Re: FEMA Chief - totally unqualified??

"Bill Sornson" <sornospamni@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Brian Wax top-posted (not shockingly):
>> What about the Feds cancellation of 2 plus million dollars to fix the
>> problem. The most STARK fact in this disaster is EVERYONE knew it was
>> coming. They knew about it for the last 50 years. If I were a
>> terrorist, it would have been pay dirt. That is what freaks me out.
>> Homeland security should have been prepared. Prepared means that any
>> disaster would be for Homeland security to dive into--head first.
>> Again, if homeland security were for real, the threat and subsequent
>> resolve to respond would undistinguishable. That is a logical fact.
>>
>> So why the failure??? We are not ready but the terrorists are?
>>
>> It is pretty simple. In fact, Bill Sorni you should be able to see
>> the logic in this.
>
>Every time I think I'm out they drag me back in... (I don't even see my
>last post in this thread.)
>
>First of all, two million dollars?!? Diddly, and might I add Squat.
>
>Second, here's a little scenario: I live in San Diego, which could well
>have a catastrophic earthquake some day. I would expect the LOCAL and STATE
>officials to be in charge in the immediate aftermath, with federal help
>pouring in in the days that followed. If the first 24-48 hours were a total
>clusterfuck, then I'd blame the Californians.
>
>Have you SEEN what they've accomplished in the past few days? The operation
>at the Astrodome is nothing short of exceptional.

Interesting: I just paged through the FEMA site, hoping to understand
which responsibilities fall to whom, and in what sequence.

A) Apparently, the Stafford Act requires that: "All requests for a
declaration by the President that a major disaster or emergency exists
shall be made by the Governor [chief executive] of the affected
State." [1]

B) Further...
------------------
The Governor's request is made through the regional FEMA office.
State, local, and Federal officials conduct a preliminary damage
assessment (PDA) to estimate the extent of the disaster and its impact
on individuals and public facilities. The information gathered during
the PDA documents the severity and magnitude of the event and is
included in the Governor's request. Normally, the PDA is completed
prior to the submission of the Governor's request. However, when an
obviously severe or catastrophic event occurs, the Governor's request
may be submitted prior to the PDA. Nonetheless, the Governor must
still make the request and damage assessments are still conducted.

As part of the request, the Governor must note that the State's
emergency plan has been implemented and the situation is of such
severity and magnitude that the response is beyond State and local
capability and Stafford Act assistance is necessary. The Governor
shall furnish information on the nature and amount of State and local
resources that have been or will be committed to alleviating the
results of the disaster, provide an estimate of the amount and
severity of damage and the impact on the private and public sector,
and provide an estimate of the type and amount of assistance needed
under the Stafford Act. In addition, the Governor will need to certify
that, for the current disaster, State and local government obligations
and expenditures (of which State commitments must be a significant
portion) will comply with all applicable cost-sharing requirements.

Based on the Governor's request, the President may declare that a
major disaster or emergency exists, thus activating an array of
Federal programs to assist in the response and recovery effort.
------------------

Sounds to me like a pretty big pile of red tape when people are dying
by the minute. OTOH,

C) FEMA's charter also says, "Any Federal agency charged with the
administration of a Federal assistance program may, if so requested by
the applicant State or local authorities, modify or waive, for a major
disaster, such administrative conditions for assistance as would
otherwise prevent the giving of assistance under such programs if the
inability to meet such conditions is a result of the major disaster."
[1]

So FEMA has, in its charter, the right to knock people aside and get
in there to start saving lives. If Katrina wasn't the kind of
scenario envisioned when this passage was written, I don't know what
was.

D) FEMA's charter further says, " Federal agencies may on the
direction of the President, provide assistance essential to meeting
immediate threats to life and property resulting from a major
disaster, as follows:" [2]

This means GWB had the right to knock people aside and send FEMA in
there to start saving lives.

E) The Director of FEMA has naught but two years of OTJ training in
disaster management? This would be a bad thing.

[1] http://www.fema.gov/library/stafact.shtm
[2] ibid, {Sec. 403}
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: OT: Political
    ... >>>and the ket word is assistance. ... >> the governor because she didn't ask for help in a timely manner. ... >It is clear that she asked for help when she declared a State Of Emergency, ... the steps necessary to request emergency and major disaster declarations ...
    (rec.arts.dance)
  • Re: FEMA Chief - totally unqualified??
    ... >> declaration by the President that a major disaster or emergency exists ... >> The Governor's request is made through the regional FEMA office. ... >> As part of the request, the Governor must note that the State's ... >> capability and Stafford Act assistance is necessary. ...
    (rec.bicycles.misc)
  • Re: Stand Up to Them, Mr. President
    ... >> government to prevent disaster. ... >Assistance Teams are on the ground and setting up comfort ... FEMA community relations personnel will coordinate with DMATs ... >governor, the crony brother of the President. ...
    (soc.retirement)
  • Re: Report confirms state of Louisiana took necessary steps
    ... > emergency by the President makes Federal emergency assistance ... > available," and the President made such a declaration on August 28. ... > emergency must be triggered by a request to the President from the ... > Governor of the affected state"; ...
    (rec.martial-arts)
  • Re: FEMA Chief - totally unqualified??
    ... The most STARK fact in this disaster is EVERYONE knew ... > The Governor's request is made through the regional FEMA office. ... Nonetheless, the Governor must ... > capability and Stafford Act assistance is necessary. ...
    (rec.bicycles.misc)