Silliopolous
06-09-2005, 18:17
Why?
This is why (http://www.tpc.ncep.noaa.gov/)
I mean, let alone earthquakes, volcanoes, meteors, or other - more unpredictable - disasters, the fact remains that over a decade ago Hurricane Andrew proved that disaster reponse was not up to snuff. Katrina has more than reinforced that the current setup has significant failings.
And hurrican season ain't over yet.
If you were the Governer of Georgia and the next week the NOAA announces that another behemouth was bearing down on YOUR coast, the first things out of your mouth would be "Ok guys, what have you learned and are you ready for OUR mess?" The answer to that, right now, would be "hey! it's not the right time yet..... you can either get the same service NOLA got, or can you have your disaster in about six months?"
Am I talking about committee hearings to document the entire timeline, interview witnesses, and assign individual blame for each and every fuck-up?
No. Now is NOT the time for that. These people are still a little busy at the moment.
But Katrina has clearly demonstrated that without a preset command structure that jumps into place automatically when the shit hits the fan, then you waste time and lives figuring out who's job it is get things done.
you get emergency services waiting to jump up and help, but being forced to wait for a bureaucrat to sign the okey-dokey when all parties are screaming to get the ball rolling.
You get turf battles, squabbling, and department heads that don't even know where the people that need to be rescued are while the rest of us watch them suffer on TV. I mean, how could the head of FEMA not call the mayor to ask "hey! are there any specific groups of people that we need to go in and get that you know about?"
Yeah. There are. Get your asses in gear and go get them!
The DHS was SUPPOSED to have this role. The Whitehouse document on the subject is pretty damn clear on this as it says (http://www.whitehouse.gov/deptofhomeland/analysis/title5.html)
Section 501. Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response.
This section specifies primary responsibilities of the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response. These include: (1) helping to ensure the preparedness of emergency response providers for terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies, (2) establishing standards, conducting exercises and training, evaluating performance, and providing funds in relation to the Nuclear Incident Response Team (defined in section 504 of the bill), (3) providing the federal government's response to terrorist attacks and major disasters, (4) aiding the recovery from terrorist attacks and major disasters, (5) working with other federal and non-federal agencies to build a comprehensive national incident management system, (6) consolidating existing federal government emergency response plans into a single, coordinated national response plan, and (7) developing comprehensive programs for developing interoperative communications technology and ensuring that emergency response providers acquire such technology. responsibility of providing the federal government's response to terrorist attacks and major disasters - item (3) above - includes a number of specific functions: (A) coordinating the overall response, (B) directing the Domestic Emergency Support Team, the Strategic National Stockpile, the National Disaster Medical System, and the Nuclear Incident Response Team, (C) overseeing the Metropolitan Medical Response System, and (D) coordinating other federal response resources.
So someone in the DHS was supposed to stand up and take charge. But noone did. Now I don't know if the problem is within the DHS as they haven't got around to defining who is supposed to be doing what for these tasks. And frankly I don't give a rats ass. THAT level of detail CAN wait as people suggest. But FEMA couldn't seem to coordinate a children's birthday party let alone a disaster recovery effort.
But right now people are extending the idea that full criticism can wait to "hey, we're busy. No criticism at all allowed!"
Bullshit.
There were massive failings that led to totally unacceptable delays. Things didn't really seem to get on track until one forceful general got onsite, got loud, and got people pulling together.
What each State Governer needs is the phone number of someone just as loud, organized, and responsible that they can call to get shit done if the need arises.
Full blame can wait (although I think that FEMA's head should be made an example of immediately with the second in command given the spot temporarily).
And fine tuning can wait.
But making a few responsible changes to high-level procedure shouldn't. I'm not a big fan of Executive Orders outside of due process, but if Bush had any brains he's be issuing one within a week or so that lets him tap one person to take contriol of a disaster if another occurs. One person willing to do what needs to be done, willing to risk their career on their abilities to do so without a bureaucracy to hide behind, and given the temporary authority to get things done when needed in a time of crisis.
That ain't pointing fingers as much as it is recognizing a disaster, and mitigating it. Because Katrina really was just one of a few disasters to strike NOLA and Mississipi.
And recognizing the disaster is the still the first step in dealing with it.
Call it "pointing fingers" if you like, but I prefer to call it "learning from mistakes and dealing with them".
