Offers to Help Katrina Victims Went Unused

[deadparrot]

WASHINGTON - Hundreds of available trucks, boats, planes and federal officers were unused in search and rescue efforts immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit because FEMA failed to give them missions, new documents show.

Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency called off its search and rescue operations in Louisiana three days after the Aug. 29 storm because of security issues, according to an internal FEMA e-mail given to Senate investigators.

The documents, released by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, are further evidence of lapses in FEMA's response to Katrina. They also detail breakdowns in carrying out the National Response Plan, which was issued a year ago specifically to coordinate response efforts during disasters.

A spokesman for the Homeland Security Department, which includes FEMA, did not dispute the documents. Katrina "pushed our capabilities and resources to the limit — and then some," said spokesman Russ Knocke.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/katrina_congress

[joemurphy]

1. Katrina pushed FEMA's brainpower beyond its limits. N/T

[splat]

2. These jobs are rewards, patronage. Some don't do the work n/t

[Ian David]

3. Rate it up on Yahoo. Don't forget to use the Email and print buttons

[pitohui]

4. more than "went un-used"

people died because fema and our fed. gov't turned would-be helpers away

everyone in louisiana knows this

[FloridaPat]

21. Kicked them out is more like it. People were helping and told to leave.

[TomInTib]

5. No wonder the WH doesn't want anyone to sit in front of the...

committee.
Out of N O in THREE days.
As strange as it sounds, FEMA is even worse than we thought.

[sandnsea]

6. states rights

local government. privatization.

wohoo!

This is about the failing of the Republican governance philosophy, not an agency.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

7. 17 votes 4.5stars

come on guys.

[Withywindle]

8. I remember a story in Chicago right after that...

...the city of Chicago had a fleet of firefighters, search-and-rescue teams, police, paramedics, Streets & San trucks for debris cleaning, all ready to go...

FEMA told them NOT TO COME, said they only wanted a couple trucks. I remember Daley being utterly furious and totally confused. I'm pretty sure there was never an explanation given that made sense.

[bvar22]

9. My analysis:

[geomon666]

10. New documents? I knew this crap in September.

Reading story after story about FEMA turning back help, refusing help, and just plain f***ing up.

[sabra]

11. kick

:kick:

[intheflow]

12. Vote it up on Yahoo.

Americians needs to remember Katrina was bungled so badly. The bastards need to be held accountable for their efforts. :kick:

[UpInArms]

13. Papers: FEMA Passed Up Available (Search and Rescue) Equipment (Katrina)

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ats-ap_us12jan29,0,4417715.story?coll=ny-leadnationalnews-headlines

WASHINGTON -- Hundreds of available trucks, boats, planes and federal officers were unused in search and rescue efforts immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit because FEMA failed to give them missions, new documents show.

Additionally, the Federal Emergency Management Agency called off its search and rescue operations in Louisiana three days after the Aug. 29 storm because of security issues, according to an internal FEMA e-mail given to Senate investigators.

The documents, released by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, are further evidence of lapses in FEMA's response to Katrina. They also detail breakdowns in carrying out the National Response Plan, which was issued a year ago specifically to coordinate response efforts during disasters.

A spokesman for the Homeland Security Department, which includes FEMA, did not dispute the documents. Katrina "pushed our capabilities and resources to the limit -- and then some," said spokesman Russ Knocke.

Responding to a questionnaire posed by investigators, Interior Department Assistant Secretary P. Lynn Scarlett said her agency offered to supply FEMA with 300 dump trucks and other vehicles, 300 boats, 11 aircraft and 400 law enforcement officers to help search and rescue efforts.

...more...

[waiting for hope]

14. My brother in law

was on a flatboat for three days helping people get out, he said the minute FEMA arrived, all chaos broke loose because they didn't have a clue - Brownie, your day is coming, you fashion god mother f*cker, don't think this will all be swept under the rug, because what goes around comes around.....

[Cronus Protagonist]

15. Lest we forget

Even the dogs were starving.

[Karmakaze]

17. Horifying...

Fallujah:



New Orleans:



That says it all.

[PhilipShore]

16. AP: Papers: FEMA passed up available equipment

AP Wire
FEMA passed up available equipment
Sun, Jan. 29, 2006

http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/13743834.htm

WASHINGTON - Hundreds of available trucks, boats, planes and federal officers were unused in search and rescue efforts immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit because FEMA failed to give them missions, new documents show.

[UpInArms]

18. Want to see how FEMA spent money instead of using those offers?

$12.1 million credit-card shopping spree by the Federal Emergency Management Agency

excerpt:

• Twenty boats, trailers and related supplies for search-and-rescue work in New Orleans. The boats were sold by Big Boat Movers of Lufkin, Texas, which quickly put together the deal over the weekend of Sept. 10. Cost: $177,025.

It would not have benefited a certain Texas company to use those search and rescue offers.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of available trucks, boats, planes and federal officers were unused in search and rescue efforts immediately after Hurricane Katrina hit because FEMA failed to give them missions, new documents show.

[mcscajun]

19. DUers were all over this in September-October. We KNEW All This

Back Then.

:grr:

Katrina "pushed our capabilities and resources to the limit — and then some," said spokesman Russ Knocke.

And STILL there are idiots out there that believe our government will be able to protect us if we are attacked again.

:banghead:

[DeepModem Mom]

20. A friend from NO told me of such offers that were made...

by people with boats, etc. No response.

[FloridaPat]

22. One guy had a web site. He got him and his boating buddies

together and went to NO. Seemed like it was 4-6 boats. They rode around looking for a place to put the boats in the water and then went around rescuing people. Came back with a boat load of saved folks and was told by FEMA to get out of the water and get out of NO. He had pictures and video on this web site. They did the same with the Red Cross!

[rudy23]

23. I'm telling you, this was negligent homicide and needs to be investigated

It was just so obvious down here, that by the third day, they were just letting people die. How come Anderson Cooper and Geraldo Rivera had no problems getting to the Dome, but no one could get there with some bottled water?

Someone high up, had some fantasy about an ethnic cleansing in N.O., and didn't want any "aid" to spoil the fun and games. How else do you explain that food and water were turned AWAY from dying Americans?

Demand a full investigation into this, with full disclosure from the White House. Do NOT let this fall out of our conciousness!

[DeltaLady]

24. "FEMA (Fix Everything My Ass)"

That sentiment, adorning many t shirts these days, is a good indicator of what New Orleanians are thinking and feeling. It seems everything FEMA touches turns to confusion and chaos. Sleep well my friends; you need to be resourceful and ready should disaster come to you while this "Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight" is on watch. As beaten down as we are, we've still got your back.