Feds Cite Communication Woes in Response (Katrina)

[sabra]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/12/AR2005101201427.html

Feds Cite Communication Woes in Response

WASHINGTON -- The military's response to Hurricane Katrina was the largest and fastest in U.S. history, but it was hampered by an early disconnect with state and local authorities, a senior Pentagon official said Wednesday.

Paul McHale, the assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense, said the military should have learned more from its experience in previous natural disasters, including Hurricane Andrew in south Florida in 1992.

Communication with state and local authorities in Louisiana and Mississippi was so poor in the hours immediately after Katrina struck the Gulf Coast on Aug. 29 that military commanders had to use couriers to transmit messages, McHale said.

"Early situational awareness was poor, a problem that should have been corrected following identical damage assessment challenges during Hurricane Andrew," McHale said in a group interview with Pentagon reporters.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Cry me a river!

Look folks there are ways to solve these problems, but I doubt there is the political will to do it.

Oh and stop blaming the locals, unless yuo are willing to buy everybody new shiny coms equipment... waht is more, there are ways of actually doing this without the fancy shmanzy radio gear. Does it help? Absolutely, but cry me a river.... more blame game

[Coastie for Truth]

2. QST

This is KG6garbled Coastie checking in on the net, and I have a QST.

QST: Why the devil did the Feds actively keep the Ham Radio volunteers (including FEMA's own and DOD's own ) out of New Orleans and off of the air?

Especially when the landlines were dead and the cell system was dead?

73's to all.

This is KG6garbled return to net.

[Gregorian]

8. Well, the FCC did grant a license over the 3 day weekend.

I don't remember the details, but a man filed for and received a license for broadcasting inside of the superdome(?). It was about as low level as one of those stupid things people use in their cars to broadcast over their own radios. BUT, he wasn't allowed inside of the building. So he eventually got an airstream and began broadcasting out in the parking lot. Even his sandbagged attempt brought some people together who were lost.


We all know that had this been the Crawford ranch, or Beverley Hills, things would have been exactly the same. NOT.

[Coastie for Truth]

9. The's the FRS/GMRS service

Send in (e-mail) your credit card number for $80.00, and the and you have a license. GMRS is good for about 2-3 miles under actual operational conditions.

Got GMRS licenses and handi-talkies for the family after one of our mini-earth quakes. But after Katrina they are studying for their entry level "Technician" ham licenses
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-- and I will give them something with range after they pass ---

<>

73's

[uppityperson]

13. I'm being anal here, link was a teeny tiny bit different, and a question

http://www.fcc.gov/Forms/Form605/605.html Thanks. So where do I get the equipment, is it expensive, etc? Should I just google search or do you have a recommendation? Thanks.

[Coastie for Truth]

15. FRS and GMRS Radios are safely under $50 for two radios

Lots of hardware stores, some consumer electronics store, outdoor stores, some Sears, some Wal-Marts, some Costcos, some RadioShacks.

Try "GMRS Radio" "General Mobile Radio Service" "Family Radio Service" and "FRS Radio" on eBay to just see what's out there. If it's new, from a dealer, lots of positive feedback ... go for it.

Realize - range is just a few blocks.

[uppityperson]

3. Communication is a big problem, for gvt, "official" and volunteers

It is a big problem in a crisis. Cell phones don't work. Regular phones don't work, especially instate calls. Radio towers down, no power to run things. Communication is a big big problem all over.

[Coastie for Truth]

7. But we were sent home!!!!

WE CAME

<>

AND THE FEDS SENT US HOME

[uppityperson]

12. f* the feds

I am looking at your post above, am interested in checking it out further. Thanks.

[jobycom]

4. Lamest attempt at an excuse for negligent homicide ever.

Everyone knew communications would be down after the hurricane. That's why FEMA and Homeland Security and the National Gaurd were supposed to be there BEFORE the hurricane, waiting for the winds to die down. Bush did that with Rita, but they still claim they weren't supposed to with Katrina? Please. There is no Hell bad enough for that evil bastard.

[madmom]

5. Didn't someone complain about FEMA cutting..

communication lines? I seem to recall there was something about that.

[Angry Girl]

11. Broussard was one (links)

MR. BROUSSARD: ....Yesterday--yesterday--FEMA comes in and cuts all of our emergency communication lines. They cut them without notice. Our sheriff, Harry Lee, goes back in, he reconnects the line. He posts armed guards on our line and says, "No one is getting near these lines."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9179790

[daleo]

6. Nobody could hear over the guitar strumming and cake chewing. n/t

[dbt]

10. BULLSHIT. BULLSHIT. BULLSHIT. BULLSHIT.

The gubmint can read your damn license plate from 23,000 miles up. They can listen to a conversation inside your home from two blocks down the street. They can eavesdrop on any cellphone transmission anywhere, anytime. They can read any email you EVER sent, regardless of whatever encryption you might have thought was foolproof.

And we're supposed to believe that they couldn't get messages into or out of the South during Katrina???

BULLSHIT.

Remember New Orleans

[tanyev]

14. Maybe they need to keep some trained pigeons handy.

Just in case.

[Sgent]

16. What the Hell?????

Although not news, this is unbelievable.

Timeline...

Andrew -- Comunication problems
9/11 -- Communication problems kill firefighters
Katrina -- Communication problems

WHAT IN THE HELL IS DHS & FEMA FOR??????

How would this outcome have been different if someone had driven a truckbomb up to the 17th Canal?

How can we be prepared for "terrorist" issues and not a natural disaster?

[VegasWolf]

17. The MSM news organizations didn't seem to have any problems!

Liars!