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Originally Posted by meembo
I'm sympathetic to much of what you say, but I think it's always the primary responsibility of local government to assume the responsibility for planning and readiness, a test that New Orleans failed, as well as FEMA.
I'm no friend of the Bush administration, either. But a city that's below sea level should have comprehensive plans for evacuation, which FEMA could assist if necessary. I think all the relevant governments were not prepared, and therefore FEMA ought not to bear the brunt of the criticism.
FEMA also should not be subsumed by another government agency. It ought to be accountable only to the President.
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Hmmm...I basically agree and disagree with what you're saying. I agree with everything but the bolded part. I think that if your agency exists, purportedly (at least in the eyes of the local governments, in light of historical performance if nothing else) to deal with disaster and national emergency...and the locals drop the ball, you should be ready to jump in a knock the shit out. Expect the local government to be competent, but be prepared for them not to be. You can bitch them out later. But in the time of crisis, I just wish someone with enough authority to make a difference had done so...before 4 or 5 days went by. It's not like the hurricane happened in a vacuum...I can sit and watch this shit go down on TV, radio, the internet. How could authority figures not know it was seriously fucked up, and where is someone with the fortitude to get people moving. I just think it's a disgrace. I personally believe that with more power comes more responsibility...when your subordinates don't perform, reprimand and/or leapfrog. But get the job done.
edit : My html tags aren't working, and I don't have time to troubleshoot. The bolded part was about FEMA not bearing the brunt of the criticism. I think that National levels ultimately get hit for not taking responsibility after local efforts failed or were never in place to start with.