Federal Katrina response could have bypassed state govt

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Rood, Justin" <JRood () govexec com>
Date: October 19, 2005 10:31:01 AM EDT
To: dave () farber net
Subject: important story - Federal Katrina response could have  
bypassed state govt


Dave,



For IP if you wish – according to the nation’s disaster response  
plan, the Federal government could have activated special powers to  
push their assets into affected areas without waiting for state  
requests.  This, despite administration claims that they were forced  
to follow the states’ lead.  (The powers were never invoked, needless  
to say.)





DHS failed to use catastrophe response plan in Katrina's wake

By Chris Strohm
cstrohm () govexec com

The Homeland Security Department did not use a plan for handling  
catastrophes in its response to Hurricane Katrina, even though some  
officials say that doing so could have saved lives and brought the  
chaotic situation in New Orleans under control.

The department didn't activate a section of the National Response  
Plan that deals specifically with responding to catastrophes, DHS  
spokesman Russ Knocke confirmed this week. The section -- called the  
Catastrophic Incident Annex -- is tucked deep within the 426-page  
plan, which was published last December.

. . .

The Catastrophic Incident Annex, however, gives the federal  
government special powers, including the ability to bypass state  
governments. But Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff or one  
of his designees has to approve use of the annex.

That was not done during Hurricane Katrina. Instead, the federal  
government and state of Louisiana got caught up in negotiations over  
what kind of federal assistance would be provided in the first few  
days after the storm hit, while thousands of people were stranded in  
New Orleans and others died in hospitals, nursing homes and their  
houses.



http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=32586&dcn=todaysnews



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