End Report Slams 'Passivity' Over Katrina, Wash Post, 2/14/06 8:29 PM EST

[Coastie for Truth]

End Report Slams 'Passivity' Over Katrina, Wash Post, 2/14/06 8:29 PM EST

Government at all levels took only an indifferent stance toward disaster preparations after the 2001 terror attacks, leaving the Gulf Coast unnecessarily vulnerable to Hurricane Katrina, a House inquiry concludes.

Finding fault with the White House down to local officials, the House investigation determined that authorities failed to move quickly to protect people _ even when faced with warnings days ahead of the storm last Aug. 29.

"Passivity did the most damage," concluded the 520-page report by the committee, chaired by Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., charged with investigating the sluggish response to Katrina. "The failure of initiative cost lives, prolonged suffering, and left all Americans justifiably concerned our government is no better prepared to protect its people than it was before 9/11, even if we are. The preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina should disturb all Americans," the report said.

<<<SNIP>>>

Charitable organizations such as the American Red Cross did not escape criticism in the report, which found that they were overwhelmed by the sheer size of demands, leading to water, food and other supply shortages and disorganized sheltering processes. (Emphasis added by Appender}

<<<SNIP>>>

:rant: --- Comment by appender as to

"Charitable organizations such as the American Red Cross did not escape criticism in the report, which found that they were overwhelmed by the sheer size of demands, leading to water, food and other supply shortages and disorganized sheltering processes."

- And FEMA kept changing the rules, and didn't follow its own NIMS-ICS System Rules

, and

And NIMS and ICS are the same thing with added acronyms in NIMS. Don't matter - FEMA didn't follow either one. --- :rant:

[Wordie]

1. K&R...and the article has some info on Chertoff...

The House report also finds fault with Chertoff, for failing to activate a national plan to trigger fast relief, and Homeland Security, for overseeing a bare-bones and inexperienced emergency response staff.

...Earlier Tuesday, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said Bush has full confidence in Chertoff and has not considered asking him to step down because of the criticism.

"Secretary Chertoff is doing a great job," McClellan said Tuesday. "The president appreciates his strong leadership."

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada, however, reiterated an earlier call for Chertoff to resign. The recent criticism about Chertoff's performance during Katrina "only adds to my displeasure with our secretary," Reid said.

When is Chertoff supposed to give congressional testimony about Katrina? I thought it was supposed to be today...

It's crucially important that the problems with the Katrina response and the needs of those still suffering from the disaster are kept alive in the news. Thanks for this post, Coastie.

[Coastie for Truth]

3. As late as Christmas Eve

I was standing in the stair well of a burned out apartment, helping a family of Katrina refugees get temporary housing after their Section VIII housing had a fire.

I have condo insurance, separate flood insurance, separate earthquake insurance (I live in a condo in a flood plain between "THE" two major earthquake faults - Si Valley is just one big flood plain between two faults)-- and when the inevitable "Big One" hits -- I expect a screwing.

[mom cat]

2. K&R Thanks!

[OneBlueSky]

4. passivity??? . . . more like criminal neglect . . . n/t

.

[Stockholm]

5. This belongs on the frontpage

K&R!

[Behind the Aegis]

6. K&R #5!

I saw this earlier on another site, it is just amazing, the level of incompetence!

[DeltaLady]

7. Rules chiseled in stone

don't do well in a fluid situation. The ability to act/react on ones feet is a necessary component of leadership, which was obviously lacking but for some shining moments when counterproductive "orders" were ignored/disobeyed. Those individuals, like the hero in this story, exhibit the very qualities that are indicative of true initiative and leadership; access a situation, consider the options, and make the best possible choice under the circumstances.

http://www.nola.com/search/index.ssf?/base/library-95/1139642364192870.xml?nola

Robert Hecker, the Harbor Police chief placed on leave after he stayed on duty to rescue 9th Ward residents stranded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, will be reinstated Monday, Port of New Orleans officials said Friday.


The port said an internal investigation that included 29 interviews found that Hecker was not insubordinate when he remained on duty with a small group of officers in New Orleans after the storm. Hecker, who has been on paid administrative leave since Sept. 23, will be reinstated without penalty.

[Mister K]

8. Report Slams Katrina Disaster Preparation

http://cnn.netscape.cnn.com/news/story.jsp?floc=ns-tos-news-h-02&flok=FF-APO-1153&idq=/ff/story/0001%2F20060215%2F0653365256.htm&sc=1153

Report Slams Katrina Disaster Preparation

By LARA JAKES JORDAN
WASHINGTON (AP) - The deaths and suffering of thousands of Hurricane Katrina's victims might have been avoided if the government had heeded lessons from the 2001 terror attacks and taken a proactive stance toward disaster preparedness, a House inquiry concludes.

But from President Bush on down to local officials there was largely a reactive posture to the catastrophic Aug. 29 storm - even when faced with early warnings about its deadly potential.

A 520-page report, titled ``A Failure of Initiative,'' was being released Wednesday as Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff testifies before a Senate committee conducting a separate investigation of the government's Katrina response.

...

``The preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina should disturb all Americans,'' said the report, written by a Republican-dominated special House committee chaired by Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va.

[rodeodance]

9. I do believe Americans ARE/were beyond 'disturbed'--

...
``The preparation for and response to Hurricane Katrina should disturb all Americans,'' said the report, written by a Republican-dominated special House committee chaired by Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va.

[Sgent]

10. One thing worth noting

This report was issued by republicans -- the D's boycotted the investigation clamoring for an independent commission.

Just an extra thing to note for all the idiots that think Bush was golden in the handling of Katrina (although there aren't many of us like that on DU).