Several bits and pieces of the evolving Katrina blame game caught our eye this morning.

First, columnist Rick Martinez in the Charlotte (NC) News-Observer:

…as emergency workers often note, plans are only as good as the leaders implementing them. And leadership is where Louisiana and New Orleans fell woefully short. The failure is even starker compared to another unprecedented disaster — the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center four years ago.

Federal response then was also confused and lacking. Yet, at no time did New York Gov. George Pataki stand before a microphone on the verge of tears, as Blanco did. Mayor Rudy Giuliani didn’t lash out in an expletive-laced radio tirade, like Nagin. Unlike Sen. Mary Landrieu, Sens. Charles Schumer and Hillary Clinton refrained from threatening to punch people, including the president, in the mouth. Most telling, New York City cops didn’t desert their citizens, as a sizable portion of the New Orleans police force has.

Much of the criticism directed at the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is for actions that should have been taken by Louisiana officials. The rule of thumb in emergency management is that states and localities must be prepared to survive up to 72 hours on their own before federal aid arrives. The lack of water, food, medical supplies, transportation, law enforcement and medical personnel at the Superdome isn’t President Bush’s fault. Shelters of last resort are rightfully the responsibility of parish officials; Blanco’s emergency plan says so.

Craig Martelle in the Pittsburgh (PA) Post-Gazette pointed us to what the City of New Orleans writes in its own Emergency Guide for Citizens:

MISSION STATEMENT The Office of Emergency Preparedness is responsible for the response and coordination of those actions needed to protect the lives and property of its citizens from natural or man-made disasters as well as emergency planning for the City of New Orleans. Our primary responsibility is to advise the Mayor, the City Council and Chief Administrative Officer regarding emergency preparedness activities and operations.We coordinate all city departments and allied state and federal agencies which respond to city-wide disasters and emergencies through the development and constant updating of an integrated multi-hazard plan. All requests for federal disaster assistance and federal funding subsequent to disaster declarations are also made through this office.Our authority is defined by the Louisiana Emergency Assistance and Disaster Act of 1993, Chapter 6 Section 709, Paragraph B, “Each parish shall maintain a Disaster Agency which, except as otherwise provided under this act, has jurisdiction over and serves the entire parish”.

The state has similar responsibilities. The spring 2005 Louisiana State Emergency Plan is no longer where it is supposed to be, but we found this in a supplement here:

D. Organization and Assignment of Responsibilities

The organization and assignment of primary and secondary responsibilities
are detailed in the State Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). Listed below are
the key participants and their roles in the event of a catastrophic hurricane:

1. Governor:

a. Proclaim a State of Emergency.

b. Issue supplementary declarations and orders, as the situation
requires.

c. Authorize and direct the use of State government personnel and
other resources to deal with the emergency.

d. Authorize and direct the authorities of non-risk parishes to
coordinate the opening and operation of shelters with DSS in
conjunction with ARC, and to lend all possible assistance to the
evacuation and shelter effort.

e. Request Federal government assistance as needed.

2. Adjutant General/Director, Louisiana Office of Emergency
Preparedness (LOEP):

a. Serve as the Governor’s executive agent and lead agency for the
management of emergency and disaster operations.

b. Coordinate state and local operations.

c. Prepare and coordinate requests for assistance to other states
and the Federal government.

d. Keep the Governor and the Legislature informed of progress and
problems in dealing with the emergency or disaster.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 7th, 2005 at 12:38 pm by A Senior Administration Official and is filed under Big Thoughts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.