FEMA chief (Michael Brown) was given dire warning in 2004

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10371184/

FEMA’s top official was told more than a year before Hurricane Katrina that the agency’s emergency response teams were unprepared for a major disaster and were operating under outdated plans, documents show.

Additionally, e-mails obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press indicate that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff tried to call Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco the afternoon before Katrina hit, but she could not be immediately reached; she may have been napping.

The release of the documents comes a day after heated criticism from hurricane victims. On Tuesday, black Katrina survivors told Congress they felt racism played a major role in the government’s slow response to the storm, with some residents telling Congress they believe the government bombed the levees to intentionally breach them.

Congressmen adamantly denied both claims.

Back in 2004, an 11-page memo to Michael Brown, former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, described response teams that were not prepared and were getting “zero funding for training, exercise or team equipment.”

[Nitrogenica]

1. We fight disaster over there so we don't fight disaster here!

[cliss]

2. The U.S. should give Brownie a Dire Warning

this afternoon: "if you ever get into disaster management again, we'll tie you to a rock at low tide".

[electron_blue]

3. So what are we doing differently now?

We are still woefully unprepared. We are not addressing the continuing disaster in the gulf states and we are even more unprepared (if that is possible) for other disasters than we were pre-Katrina, due to the exhausting of what little help we had ready to give.

[journalist3072]

FEMA chief was given dire warning in 2004

FEMA chief was given dire warning in 2004
Brown was told response teams were not prepared for 'next big one'

Updated: 8:29 p.m. ET Dec. 7, 2005
WASHINGTON - FEMA’s top official was told more than a year before Hurricane Katrina that the agency’s emergency response teams were unprepared for a major disaster and were operating under outdated plans, documents show.

Additionally, e-mails obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press indicate that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff tried to call Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco the afternoon before Katrina hit, but she could not be immediately reached; she may have been napping.

A spokeswoman for the governor said Wednesday that Blanco was getting personal items at her residence when Chertoff called. “There was no time for napping,” Denise Bottcher said.

The release of the documents comes a day after heated criticism from hurricane victims. On Tuesday, black Katrina survivors told Congress they felt racism played a major role in the government’s slow response to the storm, with some residents telling Congress they believe the government bombed the levees to intentionally breach them.

Congressmen adamantly denied both claims.

Back in 2004, an 11-page memo to Michael Brown, former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, described response teams that were not prepared and were getting “zero funding for training, exercise or team equipment.”

Read rest of the article at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10371184/

[Barrett808]

4. Hell, Bush diverted over $200m from levee construction to Iraq

All documented by the Times-Picayune.

One more impeachable offense, imho.

[journalist3072]

5. How many articles of impeachment.....let me count the ways.....eom!!

[MiniMe]

6. Chertoff couldn't reach Blanco because she was napping???

I don't believe it.Talk about a transparent shift of blame. These guys point fingers at everybody but themselves.

[ninkasi]

7. He was probably out buying clothes

Brown, the "fashion god", was probably more interested in his wardrobe than a bunch of poor people in New Orleans. Typical Bush appointee, useless. No funding, either, according to the article. With all of the hype, and Bush squawking 9-11 every time he opens his mouth, using it as an excuse for everything he does, it would seem that funding and training FEMA would have been a top priority. Of course, the neocon's priorities are not in the best interests of the common citizens of this country. Their priorities are war, domination, and enriching their cronies.