Bush's Fault?

Off Topic Politics & World Issues
41

http://www.fema.gov/emanagers/2005/nat082805.shtm

National Situation Update: Sunday August 28, 2005
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Dangerous Category Four Hurricane Katrina Continues West-Northwestward But Expected To Turn Northward
A Hurricane Warning is in effect for the North Central Gulf Coast from Morgan City Louisiana eastward to the Alabama/Florida border including the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain.

A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch are in effect from east of the Alabama/Florida border to Destin, Florida and from west of Morgan City to Intracoastal City, Louisiana.

At 5 am EDT (0900z), a Tropical Storm Warning has been issued from Destin Florida eastward to Indian Pass, Florida and from Intracoastal City, Louisiana westward to Cameron, Louisiana.
At 5 am EDT (0900z), the center of Hurricane Katrina was located near latitude 25.4 north, longitude 87.4 west or about 275 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Katrina is moving toward the west-northwest near 10 mph. A gradual turn toward the northwest is expected later today.

Maximum sustained winds are near 145 mph with higher gusts. Katrina is a Category Four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Some strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 85 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 185 miles.

Estimated minimum central pressure is 935 mb (27.61 inches).
Coastal storm surge flooding of 15 to 20 feet above normal tide levels, locally as high as 25 feet along with large and dangerous battering waves can be expected near and to the east of where the center makes landfall.

Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches are possible along the path of Katrina across the Gulf Coast and the southeastern United States. The hurricane is still expected to produce additional rainfall amounts of 2 to 4 inches over extreme western Cuba and 1 to 3 inches of rainfall is expected over the Yucatan Peninsula.

Isolated tornadoes will be possible beginning sunday evening over southern portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and over the Florida Panhandle. (National Hurricane Center, media sources)

Hurricane Katrina Upgraded to Category 4
Coastal residents jammed freeways and gas stations as they rushed to get out of the way of Hurricane Katrina, which grew into a dangerous Category 4 storm early Sunday as it headed for New Orleans and the Louisiana coast. Katrina gained strength overnight, become a Category 4 with 145 mph sustained winds as it moved over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico early this morning. Katrina could become a Category 5 storm before landfall.

A hurricane watch extended from Louisiana to the Alabama-Florida border, and President Bush declared a state of emergency in Louisiana. His spokesman urged residents along the coast to heed authorities’ advice to evacuate. Katrina could be especially devastating if it strikes New Orleans because the city sits below sea level and is dependent on levees and pumps to keep the water out. A direct hit could wind up submerging the city in several feet of water.

Making matters worse, at least 100,000 people in the city lack the transportation to get out of town. The Superdome might be used as a shelter of last resort for people who have no cars, with city bus pick-up points around New Orleans.

Owners of gas stations in and around New Orleans were forced to direct traffic as lines to the pumps stretched down surrounding streets. Gas stations were running low on gas by midafternoon Saturday
Louisiana and Mississippi made all lanes northbound on interstate highways. Mississippi declared a state of emergency and Alabama offered assistance to its neighbors. Some motels as far inland as Jackson, Miss., 150 miles north of New Orleans, were already booked up.

By 2 a.m. EDT this morning, the eye of the hurricane was about 310 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. It was moving west-northwest at about 8 mph and was expected to turn more to the northwest during the day, the National Hurricane Center said. “We know that we’re going to take the brunt of it,” Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco said. “It does not bode well for southeastern Louisiana.”
Some tourists heeded the warnings and moved up their departures, and lines of tourists waited for cabs on New Orleans’ famed Bourbon Street. But plenty of people in the French Quarter stayed put, and bars were rocking Saturday night.

New Orleans’ worst hurricane disaster happened 40 years ago, when Hurricane Betsy blasted the Gulf Coast. Flood waters approached 20 feet in some areas, fishing villages were flattened, and the storm surge left almost half of New Orleans under water and 60,000 residents homeless. Seventy-four people died in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida.

Katrina was a Category 1 storm with 80 mph wind when it hit South Florida on Thursday, and rainfall was estimated at up to 20 inches. Risk modeling companies have said early estimates of insured damage range from $600 million to $2 billion.

Katrina is the 11th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, which began June 1. That’s seven more than typically have formed by now in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, the hurricane center said. The season ends Nov. 30. (Media Sources)

State and Federal Preparedness for Hurricane Katrina
Federal Actions:

The FEMA National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) Red Team is activated at Level I (Full Activation).
FEMA headquarters is conducting daily video-teleconferences at noon EDT with FEMA Region IV, the National Hurricane Center and the potentially affected States.
The FEMA ERT-N (Blue) team was activated and deployed to Baton Rouge, LA at noon August 27.
FEMA Region IV: The RRCC in Atlanta activated at Level I (full activation).
FEMA Region VI: The RRCC in Denton, TX activated at Level I (full activation).

State Actions:

Alabama EOC is activating, with full operations on 8/27.
Florida EOC is at Level 1 (full activation).
Georgia EOC is at Level 1 operations.
Mississippi EOC activated, State of Emergency has been declared.
Louisiana EOC is fully activated, with mandatory evacuation orders issued.

Home ? Emergency Managers ? National Situation Update: Monday, August 29, 2005

National Situation Update: Monday, August 29, 2005
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

NExtremely Dangerous Category Four Hurricane Katrina Moving Northward Toward Southeastern Louisiana And The Northern Gulf Coast

A hurricane warning is in effect for the north central gulf coast from Morgan City Louisiana eastward to the Alabama/Florida border including the city of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. Preparations to protect life and property should be completed this
evening.

