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Bush bears blame for naming inexperienced FEMA chief

Re: No crisis experience in FEMA chief's past, Sept. 4.

As have millions of others, I've been watching the national nightmare of post-Katrina events with feelings of horror, disbelief, helplessness grief, and outrage at the federal government's lack of response to the desperate needs of the victims.

I was already angry at FEMA's obvious incompetence, but what really sent me over the edge was learning in this article that Michael Brown, FEMA's head, had no experience whatsoever in managing an agency whose actions or lack of them can mean the difference between life and death for every American.

On Bush's head for making the appointment and on Brown's head for accepting it are the deaths of thousands of innocent people. It's too bad that charges of criminal negligence and manslaughter can't be brought against these two. If anything should put a stake into the heart of the political patronage system, not to mention this entire sham of a presidency, this should be it.

Give FEMA its independence

FEMA should be pulled out of Homeland Security and returned to independent status. Funding and spending for Homeland Security has been directed primarily toward terrorism protection and disaster funding has been systematically cut. Yet a quick review of the last five years shows only one terrorist attack but 99 tropical events, 46 severe winter storms, 56 tornadoes, 103 floods/mudslides, eight wildfires and five earthquakes, affecting all 50 states at one time or another. FEMA serves a much broader purpose and should able to move quickly and efficiently, as it did prior to 2001.

FEMA is slow and a hinderance

Re: For a night, her home is theirs, Sept. 5.

I think this woman, Roxanne Grice, should be nominated for sainthood. The alarming thing is what the article says FEMA has to say about efforts like hers.

"The help of Grice, and hundreds like her, is not officially sanctioned. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has cautioned Houstonians against opening their doors to strangers, noting it could be dangerous and hinder the progress of official agencies."

What planet are they on? Yes, it could be dangerous in a few rare cases, but for Pete's sake, isn't the alternative dangerous? Let's have everyone wait on the unending bureaucracy until people blow their stacks and kill themselves. Not only is FEMA not satisfied with being slow to act but it also wants to hinder anything anyone else might try to do to help.

I am so mad I could just spit!

Planning failures were local

Re: Where has President Bush been?

Philip Gailey's Sunday column is missing the point. It is certainly agonizing to observe the suffering of those impacted by Hurricane Katrina. But instead of leaping back to a 2001 FEMA report noting the New Orleans levee system, let's look at the days prior to the arrival of the hurricane.

Almost all of the forecasted tracks for the rare Category 4/5 hurricane put it squarely into the region where it ultimately arrived, including New Orleans. However, even with such forewarning, the Louisiana governor and New Orleans mayor failed in their responsibilities to prepare. The governor apparently failed to act on the compact with other states to secure National Guard support and failed to take action to shore up plans for short-term supply lines that could be had from emergency relief organizations.

The mayor of New Orleans has complained about the post-hurricane situation in his city, particularly focusing on human relief and rescue efforts. Why didn't the mayor open shelters and evacuate the vulnerable residents of his city ahead of time insteading of waiting until the day before the hurricane arrived? Failure to plan and act is a plan to fail. So now the governor and mayor and sympathetic media blast human relief efforts for a situation that could have been largely alleviated by proper planning and action.

By God's good grace and dedication of relief workers, the suffering people impacted by the hurricane will be helped and lives rebuilt. Next time, let's be better prepared.

An appalling ineptitude

Re: Where has President Bush been?

Thanks for expressing my concerns and growing horror about our administration's incredibly bad handling of emergency efforts during the first four days of this horrendous event. The disaster declaration was timely, then all FEMA efforts appeared to be sucked into a bureaucratic black hole! We were assured by smug administration authorities about the prepositioning and staging of quantities of food, water and supplies, then watched in horror as no FEMA supplies reached victims on-site until Friday, the fifth day of the disaster!

The ineptitude and failure of planning and leadership on the part of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and FEMA director Michael Brown, while holding self-congratulatory news conferences, were appalling. The Bush administration's paralysis in the face of this overwhelming human tragedy has shamed us before the entire world. Color me angry and humiliated.

Where is the vice president?

Am I the only one wondering where our vice president is? The one who is second in command. For someone who is a heartbeat away from being president, he is conspicuous by his absence. This is a little scary. Is he on vacation or hiding in a secure location? At least some in Washington are concerned about what is happening and going to the devastated areas. I would hate to think what he would do in a terrorist attack.

Think about the WPA

The rebuilding of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast will certainly be a gigantic undertaking. I believe with the aid that is beginning to pour in and the help of God, we will accomplish the job.

A program like the WPA of the Depression would go a long way in giving those displaced by Katrina something to hold on to while they see their lives return to some sort of stability. Many hands make light work.

At this time, we can only hope that those on the top will have the same vision President Roosevelt did in the 1930s.

Look at what's lacking here

Re: Leaders missing in chaos, editorial, Sept. 3.

Your editorial pointed out so many failings in the operation of running a safe city. I would suggest articles in the future regarding things that should be done in the area of St. Petersburg, Clearwater and other cities along the coast which would be affected by a hurricane regardless of its category. Point out to the community what is lacking so it doesn't come as a surprise later.

You have a great paper and you could be a leader to a safer community.

[Last modified September 7, 2005, 14:42:47]