Does FEMA Actually WANT Help?
I keep hearing stories where the government or FEMA has turned down offer of aid.
The mayor of Chicago offered to send hundreds of rescue workers to the south, FEMA wanted only one truck. Another resource offered to bring large trucks able to traverse the water and help pick up survivors stranded at their homes. FEMA turned them down because they didn't have Global Tracking capability. Russia offered to send in a team of their search and rescue men, experienced and capable people: they were told the US had plenty of resources and we'd take care of our own.
And the list goes on and on..
What exactly IS the thinking behind this rescue operation? Most of the pablum being spewed by clueless politicans speaks of rebuilding and the future. I don't want to know about "the future" right now, I'd like to see some progress in the present, in rescuing those who are still stranded on roof tops.
Take Charity Hospital who has been crying for help for five days now. They have patients who are being bagged manually in order to keep them alive. Yet as they wait outside in a receiving area for someone to come and evacuate at least these critically ill patients, they see helicopters evacuated the non essential medical STAFF from the private hospital across the street.
Oh, did I mention that Charity is a public hospital who's patients are among the poorest in the city?
Where are the frickin priorities behind these operations? Where is the logic? WHO is in charge?
posted by Senihele @ 10:39 AM
4 comments
4 Comments:
I've been out of pocket trying to move since the week Katrina hit so haven't posted or read much on the web. But in response to your post I want to add my two cents. I was moved to tears of outrage and sorrow on day three at reports of toddlers wailing for food and water as they walked among dead bodies at the Super Dome. I phoned Senator Snyder's office in Little Rock and was told "FEMA is handling it." I had to apologize to the woman on the phone for losing it after her statement because it was obvious no one was "handling it."
I'm stunned that the defense by some nuts is that liberals are now trying to blame Bush for the weather. What utter stupidity! Now Bush has appointed the Architect to be in charge of the rebuilding of New Orleans...would be a great appointment if Rove had any experience at literal crisis management, rather than public relations crisis management. But alas, that is exactly the only concern of George, public relations.
And those who would like to lay blame at Mayor Nagin's feet I would argue that his resources were strained beyond capability and while he perhaps should have seen it coming, Bush certainly shouldn't have been playin' the fiddle while New Orleans drowned. I could have driven from my home to New Orleans 10-12 times and dropped water, food, meds, diapers in the time it took to get life sustaining relief to the Super Dome and Convention Center.
Oh yes, and don't forget that staff at Charity Hospital who'd been told several nights in a row to get patients to the roof for evacuation only to be repeatedly left hanging, while their patients died, watched across the street at Tulane Hospital, a private hospital as non-essential personel were evacuated. I believe Dr. Sanjay Gupta sp? was at Charity and I am very anxious to hear any comments he has. Boy I could type till my fingers are sore on this one, but I'll spare you for now.
I won't argue with anything you say, Lisa. I'm glad to hear from you, tho. Wasn't sure how you were doing.
If people aren't outraged now they will be as Michael Brown continues to open his mouth in vain attempts to defend himself and confirms his total and complete lack of comprehension WHAT his JOB at FEMA consisted of.
Read this one when you have time and low blood pressure:
http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/091805/new_blanco001.shtml
Great article! Here's a link to a posting on the old Rove board that has a plethora of similar FEMA blocking aid efforts with links.
http://news.messages.yahoo.com/bbs?action=m&board=37447170&tid=huffpost003637&sid=37447170&mid=2333
Nice list! (If you know what I mean.) Thanks, Lisa. I am still amazed at the reports coming out of LA that FEMA is still geared towards controlling response rather than just getting help where it is needed.
One family on the news tonight tried to apply for food stamps but it wasn't granted because they had property in NO. Property they don't even know the status of, if it remains at all.
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