Here is the link to the thoroughly researched timeline of Hurricane Katrina events.
I agree with the thought, "Now is the time to help, not lay blame." However, I have been angrier than hell the citizens of Louisiana had to sit waiting for help that seemed to never come. I have been as guilty as the next person of pointing out how that happened. That being said, I wanted to share something I came across yesterday.
This is a superb log of the events as they occured, complete with irrefutable evidence of the federal govt. dropping the ball. (the links listed on the site are to The White House, DOD and Office of the Governor websites that show the original memorandums)
You can see where the Governor requested Federal assistance on August 27, two days before the hurricane made landfall.
Here is an excerpt from the letter to President Bush from Kathleen Blanco.
"I have determined that this incident is of such severity and magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and affected local governments, and that supplementary Federal assistance is necessary to save lives, protect property, public health, and safety, or to lessen or avert the threat of a disaster."
Here is an excerpt of the President's response:
You can read the complete memorandum here.
"Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, mobilize, and provide at its discretion, equipment and resources necessary to alleviate the impacts of the emergency. Debris removal and emergency protective measures, including direct Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding."
Now here's my question: If the president knew the gravity of the situation and ordered federal assistance, why, when it was known by Tuesday FEMA was not responding the way they had been ordered, did he not mobilize another course of action by the military or Homeland Security? Our military is trained to be extremely efficient in the event of disaster. The U.S.S. Bataan was even waiting off the coast with doctors, a full shelter, food, and water, yet they waited for the president to give the order to assist. Did Fema drop the ball? Yes. Did Homeland Security drop the ball? Yes. Did the president drop the ball? Yes.
Should all of these people be held accountable for the lack of assistance Louisiana received that was requested?
Definitely.
If nothing else the president is guilty of resting on his laurels and inattentiveness. Whatever happened to "The buck stops here?"