A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch are in effect from east of the Alabama/Florida border to Destin Florida and from west of Morgan City to Intracoastal City Louisiana.

A tropical storm warning is also in effect from Destin Florida eastward to Indian Pass Florida and from Intracoastal City Louisiana westward to Cameron Louisiana.

At 5 am edt (0900z) the center of hurricane Katrina was located near latitude 28.8 north longitude 89.6 west or about 90 miles south-southeast of New Orleans Louisiana and about 120 miles south-southwest of Biloxi Mississippi.

Katrina is moving toward the north near 15 mph and this motion is forecast to continue today. A gradual turn toward the north-northeast at a slightly faster forward speed is expected later tonight and tomorrow. On the forecast track Katrina will move onshore the southeastern Louisiana coast just east of Grand Isle this morning and reach the Louisiana/Mississippi border area this afternoon. Conditions will continue to steadily deteriorate over central and southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, and southern Alabama throughout the day.

Maximum sustained winds are near 150 mph (240 km/hr) with higher gusts. Katrina is a strong category four hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Some fluctuations in strength are likely prior to landfall but Katrina is expected to make landfall as a category four hurricane. Winds affecting the upper floors of high-rise buildings will be significantly stronger than those near ground level.

Katrina remains a very large hurricane. Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 105 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 230 miles. Recently, a sustained wind of 53 mph with gust to 91 mph was reported at Grand Isle Louisiana, and a wind gust to 71 mph was reported in New Orleans.

The minimum central pressure recently reported by an Air Force Reserve unit reconnaissance aircraft was 915 mb (27.02 inches).

Coastal storm surge flooding of 18 to 22 feet above normal tide levels, locally as high as 28 feet, along with large and dangerous battering waves can be expected near and to the east of where the center makes landfall. Some levees in the greater New Orleans area could be overtopped. Significant storm surge flooding will occur elsewhere along the central and northeastern Gulf of Mexico coast. NOAA buoy 42040, located about 50 miles east of the mouth of the Mississippi river recently reported waves heights of at least 46 feet.

Rainfall totals of 5 to 10 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 15 inches are possible along the path of Katrina across the gulf coast and the Tennessee Valley. Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches are possible across the Ohio Valley into the eastern Great Lakes region tomorrow and Wednesday.

The tornado threat ahead of Katrina continues to increase and scattered tornadoes will be possible today over southeastern Louisiana, southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, and over the Florida panhandle. (NWS National Hurricane Center)

National Weather
South
Hurricane Katrina should make landfall in eastern Louisiana or Mississippi during the morning hours. Katrina reached category 5 status yesterday morning and remains a powerful hurricane. Some fluctuations in intensity are possible prior to landfall, but Katrina is expected to remain a major hurricane as it impacts the Gulf Coast. A storm surge of 20 to 25 feet is possible along and to the east of the center of Katrina. On top of the water level rise (surge), waves of 20 to 40 feet are possible. West of the center, impacts should be less. Katrina is forecast to move north through eastern Mississippi/western Alabama tonight and early tomorrow. If Katrina maintains its current intensity and forward speed hurricane force winds could be felt up to 150 miles inland. Another concern inland will be the torrential rainfall, possibly 5 to 10 inches worth. The heavy rain in a short period of time could lead to fresh water flooding. Outside of Katrina other rainfall across the South is possible over Texas due to a decaying cold front.

42

This is pretty good:

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/Commentary/blog_9_6_05_1045.html

KATRINA - THE REPORT CARD:

One of the worst natural disasters in American history is now a week in the rear view mirror. We know a lot more now than we did when it started, and we will undoubtedly learn a lot more in the coming days, weeks, and months. Here is my take on the players and their response, from the bottom up:

Mayor Nagin: Honestly, I admire Nagin’s intensity and understand his frustration. It’s too bad he didn’t show the same sort of urgency in ordering and organizing the evacuation last week, because things might have turned out much different.

When you know that the city you lead is 1) below sea-level and built to withstand only a Category 3 storm and 2) is a very difficult place to evacuate based on past history and 3) is relying on what you yourself characterize as limited local resources to conduct such an operation, there is no excuse to wait until less than 24 hours to pull the trigger on ordering a mandatory evacuation when a Category 5 storm is bearing down on you. None.

When all is said and done I think we’ll find that the greatest contributing factor in this tragedy was Mayor Nagin’s lack of urgency on the front end and his inability to coordinate and execute an evacuation plan (even one that now looks in hindsight to have been seriously flawed) that got as many people out of New Orleans as possible.

Governor Blanco: It’s hard to find any redeeming qualities in Blanco’s conduct during this entire affair. I haven’t seen any reports on just how aggressively she mobilized state assets to prepare for and to assist the evacuation effort before Katrina struck, so perhaps details will emerge that will accrue to her credit - though frankly I will be surprised if that turns out to be true.

Since the hurricane hit Blanco’s response has been a case study in lack of leadership; from projecting weakness and insecurity to squabbling over turf. The Governor has done little to leave the impression she has been either confident or competent in helping to manage this crisis. Again, I suspect this is an impression that will be confirmed by numerous examples once all the facts are in.

Michael Brown: He’s got to go. The bottom line is that as the man in charge of coordinating federal relief efforts the results produced on his watch were simply not good enough. Again, we don’t know all that went on behind the scenes so there may be a number of mitigating factors, but from what we have seen in the press Brown looks from the outset to have been extremely ineffective if not downright confused some of the time.

