Who's Responsible for What (city,state,federal emergency plans for NOLA)

Ultimately the state and local governments were overwhelmed and according to the Presidents own directive to the Department of Homeland Security they are responsible for making sure aid is received swiftly and efficiently.

http://www.fas.org/irp/offdocs/nspd/hspd-5.html

 

Its got to start first at the scene at the local level. If it gets off to a bad start there the rest won't go as well as it could.

 

As I have said before, there was breakdown of communication on all levels. Who is to blame? It doesn't even really matter to me because everyone is responsible for some of the blame. My only concern is that we learn from this and NEVER let it happen again, instead of trying toplace the blame on any one person or governmetn entity.

 

I don't believe that there was a breakdown of communications. We all watched on TV as the local officials pleaded for help. What more did the federal government need to know?

The Director of FEMA was a political appointee whose last job was to ensure that the proper officials were in place for horse shows. This guy is incompetitent. When is anyone these days going to step up and take some responsibility? This wasn't a minor disaster. In all probability from what the New Orleans people are saying, this is going to be the worst natural disaster in US history and much worse than 9/11 in terms of lives lost. What happens when terrorists explode suitcase nuclear bombs in New York, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago at the same time? Are we going to say well maybe we can do it right next time. Sept. 11 was badly mishandled and now we have this. We need professionals in key positions NOW and we need some solid plans. Also, as Harry Truman said, "The buck stops here."

 

The Blame Game, at least my opinion.

First, those who built the city below sea level but they are all dead.

Second, the city officials, particularly the mayor who is the Commander in Chief of the Police Force and who did not enforce the mandatory evacuation.

Third, the state officials, particularly the governor, the Commander in Chief of the State National Guard, who did not enforce the mandatory evacuation.

Fourth, FEMA whose responsibility is to assist in National Disasters. Here the picture becomes murky since middle level bureaucrats are notorious for protecting their turf. The blame for FEMA failure ultimately falls on Director Brown.

Fifth, those folks who would not leave, particularly the idiots who could not leave their pets.

As you see there is plenty of blame to go around.

 

There was certainly no breakdown in communications. The local officals sat on their hands until the situation was beyond fixing. After that the Federal response is amazing given the mess they were handed.

 

</font>[/QUOTE]" Initial responsibility for managing domestic incidents generally falls on State and local authorities."

They got off to such a bad start locally it actually hinders relief efforts.

It was predictable that putting people in the Superdome would produce what it did. And letting as many people remain behind as they did was simply asking for disaster. These things should have been done better before the hurricane hit. They're getting done now by the federal government but where was the effort by local authority before the storm if not AWOL.

 

Is it the Federal Governments job to baby-sit all the states of the Union? The keyword in LadyEagle’s post was assist. Bush declared the Gulf a disaster area before the Hurricane made land fall. That meant money was immediately released to the area. The local Government thought they hand a handle on the situation, but instead, by poor leadership, they where overwhelmed and therefore the Federal Government is now assisting the local and state governments.

It may not be as fast as some would like, but mobilizing a relief effort on such a grand scale as this one, takes time to form and materialize.

 

When Harry Truman was president the Federal government was miniscule compared to what it is now. Also did the Federal Government even get involved in Natural Disasters?