FEMA has NO REGIONAL DIRECTOR for the US Southeast

[Selatius]

But amid a tour of the Southeast region, Chertoff said the agency is still working to confirm a regional director to oversee a seven-state region that includes the nation's most frequent hurricane targets.

We've already had one tropical storm, and hurricane season started on the 1st of June, yet FEMA has no regional director in place yet?

Short about 500 workers - one-fifth of the work force - two months ago, FEMA officials initially said they would have 95 percent of their openings filled by mid-May. That date was later pushed to June 1 - the beginning of the hurricane season - and then discarded altogether.

"We are much better than we were," Chertoff said during a joint news conference with Gov. Mike Easley. "We're close to 90 percent. We're looking at getting between 90 and 95 percent by the end of the year."

My best advice? Look to your neighbors for help because the feds aren't gonna do it. Get together a neighborhood action plan to evacuate the sick and infirm and the poor along with those who are able to get out if a major hurricane comes your way. If your local authorities have no plan to evacuate poor and sick folks like lack of a busing/convoy plan, then people must collectivize their effort and do it together because it looks like the fucking government left town without you. Collectivism is the key here. The days where people say, "I'm driving out of here; if you can't get out, tough shit," must be put to an end.

http://southernstudies.org/facingsouth/2006/06/federal-emergency-mismanagement-agency.asp

I do not trust Chertoff's words that FEMA is prepared. I wouldn't bet my life on it, and YOU shouldn't either.

[Bluebear]

1. Hurricane Corrina confirmed we are absolutely on our own. nt

[oscar111]

2. Milton Friedman, Nobel prizewinner and GOP idol: "Gov. has only 3

legitimate functions: treasury, army and courts".

{as best i recall his famous evil words}.

Nowhere in that do you see aid to dependent children, FEMA, food stamps, public libraries, non toll roads, free hi school, free cops or firefighters.

A copy of Mexico is the GOP "utopia plan" for you. A vast sea of poverty where once stood the american middle class.

FEMA? Much better to "cull the herd" of weaklings. Costs less, and purifies the race of weaklings. As hitler pointed out.

{my comment... hitler lost, so he was a weakling in the final analysis.}

[magellan]

3. We rely on our neighbors (and they on us) anyway

That's how it was in 2004, and that's how it will be if we're hit again. It was locals who helped locals -- everyone from the next door neighbor to radio stations and nat'l guard, police and fire. Without all of them, and the businesses who brought in truckloads of supplies, folks in this area wouldn't have had access to ice or clean water or hot food for over a week. FEMA had nothing to do with it.

I don't expect any help from this administration in a disaster. None.

[Selatius]

6. Man, I wish there were more folks like you around here in Mississippi

Over 200 died here on the coast, and many of them were predominantly poor people and the elderly. It was worse to the west of us though in Louisiana. I read they're still discovering dead bodies in New Orleans because large swaths of the city have been abandoned and left unexplored. It's a dead zone in many places.

[magellan]

9. It breaks my heart to think of what happened to you all last year

I wanted to go. My husband would never have forgiven me if I had. I can't forgive myself for not. Every day I screamed at the PTB and cried. By that Friday I was so sick from watching the needless human suffering and from my own wretched helplessness and anger that I sank into depression and was off DU for nearly 5 months. I will not go through that again. Next time, I will go and offer whatever small assistance I can.

[oscar111]

4. PS .. Selatius , some really good posts lately

keep up the good work.

[oscar111]

5. RECOMMEND button is at bottom of orig post. Please click it n/t

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[Benhurst]

7. Recommended. #4. Just one more needed ... . NT

[madokie]

8. I took care of that

[w4rma]

10. This is happening because big media is quiet about it.

These corrupt SOBs only care about things that affect their poll numbers. They do not care who lives or dies.

[newyawker99]

11. kick

:kick:

[Selatius]

12. FEMA doesn't buy GAO report of fraud after Katrina

Who do you trust? Chertoff's FEMA? Or your own gut instinct?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2338243

[lumpy]

13. GAO report was on Yahoo after midnight

last night. Your tax dollars have been falling into the hands of criminal cheats for personal gain. Apparently little oversight on dispersion of Fema funds. These people should be hunted down and prosecuted to the full extent of the law and FEMA officials should be held accountable; bet it isn't going to happen. Is there no integrity left in this messed up country?

[intheflow]

14. Good Lord!

And all the headlines about people bilking FEMA, and fucking FEMA is bilking people by not being prepared and properly staffed. Obviously if you're not prepared, people will take advantage of you. But that's all this administration does, deflect the blame away from themselves onto others. People committing fraud oughtto be punished, yes, but when, O Goddess, will the crooks in this administration get theirs?