Now, it's late and I'm pretty distraught because I have family down there, so maybe I'm reading too much into this, but, it doesn't seem from the reports I'm hearing that FEMA did all it said it did in regards to all of this preparation and assistance. It would be interesting to match some of the footage of the news coverage FEMA reports here to see where the truth lies. It seems, if they've done all of this, we wouldn't be seeing quite the disaster that we are as of this date. At a minimum, they don't seem to be setting up these things near where the news reporters are---can't they get there?
Of particular concern to me, in regards to posts asking about who's to blame, and the Hannity's and O'Reilly's gleefully putting the blame for the chaos on the Mayor and Governor, is that their press release from August 28, 2005 states "National Guard troops have been deployed to assist law enforcement in evacuations." And this part caught my attention, too, from August 29, 2005: “It is critical that fire and emergency departments across the country remain in their jurisdictions until such time as the affected states request assistance...State and local mutual aid agreements are in place as is the Emergency Management Assistance Compact and those mechanisms will be used to request and task resources needed in the affected areas.”
___________________________________________________________________
Here are numerous press releases FEMA has posted before, during and after Katrina, to date:
Emergency Aid Authorized For Hurricane Katrina Emergency Response In Louisiana
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18447 Release Date: August 27, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Michael D. Brown...today announced that Federal resources are being allocated to support emergency protective response efforts response efforts in the parishes located in the path of Hurricane Katrina.
Brown said President Bush authorized the aid under an emergency disaster declaration issued following a review of FEMA's analysis of the state's request for federal assistance. FEMA will mobilize equipment and resources necessary to protect public health and safety by assisting law enforcement with evacuations, establishing shelters, supporting emergency medical needs, meeting immediate lifesaving and life-sustaining human needs and protecting property, in addition to other emergency protective measures.
<<snip>>
FEMA prepares the nation for all hazards and manages federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident. FEMA also initiates mitigation activities, trains first responders, works with state and local emergency managers, and manages the National Flood Insurance Program and the U.S. Fire Administration. FEMA became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003.
________________________________________________
Homeland Security Prepping For Dangerous Hurricane Katrina
Residents in path of storm "Must take action now"
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18461 Release Date: August 28, 2005
<<snip>>
On Saturday, President Bush has declared an emergency for the states of Louisiana and Mississippi opening up FEMA’s ability to move into the state and assist the state and local governments with mobilizing resources and preparations to save lives and property from the impact of Hurricane Katrina. FEMA is moving supplies of generators, water, ice and food into the region for immediate deployment once the storm passes. FEMA’s Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) and Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) are also staged for immediate response anywhere in the region. The funding and direct federal assistance will assist law enforcement with evacuations, establishing shelters and other emergency protective measures.
<<snip>>
Both Mississippi and Louisiana have mandatory evacuation orders in place for some areas. National Guard troops have been deployed to assist law enforcement in evacuations.
____________________________________________
First Responders Urged Not To Respond To Hurricane Impact Areas Unless Dispatched By State, Local Authorities
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18470 Release Date: August 29, 2005
WASHINGTON D.C. -- Michael D. Brown...today urged all fire and emergency services departments not to respond to counties and states affected by Hurricane Katrina without being requested and lawfully dispatched by state and local authorities under mutual aid agreements and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact.
“The response to Hurricane Katrina must be well coordinated between federal, state and local officials to most effectively protect life and property,” Brown said. “We appreciate the willingness and generosity of our Nation’s first responders to deploy during disasters. But such efforts must be coordinated so that fire-rescue efforts are the most effective possible.”
<<snip>>
“It is critical that fire and emergency departments across the country remain in their jurisdictions until such time as the affected states request assistance,” said U.S. Fire Administrator R. David Paulison. “State and local mutual aid agreements are in place as is the Emergency Management Assistance Compact and those mechanisms will be used to request and task resources needed in the affected areas.”
Paulison said the National Incident Management System is being used during the response to Hurricane Katrina and that self-dispatching volunteer assistance could significantly complicate the response and recovery effort.
___________________________________________________________
Assistance Continues To Areas Impacted By Hurricane Katrina
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18471 Release Date: August 29, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Michael D. Brown...announced that federal resources and support are continuing in four states as Hurricane Katrina makes its second landfall today.
<<snip>>
As of early August 29, approximately 52,000 people were in 240 shelters in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida and Texas, with the majority in the New Orleans Superdome. Strategic housing planning is underway to address expected continued sheltering and eventual housing needs.
<<snip>>
FEMA’s emergency teams and resources are being deployed and configured ... This includes pre-staging critical commodities such as ice, water, meals, and tarps in various strategic locations to be made available to residents of affected areas. FEMA’s Hurricane Liaison Team is onsite and working closely with the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Fla.
<<snip>>
FEMA has 500 trucks of ice, 500 trucks of water and 350 trucks of meals ready to eat (MREs) available for distribution over the next 10 days.