The other reason Brown should be fired is because he didn’t belong as director of FEMA in the first place. As everyone knows by now, Brown got his original job as the General Counsel for FEMA because of a personal connection with Joe Allbaugh ( http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/05/AR2005090501590.html ). That’s fine, because at least Brown was qualified to hold that position. But lives aren’t at stake when you’re FEMA’s lawyer, they are when you’re FEMA’s director. Joe Allbaugh bears a great deal of responsibility for promoting Brown to deputy director and for (I assume) recommending his appointment to director to President Bush.

President Bush: When you finish sifting through all of the partisan red herrings that have been thrown out to try and blame Bush for this catastrophe (budget cuts to the Army Corps of Engineers, budget cuts to and reorganization of FEMA, National Guard troops in Iraq, wetlands policy, global warming policy, and on and on) the President’s main responsibility lies with the fact one of the members of his administration looks to have done a poor job of managing the federal government’s portion of planning and responding to this crisis.

As captain of the team, Bush is responsible for his players and he should have recognized sooner that Michael Brown was not getting the job done.

Having said that, it’s worth noting that even a more competent, experienced FEMA director wouldn’t have been able to stop the flooding or most likely to have foreseen the widespread looting and violence that followed and caused such havoc with rescue efforts. In fact, short of President Bush stepping in an using executive powers to order the National Guard to forcibly evacuate New Orleans (something I’m not sure is possible), a perfectly executed post-hurricane relief plan under the circumstances in New Orleans would have sped things up by maybe 24 hours. That’s a lot of time in a crisis relief situation and certainly would have saved a few lives, but I’m not sure it would have drastically changed the dynamics of what we saw unfolding in New Orleans last week.

Katrina really was a perfect storm in that she struck a city that was extremely vulnerable to flooding; a city with significant crime, drug, and poverty issues that was effectively rendered lawless for three days causing a complete social breakdown, and a city (and state) government with a long and notorious tradition for corruption and incompetence. All of the tragedy resulting from these things was compounded by a less than perfect response by FEMA. - T. Bevan

43

http://www.fema.gov/emanagers/2005/nat083005.shtm

National Situation Update: Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Katrina Continues To Weaken Over Northeastern Mississippi
At 5 am EDT (0900Z) the center of tropical storm Katrina was located near latitude 34.7 north longitude 88.4 west or about 35 miles northeast of Tupelo Mississippi.

Katrina is moving toward the north-northeast near 18 mph. A turn toward the northeast and a faster forward speed is expected during The next 24 hours. This motion should bring the center of Katrina Through the tennessee valley today.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 50 mph with higher gusts. Further weakening is expected during the next 24 hours and Katrina should weaken to a depression later today.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 105 miles 165 km from the center. Wind gusts of 60 to 65 mph have been reported from portions of northern Alabama during the past several hours.

Estimated minimum central pressure is 981 mb (28.97 inches). Tupelo recently reported a pressure of 980.4 mb (28.95 inches).

Coastal storm surge flooding along the northern and northeastern Gulf of Mexico will slowly subside today.

Additional rainfall accumulations of 2 to 4 inches with isolated maximum amounts of 6 inches will accompany Katrina across the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys, the lower Great Lakes, and into northern New England.

Tornadoes are possible today over western South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia. (NWS National Hurricane Center)

National Weather Forecast
South:
Hurricane Katrina made two landfalls earlier today, one south of Buras, Louisiana at 6:10 am CDT and the other along the Louisiana/Mississippi border around 10:00 am CDT. Top winds for the first landfall were 140 mph and 125 mph for the second landfall. New Orleans, eastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi took the brunt of Katrina?s fury. There was a report of a storm surge of at least 27 feet in Gulfport, Mississippi as Katrina moved in. The concern now turns to inland locations of Mississippi and Alabama. Tropical storm force winds could last well into the day today into Tennessee. Heavy rainfall, wind gusts to 50 mph and isolated tornadoes are possible along and to the east of Katrina?s center. Rainfall amounts of 4 to 8 inches are possible in the heaviest rainfall, which would lead to flash flooding. Tonight and tomorrow the remnants of Katrina should lift into the Ohio Valley/eastern Great Lakes. By tomorrow the South should have a chance to dry out, with the exception of Florida where scattered thunderstorms are possible. Temperatures should warm back into the mid 80s to lower 90s with a moderate amount of humidity for midweek clean up efforts. The remainder of the south should have a sunny and hot day today and tomorrow.

Federal Government Responds to Katrina
Federal emergency response efforts kicked into high gear after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and surged northward, while President Bush considered tapping U.S. emergency petroleum stockpiles to ease the storm’s impact on affected refineries.

Administration officials said Bush was expected to authorize a loan of at least some oil from the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, said Monday that final details were being worked out.

The storm shut down oil and natural gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico, representing about 8 percent of U.S. refining capacity or about 1 million barrels, further driving up gasoline prices.

Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman said, “Over the next few days, we will continue to gain more information on the specific needs and then be able to make a better determination on how we can help.”

The reserves would be used to provide refineries a temporary supply of crude oil to replace interrupted shipments from tankers or offshore oil platforms affected by the storm.

Bush, on a visit Monday to Arizona and California, pledged extensive federal help for victims of Katrina to “get your lives back in order.” The government put into effect a massive emergency assistance program that included rushing baby formula, communications equipment, generators, water and ice into hard-hit areas.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency sent medical teams, rescue squads and groups prepared to supply food and water into the disaster areas.

The president made emergency disaster declarations for Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush had spoken with the governors of those states “to make sure they were getting what they needed from the federal government.”

