Thursday, September 01, 2005
Federal Government's Response
C-/D+
Maybe my expectations of the what the federal government can do are too high and I recognize that I'm commenting from a position of hindsight, but it seems to me that action on the part of the feds could have been taken sooner, and while such actions would not have eliminated the crisis we are now facing, it could have helped save precious hours and days in the rescue and recovery effort.
The devastation in New Orleans was totally foreseeable. I mean the History Channel even had a special about this very scenario a few years back. The levies protecting the city were only certified to guard against a category 3 hurricane. As long as 48 hours before impact, Katrina was a category 5 and on a direct path toward New Orleans.
The creation of the Department of Homeland Security nearly four years ago (and opposed at the time by the President) was supposed to think through such scenarios and coordinate in advance, relief efforts. It seems that the largest federal agency ever could have prepositioned boats, supplies, amphibious craft, food and other resources just outside the projected impact area as a precaution. They apparently did not.
President Bush has finally stepped up, but the actions he's taken this week, especially forming a cabinet level task force, should have been done days ago. It's both a matter of life and leadership. Up to 80,000 people are now trapped in NOLA, on bridges, over passes, on their roofs and in their attics. They have no access to water or food or escape. They've been in that situation for days now, and have only hours left before dehydration starts to take its toll. Prepositioned supplies, ships and troops could have been mobilized on Sunday, this would have saved precious hours.
The states and private sector have really stepped in to fill the gap. There leadership has been impressive. The feds, once again have missed one opportunity after another.
Maybe my expectations of the what the federal government can do are too high and I recognize that I'm commenting from a position of hindsight, but it seems to me that action on the part of the feds could have been taken sooner, and while such actions would not have eliminated the crisis we are now facing, it could have helped save precious hours and days in the rescue and recovery effort.
The devastation in New Orleans was totally foreseeable. I mean the History Channel even had a special about this very scenario a few years back. The levies protecting the city were only certified to guard against a category 3 hurricane. As long as 48 hours before impact, Katrina was a category 5 and on a direct path toward New Orleans.
The creation of the Department of Homeland Security nearly four years ago (and opposed at the time by the President) was supposed to think through such scenarios and coordinate in advance, relief efforts. It seems that the largest federal agency ever could have prepositioned boats, supplies, amphibious craft, food and other resources just outside the projected impact area as a precaution. They apparently did not.
President Bush has finally stepped up, but the actions he's taken this week, especially forming a cabinet level task force, should have been done days ago. It's both a matter of life and leadership. Up to 80,000 people are now trapped in NOLA, on bridges, over passes, on their roofs and in their attics. They have no access to water or food or escape. They've been in that situation for days now, and have only hours left before dehydration starts to take its toll. Prepositioned supplies, ships and troops could have been mobilized on Sunday, this would have saved precious hours.
The states and private sector have really stepped in to fill the gap. There leadership has been impressive. The feds, once again have missed one opportunity after another.