This is why (http://www.tpc.ncep.noaa.gov/)
I mean, let alone earthquakes, volcanoes, meteors, or other - more unpredictable - disasters, the fact remains that over a decade ago Hurricane Andrew proved that disaster reponse was not up to snuff. Katrina has more than reinforced that the current setup has significant failings.
And hurrican season ain't over yet.
If you were the Governer of Georgia and the next week the NOAA announces that another behemouth was bearing down on YOUR coast, the first things out of your mouth would be "Ok guys, what have you learned and are you ready for OUR mess?" The answer to that, right now, would be "hey! it's not the right time yet..... you can either get the same service NOLA got, or can you have your disaster in about six months?"
Am I talking about committee hearings to document the entire timeline, interview witnesses, and assign individual blame for each and every fuck-up?
No. Now is NOT the time for that. These people are still a little busy at the moment.
But Katrina has clearly demonstrated that without a preset command structure that jumps into place automatically when the shit hits the fan, then you waste time and lives figuring out who's job it is get things done.
you get emergency services waiting to jump up and help, but being forced to wait for a bureaucrat to sign the okey-dokey when all parties are screaming to get the ball rolling.
You get turf battles, squabbling, and department heads that don't even know where the people that need to be rescued are while the rest of us watch them suffer on TV. I mean, how could the head of FEMA not call the mayor to ask "hey! are there any specific groups of people that we need to go in and get that you know about?"
Yeah. There are. Get your asses in gear and go get them!
The DHS was SUPPOSED to have this role. The Whitehouse document on the subject is pretty damn clear on this as it says (http://www.whitehouse.gov/deptofhomeland/analysis/title5.html)
Section 501. Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response.
This section specifies primary responsibilities of the Under Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and Response. These include: (1) helping to ensure the preparedness of emergency response providers for terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies, (2) establishing standards, conducting exercises and training, evaluating performance, and providing funds in relation to the Nuclear Incident Response Team (defined in section 504 of the bill), (3) providing the federal government's response to terrorist attacks and major disasters, (4) aiding the recovery from terrorist attacks and major disasters, (5) working with other federal and non-federal agencies to build a comprehensive national incident management system, (6) consolidating existing federal government emergency response plans into a single, coordinated national response plan, and (7) developing comprehensive programs for developing interoperative communications technology and ensuring that emergency response providers acquire such technology. responsibility of providing the federal government's response to terrorist attacks and major disasters - item (3) above - includes a number of specific functions: (A) coordinating the overall response, (B) directing the Domestic Emergency Support Team, the Strategic National Stockpile, the National Disaster Medical System, and the Nuclear Incident Response Team, (C) overseeing the Metropolitan Medical Response System, and (D) coordinating other federal response resources.
So someone in the DHS was supposed to stand up and take charge. But noone did. Now I don't know if the problem is within the DHS as they haven't got around to defining who is supposed to be doing what for these tasks. And frankly I don't give a rats ass. THAT level of detail CAN wait as people suggest. But FEMA couldn't seem to coordinate a children's birthday party let alone a disaster recovery effort.
But right now people are extending the idea that full criticism can wait to "hey, we're busy. No criticism at all allowed!"
Bullshit.
There were massive failings that led to totally unacceptable delays. Things didn't really seem to get on track until one forceful general got onsite, got loud, and got people pulling together.
What each State Governer needs is the phone number of someone just as loud, organized, and responsible that they can call to get shit done if the need arises.
Full blame can wait (although I think that FEMA's head should be made an example of immediately with the second in command given the spot temporarily).
And fine tuning can wait.
But making a few responsible changes to high-level procedure shouldn't. I'm not a big fan of Executive Orders outside of due process, but if Bush had any brains he's be issuing one within a week or so that lets him tap one person to take contriol of a disaster if another occurs. One person willing to do what needs to be done, willing to risk their career on their abilities to do so without a bureaucracy to hide behind, and given the temporary authority to get things done when needed in a time of crisis.
That ain't pointing fingers as much as it is recognizing a disaster, and mitigating it. Because Katrina really was just one of a few disasters to strike NOLA and Mississipi.
And recognizing the disaster is the still the first step in dealing with it.
Call it "pointing fingers" if you like, but I prefer to call it "learning from mistakes and dealing with them".