White House Knew of Levee's Failure on Night of Storm - NY Times 2/10/06

[Coastie for Truth]

<>
<>

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Bush administration officials said they had been caught by surprise when they were told on Tuesday, Aug. 30, that a levee had broken, allowing floodwaters to engulf New Orleans.

But Congressional investigators have now learned that an eyewitness account of the flooding from a federal emergency official reached the Homeland Security Department's headquarters starting at 9:27 p.m. the day before, and the White House itself at midnight.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency official, Marty Bahamonde, first heard of a major levee breach Monday morning. By late Monday afternoon, Mr. Bahamonde had hitched a ride on a Coast Guard helicopter over the breach at the 17th Street Canal to confirm the extensive flooding. He then telephoned his report to FEMA headquarters in Washington, which notified the Homeland Security Department.

"FYI from FEMA," said an e-mail message from the agency's public affairs staff describing the helicopter flight, sent Monday night at 9:27 to the chief of staff of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and recently unearthed by investigators. Conditions, the message said, "are far more serious than media reports are currently reflecting. Finding extensive flooding and more stranded people than they had thought — also a number of fires."

Michael D. Brown, who was the director of FEMA until he resigned under pressure on Sept. 12, said in a telephone interview Thursday that he personally notified the White House of this news that night, though he declined to identify the official he spoke to.

White House officials have confirmed to Congressional investigators that the report of the levee break arrived there at midnight, and Trent Duffy, the White House spokesman, acknowledged as much in an interview this week, though he said it was surrounded with conflicting reports.

But the alert did not seem to register. Even the next morning, President Bush, on vacation in Texas, was feeling relieved that New Orleans had "dodged the bullet," he later recalled. Mr. Chertoff, similarly confident, flew Tuesday to Atlanta for a briefing on avian flu. With power out from the high winds and movement limited, even news reporters in New Orleans remained unaware of the full extent of the levee breaches until Tuesday.


<<<SNIP>>>

[orwell]

1. You mean...

...they lied!

What will we tell the children?

[Coastie for Truth]

2. Ask me anything about Katrina

The Red Cross Doctor just told me that I passed my physical and can go to more hurricanes this summer (2006).



;) and Semper Par

[ReadyForChange]

5. I'd Rather Ask You About...

The Coast Guard in Vietnam and specifically Jerry Phillips. Trying to get the story told.

[Moderator]

3. Coastie for Truth

Per DU Rules, please limit your article to 4 paragraphs

Thank you

DU Moderator

[Moderator]

4. Coastie for Truth

Per DU Rules, please limit your article to 4 paragraphs

Thank you

DU Moderator