____________________________________
Cash Sought To Help Hurricane Victims, Volunteers Should Not Self-Dispatch
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18473 Release Date: August 29, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Voluntary organizations are seeking cash donations to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina in Gulf Coast states... But, volunteers should not report directly to the affected areas unless directed by a voluntary agency.
“Cash donations are especially helpful to victims,” Brown said. “They allow volunteer agencies to issue cash vouchers to victims so they can meet their needs. Cash donations also allow agencies to avoid the labor-intensive need to store, sort, pack and distribute donated goods. Donated money prevents, too, the prohibitive cost of air or sea transportation that donated goods require.”
<<snip>>
“We’re grateful for the outpouring of support already,” Brown said. “But it’s important that volunteer response is coordinated by the professionals who can direct volunteers with the appropriate skills to the hardest-hit areas where they are needed most. Self-dispatched volunteers and especially sightseers can put themselves and others in harm’s way and hamper rescue efforts.”
____________________________________________
President Declares Major Disaster For Louisiana
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18478 Release Date: August 29, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- ...(FEMA) announced today that federal disaster aid has been made available to the state of Louisiana...
... assistance was authorized under a major disaster declaration issued for the state by President Bush. The declaration covers damage to private and public property from Hurricane Katrina that occurred beginning August 29, 2005 and continuing.
The action follows the President's emergency declaration of August 27 that released federal resources to help meet immediate life-saving and life-sustaining human needs and protecting property in addition to other emergency protective measures. Debris removal and emergency services to assist law enforcement with evacuations and establishment of shelters are also eligible costs covered by the federal funding.
____________________________________
Evacuees Cautioned Not To Re-Enter Damage Areas Prematurely
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18488 Release Date: August 30, 2005
<<snip>>
FEMA pre-staged emergency response teams and critical commodities such as ice, water, meals ready-to-eat (MREs), and tarps in strategic locations in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. Convoys of supplies are moving into heavily impacted areas but with many roads damaged or impassable, it may be several days before emergency workers are able to reach all the victims of Katrina.
FEMA recommends that evacuees tune to local news coverage wherever they are located for ongoing response and recovery information. Federal, state and local officials will work with the media in these areas to communicate emergency information as it becomes available.
Evacuees can call the American Red Cross’ information line at 1-866-GET-INFO for information regarding emergency assistance and public safety information and road closures. In addition, Louisiana residents can call the Louisiana State Police at 800-469-4828 to check on roadways that are open and safe for travel in less impacted areas.
FEMA also reemphasized that volunteers should not report directly to the affected areas unless directed by a voluntary agency. Self-dispatched volunteers can put themselves and others in harm's way and hamper rescue efforts.
___________________________________
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsarchive.fema?year=2005& ;month=8
Nevada Disaster Medical Assistance Team Deployed To Gulf States For Hurricane Katrina, Aug 30
Texas Disaster Medical Assistance Team Deployed To Gulf States For Hurricane Katrina, Aug 30
Arkansas Disaster Medical Assistance Team Deployed To Gulf States For Hurricane Katrina, Aug 30
Oklahoma Disaster Medical Assistance Team Deployed To Gulf States For Hurricane Katrina, Aug 30
New Mexico Disaster Medical Assistance Team Deployed To Gulf States For Hurricane Katrina, Aug 30
North Carolina Disaster Medical Assistance Team Deployed To Gulf States For Hurricane Katrina, Aug 30
Washington Disaster Medical Assistance Team Deployed To Gulf States For Hurricane Katrina, Aug 30
Massachusetts Disaster Medical Assistance Team Deployed To Gulf States For Hurricane Katrina, Aug 30
______________________________________
Life Safety Tops FEMA Priorities, Supplies Pour In
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18497 Release Date: August 31, 2005
<<snip>>
Federal response activities include:
As of early August 31, more than 54,000 people were in 317 shelters. FEMA is working with a multi-state housing task force to address expected continued sheltering and eventual housing needs. More than 82,000 meals have been served in the impacted areas.
More than 1,700 trucks have been mobilized through federal, state and contract sources to supply ice, water and supplies. These supplies and equipment are being moved into the hardest hit areas as quickly as possible, especially water, ice, meals, medical supplies, and generators. It may, however, take several days for supplies and equipment to reach all victims because of damaged and closed roads and bridges.
<<snip>>
Fifty-one teams from the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) have been deployed, including five Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) that are supporting New Orleans medical facilities and hospitals not fully operational. These teams have truckloads of medical equipment and supplies with them and are trained to handle trauma, pediatrics, surgery and mental health problems. Additional teams are staged in Anniston, Ala.; Camp Shelby, Miss.; and Baton Rogue, La., and will move out as conditions permit.
NDMS has identified 2,600 hospital beds in a 12-state area around the affected area and is working with the U.S. Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to move patients to these facilities.
USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service is providing food at shelters and mass feeding sites and issuing emergency food stamps, infant formula and food packages to households in need.
FEMA is coordinating logistics with the U.S. Department of Transportation and Louisiana National Guard in support of the ground evacuation of refugees sheltered at the Superdome in New Orleans to the Houston Astrodome in Harris County, Texas.