In other storm-related developments:

The American Red Cross said it had thousands of volunteers mobilized for the hurricane. It was the “largest single mobilization that we’ve done for any single natural disaster,” spokesman Bradley Hague said. The organization set up operational headquarters in Baton Rouge, La.

The Environmental Protection Agency dispatched emergency crews to Louisiana and Texas because of concern about oil and chemical spills.

The Coast Guard closed ports and waterways along the Gulf Coast and positioned craft around the area to conduct post-hurricane search and rescue operations.

The Agriculture Department said its Food and Nutrition Service would provide meals and other commodities, such as infant formula, distilled water for babies and emergency food stamps.

The Federal Aviation Administration said airports were closed in New Orleans and Baton Rouge; Biloxi, Miss.; Mobile, Ala.; Pensacola, Fla., and Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

The Defense Department dispatched emergency coordinators to Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi to provide communications equipment, search and rescue operations, medical teams and other emergency assistance.

The Health and Human Services Department sent 38 doctors and nurses to Jackson, Miss., to be used where needed, and 30 pallets of medical supplies to the region, including first aid materials, sterile gloves and oxygen tanks.

Some 6,000 National Guard personnel from Louisiana and Mississippi who would otherwise be available to help deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina are in Iraq.

Even so, Pentagon spokesman Lawrence Di Rita said the states have adequate National Guard units to handle the hurricane needs. He said about 6,500 National Guard troops were available in Louisiana, about 7,000 in Mississippi, nearly 10,000 in Alabama and about 8,200 in Florida.

The 1st U.S. Army, based at Fort Gillem near Atlanta, has 1,600 National Guard troops who were training to go to Iraq. They will be available to assist the states, if necessary. (Media Sources)

Disaster Declaration Activity
FEMA-1603-DR-LA was declared on August 29, 2005 for Hurricane Katrina. It provides Individual Assistance for 64 parishes, and Public Assistance for 52 parishes.

FEMA-1604-DR-MS was declared on August 29, 2005 for Hurricane Katrina. It provides Individual Assistance for 15 counties, and Public Assistance for 52 counties.

FEMA-1605-DR-AL was declared on August 29, 2005 for Hurricane Katrina. It provides Individual Assistance for three counties, and Public Assistance for six counties. (FEMA HQ)

National Situation Update: Wednesday, August 31, 2005

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

New Orleans 80 Pct Flooded; Dike Breach Letting In Lake Water - Officials
New Orleans is 80 pct flooded, with water still rushing into the city after Hurricane Katrina due to a 200 foot breach in a dike protecting the city from Lake Pontchartrain, city officials said.

New Orleans, most of which is below sea level, is surrounded on three sides by bodies of water, with Lake Pontchartrain in the north, Lake Borgne in the east and the Mississippi River in the south.

Most of the flooding was being caused by a breach in the levee holding back Lake Pontchartrain, officials said, and US military engineers were searching for ways to plug the hole, including dropping shipping containers filled with sand from airplanes.

‘The breach in the 17th Street canal is about 200 feet wide,’ New Orleans Police Lieutenant Julie Wilson told reporters. ‘The water is going to keep coming in until it reaches the level of the lake. I don’t know what they are going to do.’

‘The devastation is greater than our worst fears,’ said Louisiana state Governor Kathleen Blanco. ‘It is just totally overwhelming. It is a tragedy of great proportions.’

‘There’s no electricity and won’t be any for quite a while,’ the governor told reporters in Baton Rouge, the Louisiana capital. 'There’s no water. And there’s no food to be had.

‘The communications network is completely gone,’ Blanco said. ‘We think there may be only one major way into the city right now.’

Governor Blanco said rescuers have saved hundreds of people, but ‘many lives’ have been lost. ‘We know that many lives have been lost,’ she said, but there was no way for authorities to put together any kind of reliable death or casualty toll.

Telephone communications with New Orleans were cut off and around 700,000 people were without power.

The Superdome, which is holding at least 10,000 evacuees, was surrounded by water on Tuesday. Evacuees sat tight in the massive sports arena, which itself bore Katrina’s scars after having much of its outer dome ripped off on Monday. (Media Sources)

44

I know this is alot of information, however I really believe it warrants posting.

http://www.fema.gov/emanagers/2005/nat090105.shtm

National Situation Update: Thursday, September 1, 2005
Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).
Military Providing Full-Scale Response to Hurricane Relief Effort
Joint Task Force Katrina is setting up today at Camp Shelby, Miss. , as the Defense Department’s focal point to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s relief efforts along the Gulf Coast, Air Force Maj. Eric Butterbaugh, a U. S. Northern Command spokesman, confirmed today.

Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore, 1st U. S. Army commander, will head the task force to coordinate DoD active-duty support for disaster relief efforts in the hurricane’s aftermath, much of it already under way or in the works.
Meanwhile, the number of National Guardsmen on duty in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida rose to almost 8,300 today.

National Guard units and members in 17 more states remained on standby today, ready to provide assistance as required in the wake of extensive damage, rising floodwaters, and power and communications outages throughout the region, Air Force Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke, a DoD spokeswoman, said.

The guardsmen remain under their respective governors’ control, which enables them to provide law-enforcement support in the affected regions – something the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits active-duty forces from doing within the United States. While under state control, the National Guard is not bound by Posse Comitatus, NORTHCOM officials explained.

While establishing Joint Task Force Katrina today, NORTHCOM was already providing or coordinating a full range of support involving active-duty forces and assets.

