NEWS: FEMA Memo Proves Brown Delayed

Internal FEMA documents obtained by AP showed that Michael Brown, Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, waited nearly five hours after Katrina stuck the Gulf Coast before asking Chertoff, Homeland Security Secretary, for assistance. In addition the memo instructed workers being sent to the area to 'convey a positive image of disaster operations to the general public'.



This is incredible. A memo that proves that Brown sat on this for hours before asking for any assistance. Was this negligence on his part? You bet! This is either ignorance to act or a very deliberate act that must be addressed now. Mr. Brown what were you thinking? Those five hours delayed could have made a lot of difference for some people.

[edit on 7-9-2005 by nikelbee]

[edit on 7-9-2005 by nikelbee]

[edit on 7-9-2005 by nikelbee]

More in other news sources that addresses the deliberate delay of assistance and even the refusal to send more help.

According to the wire service, Katrina raged for five hours before Brown petitioned Chertoff with his first request for aid: 1,000 Homeland Security workers who'd be dispatched to the region two days later to lend their support to localized rescue efforts and "convey a positive image of disaster operations to government officials, community organizations and the general public." He also suggested that an additional 2,000 personnel be sent over the course of the following week.

Before his request to Chertoff, Brown discouraged local fire and rescue operations outside of the affected states — Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi — from sending trucks and emergency workers into the disaster zone unless a specific request for help was issued by state or local governments, The Associated Press reports.

www.mtv.com...

If you stop and think about it five house delay is no big thing. He could have been making plans and that would take a few hours, so no the sky is not falling just because of a five hour delay. Also note it states around five hours for all anyone knows it could have been four only the press wants to play chicken little.

Shots

The sky *did* fall.

It wasn't just the five hour delay, it was the slow response, the number of inadequate help sent, the time it took to take said help to arrive and all the incompetence inbetween. This was major news on CNN last night, good enough to call him for a press conference and for people to start asking for his immediate resignation.

It isn't just the media that is making a 'big thing' out of FEMA and particularly Brown's reaction to the disaster. Read all the other posts that tell about negligence. This 5 hours memo delay probably comes as no surprise, except for the fact that now there is factual and written evidence that they can't squirm out of.

The slow response, and the lack of help are to blame on the local governments, on the Mayor of NO and on the governor of Luisiana, because they were supposed to use all the resources available to them and they didn't. Not only that but they refused help from the federal government.

Yes partially, but it would be erroneous not to admit that FEMA screwed up too. Look at all the proof! This isn't a conspiracy cooked up by crazies. If so it is being taken up by all the media outlets of the world.

From today's Boston Herald:

The news about the utter cluelessness of the leadership of the Federal Emergency Management Agency just keeps getting worse.

It seems ludicrous, yet typical, that Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire pulled out all the stops to ready facilities for evacuees and then were told by FEMA the plan had been put on hold. It brings to mind that old Massachusetts expression: This gang couldn't organize a two-car funeral.

Let's see, people are dying of thirst on a highway and Brown is mostly worried about sending in an army of pencil pushers to help them fill out forms.

It's not just what Brown did do – however belatedly – it's what he didn't do. And there too the case against him grows.

news.bostonherald.com...

[edit on 8-9-2005 by nikelbee]