Old news but wanted it to be added to the timeline (can't find that page)

[lindisfarne]

FEMA had 80 San Diego firefighters/paramedics sitting in Houston for days.

This is old news but I didn't see it posted before (and I couldn't post) - I wanted it to be added to the time line. I don't know if these guys were allowed in or what. (I think another story of 83 members of an Orange County search and rescue team which were held up in FEMA for at least 6 days was already posted.

from San Diego Union-Tribune (www.uniontribune.com)
SIGNONSANDIEGO NEWS SERVICES
6:48 p.m. September 4, 2005

SAN DIEGO Authorities say they are speeding up relief efforts for
victims of Hurricane Katrina, but 80 San Diego firefighters and paramedics sent to the Gulf Coast are languishing in Houston, a fire official said Sunday. "We're there, we're ready, it's up to (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) to decide where we're needed," said Maurice Luque, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire Department.

Earlier this week, about 100 firefighters, lifeguards trained in swift-water rescues, paramedics, a doctor and a structural engineer from the San Diego area were sent to assist emergency personnel in Louisiana, Luque said.

The lifeguards - who left before the firefighters - were put to work
immediately, saving dozens of people from flooded buildings in New
Orleans, Luque said.

But the firefighters, doctor and structural engineer from the regional
Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 8 were diverted to Houston to await
further instructions, he said.

As of early this afternoon, 80 urban search and rescue members from San Diego were still in Houston, awaiting further instructions, Luque said.

The task force brought only enough food for up to two weeks, he said.

[reprehensor]

1. Clusterf*ck, the extended mix.

Jebus.