As of this morning, four MH-53 Sea Stallion and two HH-60 Seahawk helicopters from USS Bataan were flying medical-evacuation and search-and-rescue missions in Louisiana, and Bataan’s hospital was preparing for possible use for medical support. Bataan, based out of Naval Station Ingleside, Texas, is in the waters off the Louisiana coast. High Speed Vessel Swift, also based at Ingleside, sailed to the waters off Louisiana to provide support, as well.

Three helicopters from the Army’s 3rd Corps, in Fort Hood, Texas, are in Baton Rouge, La. , and two more in Mississippi to help with searches and rescues and damage assessments, NORTHCOM officials reported. In addition, five Air Force helicopters from the 920th Rescue Wing, from Patrick Air Force Base, Fla. , and 347th Rescue Wing from Moody Air Force Base, Ga. , are in Mississippi for search-and-rescue missions, officials said. These aircraft are capable of nighttime searches and rescues and also will transport FEMA assessment teams over the area to gather critical information for state and federal emergency managers. Meanwhile, eight U. S. Transportation Command swift-water rescue teams, each with 14 members, were headed from California to Lafayette, La. , today to rescue stranded civilians from flooded areas, NORTHCOM officials reported.

A wide range of other military members and assets were also bound for the Gulf Coast to provide more support, NORTHCOM officials reported. The Iwo Jima Amphibious Readiness Group was preparing to sail from Norfolk, Va. , loaded with disaster response equipment and was expected to reach the Louisiana coast in five days, officials said. The group consists of USS Iwo Jima, USS Shreveport, USS Tortuga and USNS Arctic.

The hospital ship USNS Comfort was preparing to leave Baltimore to bring medical assistance to the Gulf region and was expected to reach the area in seven days, officials said. Plans were being made bring USS Grapple, a Navy rescue and salvage vessel, to the region to support maritime and underwater survey and salvage operations.

NORTHCOM also established federal operational staging areas at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala. ; Naval Air Station Meridian, Miss. ; Barksdale Air Force Base, La. ; Alexandria, La. ; and Fort Polk, La. , to expedite the movement of relief supplies and emergency personnel to affected areas, officials reported.
In addition, NORTHCOM liaisons are operating in Clanton, Ala. ; Baton Rouge, La. ; and Jackson, Miss. , to coordinate efforts between the command, other DoD elements and FEMA.

Standing Joint Forces Headquarters North will provide an augmentation cell and its command-and-control vehicle to Joint Task Force Katrina, and JTF Civil Support will provide a joint planning augmentation cell, officials said.

Meanwhile, in Colorado Springs, Colo. , NORTHCOM’s Joint Operations Center remains on 24-hour duty to expedite any additional requests for help from FEMA representatives, officials said. (Media Sources)

National Situation Update:
Friday, September 2, 2005

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Texas Agrees to Take 50,000 More Refugees
The state of Texas agreed Thursday to take in three times more refugees from Hurricane Katrina than officials initially expected, bringing the total number of evacuees to nearly 75,000. Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced that 50,000 more refugees would relocate to Texas, with plans to house 25,000 each in San Antonio and Dallas. Those people would join 23,000 others who are already being sent from New Orleans to the Astrodome in Houston.

Late Thursday, however, after accepting more than 12,000 Hurricane Katrina refugees, officials said the Astrodome was full and began sending buses to other area shelters and as far away as Huntsville, about an hour north of Houston. Perry declared an emergency disaster for the state, freeing up money to provide services for hurricane victims.

The hurricane “has created emergency conditions in Texas that will require all available resources of both federal and state governments to overcome,” Perry said. “We will do all we can as a state and a people to help our neighbors to the east who have lost so much.”

A shelter is being created in San Antonio in a huge warehouse at KellyUSA, a city-owned complex that once was home to an Air Force base. In Dallas, the refugees will go to Reunion Arena, the former home of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. “Whatever we are called upon to do … we intend to welcome these people with open arms and to try to give them some dignity which these circumstances have taken away from them,” San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger said.

The governor asked the state Department of Housing and Community Affairs to set aside all vacant low-income housing units for refugees. So far 7,000 units have been reserved for hurricane victims. Texas will also open its schools and hospitals to some of the hurricane’s most desperate refugees. The state Health and Human Services Department planned to extend office hours to help people with Medicaid, food stamps and prescription benefits.

“We’re getting calls across the country from people who want to help,” Perry said. “It’s going to be the largest influx of refugees in American history.” The American Red Cross has opened about 20 shelters in other Texas cities. Texas is a relatively close drive for New Orleans evacuees, many of whom escaped the city on Interstate 10 and Interstate 20 before Katrina struck. Tens of thousands of survivors continued to fill hotel rooms across the state days after the storm. Some hurricane survivors planned to start over in Texas. Many are poor. Some lived on the streets of New Orleans. Others lost homes or their jobs when the hurricane flooded their city.

“I’m not going back. I’m going to rebuild in Dallas,” said Thomas Washington, 46, who arrived in a caravan of cars carrying 26 people. The group left New Orleans on Sunday and stayed first in motels. They eventually turned to the evacuee shelter at Reunion Arena in downtown Dallas. Washington, who worked as a security officer at a Naval facility, said his home near Lake Pontchartrain is gone. “All I have is a pair of jeans and a shirt,” he said.

Perry, who agreed to Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco’s request Wednesday to take in the evacuees, said Texas naturally wants to help its neighbor. “I think we all understand it’s by the grace of God that this terrible tragedy didn’t come ashore a few hundred miles west,” Perry said. (Media Sources)

Katrina Response Overview
Coordinated major airlift of evacuees to begin 8:00 a.m. CDT, September 2, 2005.

