CA Guard Warned Of ‘Less Effective Response’ To Fires Due To Equipment Shortages Caused By Iraq

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CA Guard Warned Of ‘Less Effective Response’ To Fires Due To Equipment Shortages Caused By Iraq
The San Francisco Chronicle reported last May that the California National Guard had been depleted and warned that severe “equipment shortages could hinder the guard’s response to a large-scale disaster,” such as a “major fire”:

In California, half of the equipment the National Guard needs is not in the state, either because it is deployed in Iraq or other parts of the world or because it hasn’t been funded, according to Lt. Col. John Siepmann. While the Guard is in good shape to handle small-scale incidents, “our concern is a catastrophic event,” he said.

“You would see a less effective response (to a major incident),” he said.

At a press conference five months ago, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA) echoed these concerns, stating, “A lot of equipment has gone to Iraq, and it doesn’t come back when the troops come back.” The Chronicle reported that the California National Guard was missing about $1 billion worth of equipment.

Now, as 14 major wildfires rage across the state, those earlier warnings are materializing. While California currently has approximately 1,500 Guardsmen serving in Iraq, the strains on the disaster response teams are compounded by the missing personnel and equipment.

Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) said, “Right now we are down 50 percent in terms of our National Guard equipment because they’re all in Iraq. The equipment — half of the equipment, so we really will need help.” California Lieutenant Gov. John Garamendi (D) said on Harball yesterday, “What we really need are those firefighters, we need the equipment, we need, frankly, we need those troops back from Iraq.”

When asked about California’s concerns of depleted equipment caused by Iraq, White House spokesman Dana Perino said yesterday, “I haven’t heard that specifically.”

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/10/24/ca-guard-equipment/
State National Guard warns it's stretched to the limit
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/05/11/MNGRIPPB2D1.DTL

[jwirr]

1. That is probably true all over the country. Scary.

[Bitwit1234]

2. CNN just made the announcement

that Arnold said they were frustrated because they didn't have enough guard, but the Pentagon said they had all the help they needed. Can you beat that. Some ass sits on his ASS in the pentagon and tells the people fighting the fire, they have all the help they need.


What he is really doing is protecting bush's ASS.

[Didereaux]

3. Said that in two or three other threads over the past week or so, ...

most recent was earlier today...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2124481&mesg_id=2124906

I am continually amazed at how much valid information is posted and how much of it goes unread or dismissed. And yet every 10th post it seems is decring some 'new' scarey thing that is six months old!

sheeesh!

[madrchsod]

4. well gee barbara why don`y you guys do something about it?

well...we are waiting for an answer........................................