Situation Normal. All FEMAed Up.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA for short) is a division of the somewhat new Department of Homeland Security, but actually its genesis goes back to the Congressional Act of 1803. Since that time, many federal agencies took on many roles and provided a variety of services during times the nation and communities were faced with natural disasters. Naturally, the parceling of responsibilities to provide assistance in certain disasters to diverse agencies with dissimilar agendas ended in bureaucratic quagmire. In order to centralize the nations disaster preparedness efforts, President Carter issued an executive order in 1979 bringing all of these federal agencies under one roof. The first director, John Macy, began directing activities within FEMA with an eye on the similarities of preparing for natural disasters and the old cold war civil defense programs. He advocated an all hazards approach, whether an incident be isolated or full scale war.

In 1993 a Clinton appointee, James L. Witt, took over the reigns of the Agency and emphasized the need for preparedness for a disaster and the mitigation of loss after the fact. After the September 11 attack, President Bush placed the Agency under the direction of the Office of Homeland Security and disaster preparedness was again emphasized, but this time the threat of weapons of mass destruction stood head and shoulders above natural disaster .

So what happened in New Orleans ? The Agency with the ultimate responsibility to prepare for a disaster didn’t quite have it together. Nor did they rush to mitigate the damage. Why was the Agency and lets not forget the entire Bush administration so callous in the disregard for human life? The President, the Director of Homeland Security and the Director of FEMA must have had first hand reports alarming them to the severity of the situation and the necessity to take action. Did the Director of Homeland Security have to wait until he read about a levee breach in the newspaper to grasp the gravity of the situation? True, the placement of response personnel too near the area would have invited even more tragic results for the cavalry has to arrive in order to effectuate a rescue. But time dragged on and the troops were not on the scene. The Red Cross and Salvation Army responded admirably as they always do, but they are charitable organizations. Where was the government of the United States of America? The government charged with caring for its own. Did Bush really pat a little old lady on the head and tell her the Salvation Army would care for her? Did FEMA really turn away the nation’s firefighters who voluntarily responded to assist asking them to distribute flyers instead of utilizing their skills to save lives and property?

The hurricane season of 2004 ravaged Florida with many storms. . Contrast last year with the present. Most Floridians were able to escape to high ground; most New Orleaners could not. In Florida FEMA had their boots on the ground and the check books out as the last rain drop hit the ground. New Orleans residents were left to literally tread water if they were able.

The catastrophic result is the possibility of 10,000 lives lost. A lesser tragedy, but yet a tragedy, is that now the events will be politicized. Questions asked go unanswered. The administration must not be disturbed with the quest for accountability at the moment. Focus is directed at present matters, not the past. The locals didn't ask for help utilizing the proper FEMA Forms. Committees will be formed to select committees to form the committees charged with the investigation in order to point the finger in the right direction. Will heads roll? No. Resignations for personal reasons, spending more time with the family, will eventually be seen. Reckless disregard for human life will never reach the stages of a jury instruction. Mitigation of damage now mans refrigerated trucks, make shift morgues and a team of medical examiners assembled from all over the country.

Has anyone heard how the war is going?