FEMA hampered with internal chaos as Katrina hit, memos show

[highplainsdem]

http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=3990374&nav=1ugO

WASHINGTON (AP) - FEMA struggled to locate food, ice, water and even body bags in the days following Hurricane Katrina, a frantic effort punctuated by bureaucratic chaos, infighting and concerns about media coverage, according to memos obtained Monday by The Associated Press.

Five days after the storm hit on Aug. 29, Michael Brown, then director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, e-mailed an aide saying there had been "no action from us" to evacuate storm victims using planes that airlines had made available.

"This is flat wrong. We have been flying planes all afternoon and evening," a subordinate, Michael Lowder, e-mailed in reply less than 30 minutes later.

A day earlier, a FEMA official in Mississippi received an e-mail asking for Brown's satellite phone number so a senior Pentagon official in the Gulf Coast could call him. "Not here in MS (Mississippi). Is in LA (Louisiana) as far as I know," FEMA official William Carwile e-mailed back, seemingly uncertain on the whereabouts of the administration's point man for responding to the disaster.

<snip>

[AndyTiedye]

1. Huh?

A day earlier, a FEMA official in Mississippi received an e-mail asking for Brown's satellite phone number so a senior Pentagon official in the Gulf Coast could call him. "Not here in MS (Mississippi). Is in LA (Louisiana) as far as I know," FEMA official William Carwile e-mailed back, seemingly uncertain on the whereabouts of the administration's point man for responding to the disaster.

If he has a satellite phone, it shouldn't matter if he's in
LA or MS or Tahiti.

[uppityperson]

2. How would they know which satellite to use, if they didn't know state?

I mean, really. I don't think they had a clue as to what they were doing. Must have been really frustrating for the ones who cared. I would like to see heads roll much more than they have.

[mom cat]

3. Generally a poorly written article.

[OKNancy]

4. Kick

:kick:

[sandnsea]

5. Sept 1 email

So much for not knowing Louisiana needed more security. "Need all you can send." Guess it wasn't just Blanco who used language like that.

"Florida pitched in with supplies, according to a Sept. 1 e-mail that showed just how badly FEMA needed them two days after the storm inflicted widespread damage across several states and led to flooding in New Orleans.

"Food is also critical. Need MRE (ready to eat meals) and/or heater meals if you have any. Water, ice, food in eastern counties should be your priority.

"Also know FL is providing law enforcement. Need all you can send. Public safety major concern (looting etc.) Have used Dixie C. body bags (250) got more?" Carwile e-mailed Fugate.

[DoYouEverWonder]

6. Messages Depict Disarray in Federal Katrina Response

October 18, 2005

As Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans on Aug. 29, Michael D. Brown, then director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, appeared confused over whether Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff had put him in charge, senior military officials could not reach Brown and his team became swamped by the speed of the unfolding disaster, according to e-mails to and from Brown.

When Chertoff belatedly named Brown the on-site disaster coordinator on the night of Aug. 30 and declared Katrina an "incident of national significance" -- the highest- order catastrophe under a new national response plan -- Brown and his assistants privately complained.

"Demote the Under Sec to PFO ?" an outraged FEMA press secretary Sharon Worthy wrote Brown at 10:54 p.m., soon after Chertoff's decision. "What about the precedent being set? What does this say about executive management and leadership in the Agency?"

"Exactly," replied Brown, then-under secretary for preparedness and response, according to e-mails obtained by The Washington Post.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/17/AR2005101701230.html?sub=AR

[...of J.Temperance]

7. So, will the whores issue an apology to Governor Blanco now?

Now that they've told us what we ALREADY knew and that it was all FEMA's fault and NOT her's...of course they won't. The pigs.

[opihimoimoi]

8. Clearly 2 cronies, Chertoff/Brown fucked it all up with total inexperience

laziness to prepare themselves for such a disaster, they had months and in Browns case, 2 years...they both did not take any courses or review existing plans for any disaster....and in NO case, they had a week to prepare....but they did not. Sheer Laziness and arrogance.

They will go down in History as major fuck ups.

[Rose Siding]

9. "Let them play their raindeer games..."

"Let them play their raindeer games as long as they are not turning around and tasking us with their stupid questions. None of them have a clue about emergency management," Altshuler told Brown and Brown's chief of staff, Patrick Rhode.

:wow: These clowns induldged in interagency politics while people -all of us, really- were depending on them to do what was expected.

[Judi Lynn]

10. E-mails show FEMA infighting, frustration

E-mails show FEMA infighting, frustration
From Jeanne Meserve

Tuesday, October 18, 2005; Posted: 4:01 a.m. EDT (08:01 GMT)
chief Michael Brown defends his job performance during a House hearing in September.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Internal Department of Homeland Security e-mails -- requested by a House select committee investigating the government's response to Hurricane Katrina and obtained by CNN -- show infighting, gaps in communication and general frustration.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is scheduled to testify before the committee on Wednesday.

There were immediate signs of chafing at the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the aftermath of the Gulf landfall of the storm on August 29. FEMA is a division of Homeland Security.

President Bush established the White House Task Force on Hurricane Katrina Response a day later and Chertoff designated Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response -- FEMA chief -- Mike Brown the principle federal officer (PFO), putting him in charge of the relief effort.

Brown perceived it as a step down.
(snip/...)

http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/10/18/fema.memos/index.html

[bluestateguy]

11. 3 years from now this guy is probably going to be a rent-a-cop in a mall

I don't think the Conservative Regime is going to take care of Brown the way they do for others who leave the administration.

[indepat]

12. A microcosm of just how rethugs have made us safe

[Loonman]

13. But Brownie was Bush's buddy!

He knew he was right for the job!

What a mess....