FEMA Hiding The Dropped Ball

[FourScore]

Democratic Congressman Nick Lampsom (TX-22) is right this moment (9:15 pm CDT) on Channel 13 in Houston, being as politically correct but direct as possible, while using carefully chosen words to explain how FEMA is dropping the ball big time in Texas following Hurricane Ike.

According to Congressman Lampsom almost none of the promises made by FEMA before Hurricane Ike made landfall are being honored. In addition, FEMA is controlling the story, keeping the facts from the press, and trying to hide the ball they are dropping.

Even worse is the way the Federal Government is trying to keep the media away from the disaster areas and control the story. FEMA and the FAA are stepping all over Freedom Of The Press...

SNIP

...Even a Republican Congressman, John Culberson (TX-7) is upset with FEMA and sounding off about it. According to the Associated Press, Culberson was upset this afternoon because hundreds of first responders at two staging areas have run out of food and water. On Sunday, Culberson said that 300 National Guardsmen, state troopers and other emergency workers are going hungry at a high-school football stadium and at another staging area on Houston's west side, and blamed FEMA for the gaffe.

News Blackout

At the same time, in an unprecedented move, the FAA is keeping all of the news helicopters and other private aviation away from the disaster areas. The FAA has issued NO FLY ORDERS that prevents all general aviation aircraft from flying within one mile of the worst of the stricken areas, specifically the areas along the Boliver Peninsula, including the cities of Crystal Beach and Gilcrest, and the coastal city of High Island. Evacuees from those areas are reporting almost total devastation, but the media is not being allowed to see the areas and report the story.

What Are They Hiding?

What is the Bush administration hiding? Are they hiding FEMA's failures? Are they hiding the results of a natural disaster?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/14/22830/8407/27/598996

[SpiralHawk]

1. "My republicon FEMA is doing a heckuva job. As usual. Smirk." - Commander AWOL

[DJ13]

2. What is the Bush administration hiding?

A bio-weapons lab blew apart and killed nearby residents that had remained behind?

It has to be something other than just FEMA incompetence in play here.

[aquart]

3. They never thought they'd do it to white people, too?

[hootinholler]

6. That might be a winner. n/t

[Ilsa]

10. They may be white, but they are probably poor and white.

As one rescuer said, the reason they give for staying is "I don't have anywhere to go."

[lutherj]

4. "...Even a Republican Congressman, John Culberson (TX-7) is upset with FEMA..."

Uh, you been makin' this bed a long time, Congressman.

[FourScore]

5. kick

[Barack_America]

7. Unfortunately, it appears they're hiding the dead.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4006778&mesg_id=4006778

I am numb over this. This is terrible.

[ailsagirl]

8. Big surprise (not)

:mad:

[Uncle Joe]

9. Why would they keep the press away from a disaster area?

I wonder if Blackwater was let in?

[rainbow4321]

11. Canadian electricity workers headed to the Houston/Galveston area

News listed a bunch of states and then said Canada was also sending crews.

[donheld]

12. midnight kick

[lonestarnot]

13. What country was it that did this same thing just recently? Wouldn't let relief workers in and such