Evacuees will depart New Orleans Superdome by bus, and be flown at a rate of 4-5 planes per hour from New Orleans Airport to Lackland Air Force Base, TX for reception and housing at Kelly AFB.

Simultaneous bus evacuation continues: 12,000 evacuees to be housed at Houston Astrodome (12,000 evacuees capacity per Fire Marshall); and 10,000 evacuees to be housed at Dallas, TX, Reunion Center.

As of 9 p.m. EDT, September 1, 2005, 10,000 people have been evacuated from the Superdome (1,500 special needs, 8,500 general population)

American Red Cross/FEMA Family Assistance Planning completed. The 1-800 call-in number for family members to call to locate relatives will be functional Friday, September 2, 2005. The ARC website (www.familylinks.icrc.org) was activated September 1, 2005.

Tulane Medical Center evacuated; hospital evacuations still ongoing at Memorial (45 patients), Methodist (400 people) and Kindred (number unknown), 194 patients moved by MedEvac from New Orleans International Airport for evaluation and transport to Houston, TX.

43 National Disaster Medical System Teams with 1,196 personnel deployed.

National Guard has a total of 27,000 troops arriving over the next 5 days. More than 70 Federal Protective Services Officers and 100 Border Protection Officers assisting operations in Louisiana.

28 Urban Search and Rescue Teams staged in Louisiana and Mississippi ? operations have ceased in New Orleans until National Guard can assist teams with security.

Planning to move 4 million MREs daily for the next three days.

76,000 people being sheltered.

13 assessment teams for hazardous materials have been deployed.

Coordinating with Amtrak on 1,500-passenger train for evacuation.

Developed and now implementing a National Communications Response Plan in partnership with industry.

Coordinating a strategic National Priority Plan for provision of fuel to responders.

Coordinating with Union Pacific for use of 60-75 tank cars for fuel movement.

Public Safety in New Orleans
Critical needs:

High-water vehicles
Additional portable radios because no power to charge current ones

Rescue operations have never been suspended except for NDMS and FEMA (ERT-A) employees in the Superdome area. They will return once get go ahead from LTG Honore that area is secure.

Currently have lost connectivity and visibility of operations at Superdome so they cannot determine if security issues have been resolved.

Commodity distribution continued - deliveries made to Superdome and throughout state.
2,000 law enforcement officials should arrive today.

Search and rescue continues, although team members have expressed concern about safety.

Working with ESF #13 to get appropriate Federal armed agents to support.

JOC established at LA State Police headquarters.

Temporary jail facility being established, need plastic handcuffs and shackles.

FBI Special Agent in Charge providing air support and special weapons teams.

Public Safety in Mississippi
Isolated incidents, but nothing widespread.
Important to have a strong showing of National Guard forces to deter unrest. 10,000 National Guard troops are being assigned to the area; 4,000-5,000 are there now.

Housing
FEMA is leading housing plan

Looking to secure cruise ships for housing support; have identified 3 ships with 6,500. Need approval to move them close to New Orleans.
1600 dorm rooms identified
400 hotel room identified
45,000 mobile homes and trailers identified ? need to find site to place them

Logistics
Searching alternate sources for meals
2 million MREs are going into the affected area

MS EOC
Critical issues:

No communications on the coast, push-to-talk with counties will be available later today (have asked ESF #2 for help)
Health issues on the coast ? looking at declaring a public health emergency
Attempting to get trucks to Chevron to refuel
Issue of releasing fuel to local governments
Shortages of MREs and getting food to shelters

Search and rescue ? 11 teams there now, 19 will eventually be there.

NGOs and faith-based organizations are arriving, but still having problems providing meals.

8 refrigerator trucks have arrived and have requested additional body bags from FL.

Expect to have 100,000 people in shelters across the state.

Electricity is improving

AL EOC
Critical issues

Steady flow of commodities
Vouchers from ARC for workers
Movement of fuel

232,000 without power.

15 shelters are open and housing 1670 people.

20 distribution sites in 6 counties (1.9 million pounds of ice distributed; 460,000 MREs distributed).

7 fueling stations for first responders.

8 mobile kitchens are in place and 7 more to arrive.

LA EOC

Additional 7,500 National Guard coming into State, working on how to best integrate them into the response.

TX EOC
Critical needs:

Buses, drivers, and security.
Locations to shelter additional folks from LA (have spoke to mayor of San Antonio and worked out plan).

81 shelters available for 44,258 people; 44 are open and housing 9,346 people.

Have deployed all TX search and rescue assets to LA.

Have 10 helos available plus 2 fixed wing air ambulances; 60 ambulances; 1 blimp; EMS personnel, nurses, and doctors.