<<snip>>
___________________________________________
U.S. Airlines Provide Emergency Airlift For New Orleans Evacuees
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18567 Release Date: September 2, 2005
ATA to Coordinate Unprecedented Civilian Relocation Program for Federal Government
Washington, DC, September 2, 2005 - The Department of Homeland Security, the Air Transport Association and the Department of Transportation today announced that the airline industry has launched "Operation Air Care" to provide emergency airlift to more than 25,000 New Orleans residents stranded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
<<snip>>
"This extraordinary civilian airlift is unprecedented in U.S. history, and is a shining example of how America can come together to help those in need," said ATA President and CEO James C. May. "Our member airlines have willingly offered to help the federal government get the job done and we will continue these efforts until they are no longer needed."
"We've cleared the runways and are watching the skies to make sure these humanitarian flights get in and out safely," said U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta. "From the moment Hurricane Katrina passed, the DOT has been working around the clock to put the people and equipment in place to sustain a massive airlift operation."
The plan, which was crafted late in the evening Thursday, allowed the first flight to New Orleans at 8 a.m. today. Participating airlines will provide aircrafts and service to airlift evacuees. Flights will depart from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport to sites designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, such as Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
__________________________________
FEMA Urges Patience While Search Continues for Stranded Victims and Supplies Stream In
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18540 Release Date: September 2, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Michael D. Brown...called for patience in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
"Response operations are being conducted over a disaster area of nearly 90,000 square miles - the biggest single disaster response in our nation's history. This is a catastrophic event, and it takes time to get assets to victims over this large area," said Brown. "We ask for patience from individuals who may be uncomfortable but are safe while we conduct search and rescue efforts for those who are stranded and without commodities."
To date, Federal response activities include:
The sheltering and care of more than 91,000 hurricane victims. FEMA is supporting state partners, the American Red Cross and voluntary agencies, in ensuring that victims of the storms are in safe shelters with essential life-sustaining commodities. As of today, people are in 275 shelters in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Texas.
<<snip>>
The deployment of nearly 1,200 National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) personnel to support medical facilities and hospitals in Louisiana and Mississippi which are not fully operational. Teams are staged near disaster areas for immediate and rapid deployment further into the disaster zone once it is safe to do so. NDMS teams are also coordinating the transport of medical needs victims from New Orleans to Houston.
The coordination of nearly 16,000 law enforcement personnel including National Guardsmen, and federal, state and local police officers being sent to the stricken areas. Convoys of food, water and ice which are arriving hourly in impacted areas. The evacuation of thousands from New Orleans to Texas. FEMA has contracted for more than 650 buses to expedite the state-ordered evacuation.
_____________________________________________
Critical Commodities Continue Into Disaster Areas While Government Responds to Challenges of Most Catastrophic Disaster in U.S. History
http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18566 Release Date: September 2, 2005
Washington - FEMA, along with its federal partners, state governments and voluntary agencies, are all working to keep meals ready to eat (MREs), food, water, ice, medical supplies, generators, and other critical commodities flowing into hurricane-hit areas...
<<snip>>
To date,
15,000 evacuations have been made from the New Orleans Superdome to the Astrodome in Houston and are continuing today to San Antonio for housing at Kelly Air Force Base....
Commodities delivered to date include:
1.9 million MREs
6.7 million liters of water
1.7 million pounds of ice
More than 600 buses to transport evacuees
As of yesterday, there were 204 shelters with a population of 53,004. This number fluctuates daily.
More than 170,000 meals a day are being served throughout the affected areas.
14,000 National Guard are on the ground in three states and an additional 1,400 will arrive today and 1,400 on Saturday to assist with security of victims and responders. A total of 27,000 members of the National Guard will be deployed to the affected areas.
200 Border Patrol agents, 200 additional law enforcement officers from other Louisiana jurisdictions and 2,000 officers from neighboring states are assisting in restoring order in the streets of New Orleans.
Nearly 500 U.S. Corps of Engineers civilians and soldiers are working on the New Orleans levee breach and coordinating the transport of ice and water.
A Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) is opening today in Bayou La Batre, Ala., and another tomorrow in Chatom, Ala.
<<snip>>
_______________________________________________
BTW, Here one press release FEMA posted Aug 13 before Charley in FLA
Department of Homeland Security Prepares Response to Hurricane Charley
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=3942 August 13, 2004
With Hurricane Charley's 145 mile-per-hour winds impacting the Florida coast, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has pre-positioned personnel and supplies for rapid response to areas that will need emergency assistance from this Category 4 strength storm.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is coordinating activities along with other federal departments and respective state agencies. FEMA met its goal to have necessary emergency response teams and disaster relief supplies positioned throughout the southeast region earlier today in preparation for the anticipated response operations. More equipment and resources are being deployed from stockpiles nationwide.
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge and FEMA Director Michael Brown are maximizing readiness and response efforts for Hurricane Charley and have been in contact with Florida Governor Jeb Bush and other governors in southeast states that could be impacted by this dangerous storm.
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