CA Fires - Fema - Chertoff - *Co - And Taking Credit......

[global1]

I was bothered this a.m. when watching the cable news shows that the dude from FEMA and Chertoff where being interviewed and taking credit for how well the evacuation process is going in California. They were saying things like we've learned from Katrina and improved and we're responding sooner and faster,etc.

Watching the people at Qualcomm Stadium - there is certainly a different feel to the whole process. It is much more organized. People are cooperative. A lot of aid and help is available. More of a festive atmosphere given the circumstances.

BUT

I really don't find too much of a comparison between what happened in New Orleans and what is going on in California.

In NO - most everything was effected. People couldn't drive themselves to the Convention Center or to the Superbowl as most everything was underwater. Hotels were hit and couldn't accommodate people. The socioeconomic makeup of the people are different in NO vs CA and most couldn't afford to take care of themselves or be self-sufficient as those people in California are. Those hit by the flood couldn't go to relatives or friends in the area cause most likely their relatives and friends were experiencing the same problems.

So bottom line there really is no comparison between these two natural disasters and the fact that Chertoff,FEMA and *Co are trying to take credit for the smooth way things are going in California - I find this disingenuous.

I think the State of California is more prepared for natural disasters in the first place (i.e., earthquakes, fires, etc) than the Gulf Coast is/was. I think most of the credit should go to the State run disaster planning and the people of California and their attitude.

Chertoff, FEMA and *Co taking credit for this just irks me.

And now I hear that on Thurs * himself is going to make an appearance there - a 'photo op' no doubt. I think the only reason he'll be there is to try and steal some of the limelight from the wonderful people of California and what they have done to make this go well. He's going to try and take credit for something that really he has no business taking credit for.



Am I being too critical here

[glowing]

1. No!!!!!!!!!

If it was a NO situation, oh, be sure they would find someone else to blame.

[State the Obvious]

2. I hope the sound of California booing him stays with Bush for months.

You are absolutely right. The WH is setting the groundwork for taking credit for the evacuation process. Regardless of how you feel about California....we are known for our preparedness, and if Bush can ride on someone else's sweat and hardwork......he will. It disgusts me too.

[havocmom]

3. 'nother difference I noticed: No one is trying to shoot people in CA who try to cross a bridge

to get to where there are supplies for evacuees.

Oh, and in NOLA, the USCG caught hell from high places for going in fast to rescue as many people as they could. It is one of the big jobs the Coast Guard trains and drills for and they caught hell for going into gear before some wanker in D.C. told them to.

Don't see much of that going on in Calif right now - coming down on first responders for responding first.

Personally, I don't think you are being to critical at all. FEMA/Chertoff left NOLA to drown and tried to blame others. In Calif, the system is working pretty damned well (just overwhelmed due to the magnitude) and Chertoff wants to claim he did it.

In China, in days of yore, such a self-serving functionary would be gifted with a red silk rope.

[Vodid]

4. The two do not equate at all...

In New Orleans, 80 percent of the city was FLOODED with a TOXIC SOUP, and without a small boat you were very limited in where you could go. Most of the people were cut off from everyone, and didn't have a boat. There was NO GASOLINE, NO ELECTRICITY, NO TELEPHONES, NO INTERNET, NO OPEN BUSINESSES, NO MAIL, Most of the cellphones that people had did not work, and the few overtaxed police, fireman, etc, could not even communicate with each other because the radio frequency didn't work. At least 1500 PEOPLE DIED, BEFORE any help arrived.

[mulsh]

5. State and local emergencies have lots of

of practice responding to large scale disasters. From the 89 Quake, 91 Oakland hills fire, the Northridge quake, wild fires through out CA especially souther n california, our emergency response network is intact and well trained. OH and as a CA native I think I might as well point out that most of the people being evacuated in SD are like my father in law who lives down there, relatively affluent. that part doesn't hurt at all.

[rufus dog]

6. agreed - much different situations

I live across the street and next door to open area that was burned. I did not have to evacuate, the biggest effort was keeping people calm. All I had to do was park the car an 1/8 mile away and hold tight. If the first row of houses caught I could walk around the corner and drive away. Would it have been scary yes, would I have been in great danger no. As for the people in Qualcomm, if a section of the stadium caught then you would have a parallel to the Superdome.