1,232 TX National Guard are in LA. (FEMA HQ)

FEMA Readiness Alert Status:
ON CALL:

NRCC Emergency Team Red (portion not activated for Hurricane Katrina)
Domestic Emergency Support Team (DEST)
FEMA Liaison Officers at the FBI Strategic Information and Operations Center (SIOC)
NORMAL STATUS:
All assets committed.
AVAILABLE:
8 FEMA Regional Emergency Response Teams-Advance Element (ERT-A)
8 FEMA Regional Response Coordination Centers (RRCC)
FEMA NCR Communications Unit
Quick Response System (QRS)
OPERATIONAL:
FEMA National Response Coordination Center (NRCC) Red Team at Level I for Hurricane Katrina (24/7)
Emergency Response Team ? National (ERT-N) BLUE Deployed to Louisiana EOC
Urban Search And Rescue (US&R) Incident Support Team (IST) BLUE
FEMA Desk at the Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC) 24/7 for Tropical Storm/Hurricane Katrina with supplemental coverage by the NRCC.
FEMA Operations Center (FOC) (24/7)
FEMA NDMS Operations Support Center (OSC) (24/7)
5 FEMA MERS Operations Centers (MOCs) (24/7)
Region IV RRCC ? Full Activation at Level I
Region VI RRCC ? Full Activation at Level I
ERT-A (1 Team Assigned to Region VI)
ERT-A (2 Teams Assigned to Region IV, 1 Team Assigned to Region IX)
NDMS ? (3 MSTs, 23 DMATs, 3 DMORTs, 2 VMATs, and 9 Strike Teams)
US&R ? All Assets

Last Updated: September 03, 2005 11:01 AM

45

Boston,

Your chosen article basically plasters everyone but excuses Bush for everything except perhaps not recognizing a failing component quick enough.

I’m surprised you would accept an article with even that much hint of culpability for the president.

Things must be really dark indeed for the president…

46

[quote]vroom wrote:
Boston,

Your chosen article basically plasters everyone but excuses Bush for everything except perhaps not recognizing a failing component quick enough.

I’m surprised you would accept an article with even that much hint of culpability for the president.

Things must be really dark indeed for the president…[/quote]

vroom,

I’m willing to give the President fault when he deserves it.

Your articles point out some political failings on his part – he looks out of touch. Very bad for a politician to look out of touch… However, they don’t touch at all on what, if any, personal failings the President had w/r/t the problems with the federal response to the tragedy.

I’ve posted a lot on what I think those problems are. To the extent I would add blame to Bush for this, it would be for caving to the political pressure to “do something” after 9/11 by creating the massive bureaucracy known as the Department of Homeland Security by simply amalgamating existing bureaucracies under a new bureacracy. That was a bad idea, and, of course, added to the layers of crap people needed to cut through in order to respond. That and promoting the current FEMA director seem to me to be the decisions for which Bush should be seen as culpable.

But please, continue to post items that show Bush as not being up-to-date on the specific locations of Salvation Army shelters in Mississippi. I’m sure someone finds them relevant.

47

Hmm, nice characterization of the point involved.

Never mind that he was just told that the shelter no longer existed.

The point is that Bush doesn’t really seem to have the capacity to take in information and deal with it effectively.

Not a surprise to folks that aren’t die hard Bush cheerleaders.

I wish Bush was the leader and get things done man he claims he is. All he does is appoint cronies to positions of authority because he knows they will enact policies that please him.

When he’s off the script, he just says random crap and almost always ends up with both feet in his mouth. He’s a buffoon.

How embarrassing to have someone like that as your top representative to the world.

48

[quote]vroom wrote:
But please, continue to post items that show Bush as not being up-to-date on the specific locations of Salvation Army shelters in Mississippi. I’m sure someone finds them relevant.

Hmm, nice characterization of the point involved.

Never mind that he was just told that the shelter no longer existed.

The point is that Bush doesn’t really seem to have the capacity to take in information and deal with it effectively.

Not a surprise to folks that aren’t die hard Bush cheerleaders.

I wish Bush was the leader and get things done man he claims he is. All he does is appoint cronies to positions of authority because he knows they will enact policies that please him.

When he’s off the script, he just says random crap and almost always ends up with both feet in his mouth. He’s a buffoon.

How embarrassing to have someone like that as your top representative to the world.[/quote]

Or it could be that’s just the way the popular media portrays him. Talk, listen, or read about people who have actually spoken to him face to face. Everything I’ve heard he’s a very articulate & thoughtful guy. Or, you can believe what you see on CNN.

49

[quote]reddog6376 wrote:
Or it could be that’s just the way the popular media portrays him. Talk, listen, or read about people who have actually spoken to him face to face. Everything I’ve heard he’s a very articulate & thoughtful guy. Or, you can believe what you see on CNN.

[/quote]

Hahaha.

With that in mind, then everyone claiming Kanye West was a crackhead for being nervous on live tv should be told the same thing…and be forced to believe it. I’ll wait as everyone who threw insults at him decides to speak to him directly before forming a final judgement.

Damn, hypocrisy is a bitch, isn’t it?

50

Okay, so the stumbling and bumbling buffoon that I’ve seen in action with my own eyes is not real, while the reports of his brilliance and thoughtfulness are?

Maybe, and this is just speculation mind you, but maybe people say that he is smart and thoughtful because they are trying to enhance his image to the public.

51

[quote]Professor X wrote:

Hahaha.

With that in mind, then everyone claiming Kanye West was a crackhead for being nervous on live tv should be told the same thing…and be forced to believe it. I’ll wait as everyone who threw insults at him decides to speak to him directly before forming a final judgement.

Damn, hypocrisy is a bitch, isn’t it?[/quote]

I didn’t post on the Kayne West thread, so I don’t think your hypocrisy claim is valid. I’m sure if I was standing in front of TV cameras I’d be as nervous as a whore in church, and probably sound like a fool also. However, I think even you could see the point that saying “Bush hates black people” on national TV makes him completely idiotic.

52

[quote]vroom wrote:
Everything I’ve heard he’s a very articulate & thoughtful guy. Or, you can believe what you see on CNN.

Okay, so the stumbling and bumbling buffoon that I’ve seen in action with my own eyes is not real, while the reports of his brilliance and thoughtfulness are?

