down to the rest of us as much as I wish it was.

It's now known that information about the toxicity of the air after 9/11 was withheld from the first responders, who have suffered tremendously as a result of this decision. I think it's important that we have correct information this time around so that the people involved in rebuilding and repopulating New Orleans can take actions to protect themselves, and/or decide whether the risks are worth the benefit.