October 21, 2005

Did FEMA Fail Gulf Coast Residents?

By Tim | October 21, 2005 | Tags: Hurricane Katrina |

Did FEMA fail Gulf Coast residents? Well, Michelle Malkin has posted a series of damning emails that seem to leave no doubt:

Michelle Malkin—I received a bit of flack from some of my conservative friends for highlighting FEMA’s inadequate response–particularly former FEMA chief Michael Brown’s embarrassing performance–during Hurricane Katrina. This week, Department of Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff and FEMA official Marty Bahamonde confirmed FEMA’s failures once and for all. Bahamonde’s testimony yesterday was especially damning. …

I don’t believe anyone is criticizing the hard-working people at FEMA; personally, my criticisms are directed at former FEMA head Michael Brown. But he isn’t solely responsible, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco deserve an equal share of the blame and perhaps even the harshest criticisms of all.

 

3 Comments

  • Bill Everett says:
    October 23, 2005 at 5:42 am

    The Katrina reponse hearings must soon address the issue of who was in charge during the New Orleans Superdome situation. FEMA is not normally responsible for rescue, evacuation and immediate care of survivors. The Director of the Red Cross (the major care provider in these instances) stated in interview that state of Louisiana denied permission for a Red Cross relief convoy to enter New Orleans. This indicates that Louisiana officials were in charge not FEMA. This command relationship is a key point that does not seem to be addressed. Relying on the e-mails of the FEMA person at the Superdome for any opinion of FEMA’s performance is inadequate. One of the e-mails even states that FEMA didn’t normally have responsibility during rescue and evacuation. The e-mail writer did not sound very professional to me.

  • Zebrality.com says:
    October 22, 2005 at 12:31 pm

    Did FEMA Fail Gulf Coast Residents?
    Did FEMA Fail Gulf Coast Residents?

  • Zebrality.com says:
    October 21, 2005 at 8:17 pm

    Did FEMA Fail Gulf Coast Residents?
    Did FEMA Fail Gulf Coast Residents?

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