Maybe, and this is just speculation mind you, but maybe people say that he is smart and thoughtful because they are trying to enhance his image to the public.[/quote]

Could be. Keep in mind though, you’re not really seeing it with your own eyes. What you see is filtered through the media’s perspective, & Even you should admit that CNN is not without it’s bias.

53

Why can’t anyone see there were failings on all three levels of gov’t: The local officials in N.O. for not executing a plan for evacuation properly–if they even had one; The state of LA for not responding to the disaster quickly; and the Fed Gov’t for this disaster called Homeland Security and FEMA. Personally, I think Bush sat on his thumbs because he didn’t believe people were really in danger. Let’s face it, this is the culmination of everything the “Left” has feared from this administration.

Does anyone feel safer now that we’ve witnessed the Fed Gov’t in action during a state of emergency?

54

[quote]
BostonBarrister wrote:

…

But please, continue to post items that show Bush as not being up-to-date on the specific locations of Salvation Army shelters in Mississippi. I’m sure someone finds them relevant.

vroom wrote:

Hmm, nice characterization of the point involved.

Never mind that he was just told that the shelter no longer existed.

The point is that Bush doesn’t really seem to have the capacity to take in information and deal with it effectively.

Not a surprise to folks that aren’t die hard Bush cheerleaders.

I wish Bush was the leader and get things done man he claims he is. All he does is appoint cronies to positions of authority because he knows they will enact policies that please him.

When he’s off the script, he just says random crap and almost always ends up with both feet in his mouth. He’s a buffoon.

How embarrassing to have someone like that as your top representative to the world.[/quote]

Yes vroom,

I do wish Bush had Clinton’s skills at extemporaneous speaking. But overall I had about 500 factors that were more important on my list of voting priorities – as, I’m sure, did most of the other people who would actually have to live under his administration, whether they ended up voting for Bush or against him.

And again, none of that implies any culpability on Bush’s part for the problems with the federal response to Katrina, apart from what I already mentioned, which, I think, was kind of the point of the conversation.

55

[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
Why can’t anyone see there were failings on all three levels of gov’t: The local officials in N.O. for not executing a plan for evacuation properly–if they even had one; The state of LA for not responding to the disaster quickly; and the Fed Gov’t for this disaster called Homeland Security and FEMA. Personally, I think Bush sat on his thumbs because he didn’t believe people were really in danger. Let’s face it, this is the culmination of everything the “Left” has feared from this administration.

Does anyone feel safer now that we’ve witnessed the Fed Gov’t in action during a state of emergency? [/quote]

There were definitely failures on all three levels, and they were magnified by the failures among the levels. And no, you shouldn’t feel particularly safe…

56

[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
Why can’t anyone see there were failings on all three levels of gov’t: The local officials in N.O. for not executing a plan for evacuation properly–if they even had one; The state of LA for not responding to the disaster quickly; and the Fed Gov’t for this disaster called Homeland Security and FEMA. Personally, I think Bush sat on his thumbs because he didn’t believe people were really in danger. Let’s face it, this is the culmination of everything the “Left” has feared from this administration.[/quote]

All true. My entire point though, is that the further up the ladder you go, the amount of blame decreases. Primarily blame the NO mayor, second, the LA gov. & finaly third the fed’s, and Bush.

[quote]
Does anyone feel safer now that we’ve witnessed the Fed Gov’t in action during a state of emergency? [/quote]

The scariest words known to man: “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help you”.

57

[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:
Why can’t anyone see there were failings on all three levels of gov’t: The local officials in N.O. for not executing a plan for evacuation properly–if they even had one; The state of LA for not responding to the disaster quickly; and the Fed Gov’t for this disaster called Homeland Security and FEMA. Personally, I think Bush sat on his thumbs because he didn’t believe people were really in danger. Let’s face it, this is the culmination of everything the “Left” has feared from this administration.

Does anyone feel safer now that we’ve witnessed the Fed Gov’t in action during a state of emergency? [/quote]

I think the left is creating this so-called “culmination”. This was the first time FEMA was mobilized on such a grand scale since it was placed under the control of the Dept. of Homeland Security. More than anything, I would think this is the culmination of all the fears people have of a big, ineffecient beuracracy.

I can’t find the poll, or a link, but there is a WaPo-ABC poll that shows only 13% of regular Americans (non-journalist, non political partisan) actually blame Bush.

Certainly there are things that he should take some heat for - but not nearly to the extent that the left has manufactured.

The partisanship is not wearing well on the ABB crowd. In fact - I would wager that the dog and pony show put on by the hacks will wind up costing the left even more seats next year.

58

[quote]reddog6376 wrote:
All true. My entire point though, is that the further up the ladder you go, the amount of blame decreases. Primarily blame the NO mayor, second, the LA gov. & finaly third the fed’s, and Bush.

[/quote]

I remeber a saying when I was in the USMC: “Shit flows downhill” Meaning those at the top go directly to the next subordinate to blame them. The Bush administration is no exception.

59

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18447

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18461

FEMA was prepping for Katrina before it hit New Orleans.

The interesting question will be why did things go so badly and why was there so much finger pointing after it hit.

http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18478

I thought that things were delayed because Washington was waiting for local officials to ask for help?

60

[quote]LIFTICVSMAXIMVS wrote:

I remeber a saying when I was in the USMC: “Shit flows downhill” Meaning those at the top go directly to the next subordinate to blame them. The Bush administration is no exception.[/quote]

The NO mayor & LS Gov. aren’t in Bush’s chain of command. Not a good analogy