Hurricane Katrina Dubbed "National Failure"

[brunota2003]

Can't Believe there isnt a topic about this already...if there is...then sorry for the double, but interesting read:

WASHINGTON (AFP) - A Congress report accused the US administration of leading a "national failure" over the Hurricane Katrina disaster, forcing authorities to announce a major reorganisation of the Homeland Security Department.

Leading officials failed to act on warnings before Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the surrounding region last August and then did not make the proper response to the disaster, said House of Representative lawmakers in excerpts of their damning report to be released in full on Wednesday.

"In many respects, our report is a litany of mistakes, misjudgments, lapses and absurdities all cascading together, blinding us to what was coming and hobbling any collective effort to respond," said the lawmakers.

"Our investigation revealed that Katrina was a national failure, an abdication of the most solemn obligation to provide for the common welfare," they added.

"At every level -- individual, corporate, philanthropic and governmental -- we failed to meet the challenge that was Katrina."

According to media reports, the full 600 page report will criticise the administration from President George W. Bush downwards.

Opposition Democrats are already calling for resignations. Bush took responsibility for the failed response in the outcry that followed the hurricane which flattened much of the US Gulf Coast, killing about 1,300 people.

The US government has spent tens of billions of dollars on aid and reconstruction efforts following the disaster.

Pre-empting the report, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff unveiled a major overhaul of the Federal Emergency Management Agency that is tasked with responding to domestic catastrophes.

He said FEMA would upgrade its alert procedure, add several hundred staff and improve its infrastructure and information technology systems, to allow it to respond more quickly to catastrophes.

Speaking to a conference Monday for emergency management officials near Washington, Chertoff defended the Katrina response while assuming "responsibility" for errors.

"As the president said, the results of our response to Katrina were unacceptable," he said.

"As the secretary of homeland security, I am accountable and I accept responsibility for the performance of the entire department," he said.

While conceding that the Department of Homeland Security sees itself as focused on terrorism, Chertoff said that responding to natural disasters was also part of its mission.

"I unequivocally and strongly reject this attempt to drive a wedge between our concerns about terrorism and our concerns about natural disasters," he said.

The report outlines similar government shortcomings as those exposed after the September 11, 2001 attacks by Al-Qaeda on New York and Washington.

Last week Michael Brown, who quit as head of FEMA after Katrina struck, blamed the department's terrorism orientation for the poor response to the hurricane.

Brown told a congressional hearing that FEMA was regarded in the department as an unwanted "step-child".

House Democrats, who were largely shut out of formal participation in the Katrina investigation, have called for Chertoff's resignation. They have also demanded that the White House release documents on its handling of the disaster.

Two Louisiana Democrats, Representatives Charlie Melancon and William Jefferson, who informally participated in the inquiry, also called this week for an independent commission fashioned after the official September 11 inquiry.

[MiamiensisWx]

It's the article that's stupid. I'm tired of hearing about New Orleans and blaming.

[brunota2003]

well sorry for passing along info that people might wanna read...and no, its not ALL about NO believe it or not...

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

I'll just say this, and then drop the issue:


What a total mess, all ways around.

[MiamiensisWx]

well sorry for passing along info that people might wanna read...and no, its not ALL about NO believe it or not...

I know, Tim... that is why I'm tired of hearing only about New Orleans. Thank goodness for Storm2K, otherwise I'd be like the many others who don't know. No offense... I just feel that way...

[MiamiensisWx]

I'll just say this, and then drop the issue:


What a total mess, all ways around.

I totally agree, Hybridstorm_November2001!

[brunota2003]

None taken, and for a change, I do wanna hear about the areas in Mississippi to...NO is just a political storm, and that is not allowed here...

[MiamiensisWx]

I also want to hear about Alabama and other areas of Louisiana, too, along with Mississippi.

[MiamiensisWx]

Here is what half of the New Orleans mumbo-jumbo is about...

1. Race - 99%
2. Religion - 99%
3. Blaming the government - 99%
4. Helping people/rebuilding N.O./focusing more on Mississippi, Alabama, and other areas of Louisiana - less than 1%

It's the same old story over and over again.

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

I promised I wouldn't, but here goes aynway:


As an outside looking in what I find strangest of all is that the Media seems to have forgotten this was the worse natural disaster in American history. They play up the political storm, but hardly ever mention the actually storm LOL. I'm not saying horrible mistakes were not made on all levels, they were, but still I doubt this could have came out perfect no matter what.


This really is my last comment, as I feel this is not the place for this sort of thing, and it does no good anyhow

[MiamiensisWx]

Excellent points, Hybridstorm_November2001.

[Pearl River]

CapeVerdeWave wrote

Here is what half of the New Orleans mumbo-jumbo is about...

1. Race - 99%
2. Religion - 99%
3. Blaming the government - 99%
4. Helping people/rebuilding N.O./focusing more on Mississippi, Alabama, and other areas of Louisiana - less than 1%

I've been saying this all along. Actually it's 99.98% Race.

Heck, I live in St Tammany Parish, and we got hit hard, especially Slidell and we're sick and tired of hearing about N.O. and not the other area's.

It is an absolute mess all around and unfortunately it's going to take a long time to come back for all the areas.

[MiamiensisWx]

I agree with all comments from everyone. Let's lock this thread. No offense to you, brunota2003, either!

[Hybridstorm_November2001]

I second that. I love the atmosphere here (no pun intended). I would hate to see it turn sour by this volatile issue, and trust me that could happen very fast indeed.

[Jim Cantore]

Here is what half of the New Orleans mumbo-jumbo is about...

1. Race - 99%
2. Religion - 99%
3. Blaming the government - 99%
4. Helping people/rebuilding N.O./focusing more on Mississippi, Alabama, and other areas of Louisiana - less than 1%

It's the same old story over and over again.

agreed

as for media attention in damaged areas

New Orleans 99%
Saint Bernard Parrish 0.50%
Mississippi 0.45&
Alabama/Florida 0.005%
Buras Louisiana 0.0000000000000000000000000000000000000001%

[Jim Cantore]

The media got totally off of what the real issues are and that was to help the people and inform us on the horrible devestation in ALL of the effected areas

they fail horribly

[sunny]

It's the article that's stupid. I'm tired of hearing about New Orleans and blaming.

You know CVW - I hope you never have to go through what we've gone through. I'm getting tired of everyone acting like we've done this on purpose.

[HurryKane]

As an outside looking in what I find strangest of all is that the Media seems to have forgotten this was the worse natural disaster in American history. They play up the political storm, but hardly ever mention the actually storm

True dat.

There are probably a good number of Americans who think we're all bandaged up and back in business. Most outsiders just don't understand the enormity of the devastation and that it will take a decade before it's back to anything resembling normal.

[MiamiensisWx]

By the way things are going, make that ten decades, HurryKane.

[MiamiensisWx]

You know CVW - I hope you never have to go through what we've gone through. I'm getting tired of everyone acting like we've done this on purpose.

I totally agree, sunny! I have HUGE sympathy for you and all others. I mean it.