There was a Don't Blame Bush letter today....I'm going to respond to her points, so any help you can provide is greatly appreciated.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15228967&BRD=2271&PAG=461&dept_id=462943&rfi=6Subject: The federal response to Katrina
Over the past several days, we have heard many complaints about the slow federal response to hurricane Katrina. If President Bush had ignored the constitution, and established marshal law by sending in the military; I have no doubt that there would be more serious complaints.
The following information (from the internet) gives the legal chain of command. Responsibility is as follows:
1. The mayor of New Orleans.
2. The New Orleans director of homeland security (appointed by the governor).
3. The governor.
4. The head of homeland security (federal).
5. The president.
What did each do?
1. The mayor, with 5 days advance warning, waited until 2 days before Katrina hit, to order a mandatory evacuation (at the president's request). Then he failed to provide transportation for those who needed it, even though he had hundreds of buses at his disposal.
2. The New Orleans director of homeland security failed to have any contingency plan and blames the feds for his mistakes.
3. The governor failed to take advantage of the offer of federal troops until 2 DAYS after the storm hit.
4. The federal director of homeland security positioned assets to be ready when the governor called for them.
5. The president urged a mandatory evacuation; and even declared a state of emergency, freeing up funding should the governor decide to use it.
Details:
In the days prior to the strike, President Bush spent much time drafting the paperwork (to avoid being in violation of the Posse Comatatus Act or having to employ the Insurgency Act). He pleaded with Governor Blanco to sign the papers so the federal government could legally begin mobilization and call up. He was told it wasn't yet necessary.
After the storm hit, Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin were asked again to declare a state of emergency and begin mandatory evacuation. Still they refused. In frustration the president declared the area a national disaster so he could begin advanced preparations. The president's legal advisors were looking into the ramifications of using the Insurgency Act to bypass the constitutional requirement for a state to request federal aid before troops could be moved in. This had not been done since 1906 and its constitutionality would be called into question.
It was also discovered that prior federal aid for the repair and maintenance of the levees had been diverted to fund a marina and support gambling ships. As a result the New Orleans' emergency preparedness plan was never implemented.
As a result, these are questions which should be asked:
1. Why did Gov. Blanco refuse to sign the multi-state mutual aid pack activation documents until Wednesday (further delaying legal deployment of the National Guard from adjoining states.)
2. Why did Mayor Nagin keep harping about President Bush not providing 500 Greyhound buses, when he had over 500 buses at his disposal (school buses and city transportation buses)?
This is not a time to point fingers to cast blame. Now is the time to give aid and rebuild. Later, when all is rebuilt, etc., we can ask the questions. What could we have done differently? Can we improve on our responses to natural catastrophes?
Perhaps we will come out of this stronger and smarter.
Sincerely,
Sara B. Ballard
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