In Defense of FEMA

For those who are leaping to the defense of the federal government, may I direct you to the following links.

• FEMA won't accept Amtrak's help in evacuations
• FEMA turns away experienced firefighters
• FEMA turns back Wal-Mart supply trucks
• FEMA prevents Coast Guard from delivering diesel fuel
• FEMA won't let Red Cross deliver food
• FEMA bars morticians from entering New Orleans
• FEMA blocks 500-boat citizen flotilla from delivering aid
• FEMA fails to utilize Navy ship with 600-bed hospital on board
• FEMA to Chicago: Send just one truck
• FEMA turns away generators (See entry from 3:32 P.M. by Ben Morris, Slidell mayor)
• FEMA: "First Responders Urged Not To Respond"

Shameful, no?

Comments

[Matthew C. Aycock]

From my understanding, idiots in New Orleans are shooting people that are trying to help. If this is the case, then FEMA is making the correct choice at this time. Does it suck? Absolutely.

If we were to just let in non military individuals bringing supplies, who would we blame if they were shot and killed? Probably Bush for not having the area secure.

I realize that there are probably still some very good people trapped in New Orleans. I know that it is not "fair" for them to suffer because a bunch of anti-human gangsters want to live in anarchy for a while. Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do about it that we are not already doing. If I am wrong, please state a solution.

One other thing to point out is that the problem with getting and delivering aid is only in relation to New Orleans. Why do you think that is? Does it make more sense to say that FEMA doesn't like New Orleans or that it is because they are shooting at people?

Remembering that Bush is a friend to Big Oil and will do whatever he can to help them, don't you think it is a bit counterintuitive for him to not push for New Orleans aid first? Afterall, there are a tremendous amount of refineries there.

[Kathy]

I think the reason it's only problematic delivering aid to New Orleans is BECAUSE IT'S UNDERWATER. Not because somehow the citizens there are so much worse then elsewhere, which is what you seem to be implying.

[Matthew C. Aycock]

I am not implying anything. I am stating a fact. I still have not heard of other cities shooting at rescue workers like I have in New Orleans. Have you?

[Matthew C. Aycock]

Also, did you just concede in your last statement that it is some other reason than FEMA just being evil? It's definitely a start.

[Kathy]

I don't think FEMA is evil. I think there's a stunning lack of leadership and an incompetence at the high levels that's unforgivable. I'm not suggesting either that the rescue and recovery effort is an easy task. Clearly it's not. And finally, a wholesale condemnation of the people of New Orleans as worse thatn the citizen's of other areas is a bit much. This is an urban environment where the rate of people living below the poverty level is more than twice the national average. The poverty rate is a significant factor in the crime rate. Sure, there were problems in the city - high rates of crime and corruption in government, including the police force which the city has been addressing to some degree over the past few years. And those problems were factors in the lawlessness that took over the streets. The local response was ineffective and I'm not taking them off the hook. But the federal gov't failed not only in protecting citizens from the lawlessness but in protecting them from suffering from hunger and dehydration and in some cases, death. The National Response Plan specifically authorizes fedral agencies to act independent of requests or coordination with local gov't when conditions are such that local gov't infrastructure is overwhelmed by disaster. That was certainly the case in NO but not necessarily the case in other areas. That they didn't do so was a factor in the terrible events that unfolded in NO.

I have no doubt that if a similar fate befell another city that the criminal element would take advantage until they were put down by the police or military. The people of NO are Americans, just like you and I. How would you feel if you were caught in this horrific event and found that you were judged as "worse" than other Americans because the government - local, state, and federal - allowed the amoral thugs that live among us to terrorize you? It's unfair to judge the people of NO. The thugs that made that place a living hell live all over this country. They were given free reign in NO because we allowed it.

[Matthew C. Aycock]

Surely my statements were not so unclear to be so misquoted.

When did I state that the people of New Orleans are "worse" than other Americans?

If you think about the issue, you will find that you are fortunately incorrect. Usually, people band together and help each other in times such as these. Unfortunately, this is not the case with SOME of the people in New Orleans. We are doing what we can to stabilize the area so we can get the assistance in. That's only logical.

If this was happening in other parts of the country, those people wouldn't be getting assistance either. New Orleans is being treated this way because we don't want rescue workers to be shot.

Out of curiousity, how many rescue workers would you like to see killed before we pull them out and focus on stabilizing the area?

[Kathy]

When did I state that the people of New Orleans are "worse" than other Americans?

Well, when I wrote:

"I think the reason it's only problematic delivering aid to New Orleans is BECAUSE IT'S UNDERWATER. Not because somehow the citizens there are so much worse then elsewhere, which is what you seem to be implying."

And you responded:

"I am not implying anything. I am stating a fact."

It seemed pretty clear to me.

Out of curiousity, how many rescue workers would you like to see killed before we pull them out and focus on stabilizing the area?
Oh please. That's simply not worthy of a response. It's a false construct to say either we deliver assistance and rescue folks get shot OR we don't deliver assistance. IF the gov't had done it's job, the issue wouldn't be on the table for discussion.

[Matthew C. Aycock]

Didn't the government do its job in areas where no shooting was present?

[Kathy]

Nope.

[Matthew C. Aycock]

What should they have done differently in those areas? Be specific.