A Picture Says A Thousand Words

Biloxi Still Waiting For FEMA

Sept. 6, 2005 10:59 pm US/Central
(CBS) BILOXI, Miss. More than a week after Hurricane Katrina mauled the Mississippi coast, 48 Hours correspondent Bill Whitaker reports a refrain is heard again and again in this devastated city.

"I can't find FEMA anywhere," says Jeff Miller.

Miller and his family are desperate to get out of their battered trailer. It's soaking wet, and they can’t breathe the mold that’s in the air.

"It’s been hell," says Miller's wife, Shelly. "We tried calling FEMA. You can’t get through on the phone lines."

As we were talking, a woman walked up.

"FEMA? I would like to volunteer my services. Are you looking for them?" she said.

Biloxi resident Tuan Tran and his wife drove by. They’ve lost everything. They could not find FEMA either.

They’d all come to the Main Street Missionary Baptist Church seeking the federal agency that would cut them a check, and help them find shelter.

In the wake of Katrina, this church is filling the federal void. It became the de-facto emergency relief center when 150 people ran here, climbing up to the second floor to escape the tide surge that washed away their houses. Now, this is the only institution providing food, clothing and shelter in hardest hit East Biloxi.

Pastor Kenneth Haynes says he saw a FEMA representative... briefly.

"There was a lady who came in the second day, which might have been Tuesday, I’m not sure. She told us she was from FEMA," he says.

Pastor Haynes says he has not seen the woman since.

People here know things are worse in New Orleans, and in Biloxi, patience isn’t just a virtue -- it’s a way of life. But three days after Katrina hit, you could hear in the voice of Major Wildish, of the local Salvation Army, that supplies and patience were wearing thin.

"We have a great need for food. We have a lot of people and yet we don't have enough food to feed them," he said.

By Sunday, patience was gone.

"I’ve been so angry because we’ve been forgotten over here," says Ganese Darden. "There’s nothing, there’s nothing in East Biloxi."

So people here have been left to do what they’ve always done: rely on themselves, their neighbors, their churches.

Pastor Kenneth Davis heard the church was housing more than 100 homeless storm victims and rushed over the next day with water in the biggest container he had -- a trash can. He thought it might be used to flush toilets. Instead, desperate, thirsty people drank it.

"When I think about it -- the thing that hurts me so – we are [in] America. Why should Americans drink water from the trash can?" he says.

What does FEMA say about all this? That this was a storm like no other. Local FEMA coordinator Michael Beeman says he doesn’t want to bring in too many people too fast and overtax the devastated infrastructure.

"How many of you are having problems getting gas and you’re asking us to bring more people in here? What we’re trying to do is to think the process out," he says.

While FEMA is thinking, the American people are acting. Biloxi now is relying on the kindness of strangers.

Oxfam, the international relief agency, rushed in. Nathaniel Raymond is directing the effort.

"As Oxfam, our goal is to help governments where they can’t fully respond to emergencies in their own countries," says Raymond.

Their last major project was aiding victims of the Asian tsunami.

"We’re not moving into the questions of when are we going to have shelter? We’re not moving to questions of where are these people going to get assistance to help rebuild their livelihoods? We’re not there and we were moving in that direction much quicker in many cases in the tsunami," says Raymond.

And like the tsunami, the response from individuals to this tragedy has been swift and moving. Dave Stevens brought goods from Alabama.

"We heard there was a need here, so we came," says Stevens, from the United Methodist Church in Spanish Fort, Ala.

They came from Charlotte, Florida, the NAACP from Atlanta, and a mobile medical truck from New York.

These folks started in Minneapolis with few supplies, got so many donations along the road they arrived in Biloxi with a truck load. Minnesotan Dwiji Guru raised money for tsunami victims. He says he could do no less here at home.

"If the government is not doing it, we have to take care of the government separately and take care of the people first," says Guru.

Pastor Davis says he’s been moved to tears by the public outpouring.

"The response from the government is another matter," he says. "It probably wouldn’t be wise for the preacher to tell you about that. It probably wouldn’t be wise."

On Tuesday, Marines stormed the Biloxi beach with troops to help patrol the streets. FEMA also opened a relief center a town away. But many people in East Biloxi lost cars to Katrina, and they can’t get there.

Ashamed of My Government

How could a President go golfing the day after our nations most devastating natural disaster?
Why did our government not have a plan to save lives from hurricane Katrina until almost a week afterwards?
How could our Commander and Chief congratulate FEMA director Michael Brown or "Brownie" as Bush calls him? "Brownie your doing a heck of a job" was Bush's exact words. Jeezus...... I suppose he'll be the next Medal of Freedom recipient.
Why was there no National Guard ready to help the refugees?
Why was there no communications among authorities and the government?
Why were there no buses to assist those without vehicles to escape the city?
Everyone knew that the levees could break, contrary to what George W. Bush said. Bush said "No one knew the levees would be breached"
This is the leader of our country saying these things.
Now Bush apologists are trying to cover up and shift the blame on local officials and local authorities while trying to make people think that Bush and FEMA did a great job considering the circumstances.

The time to ask the tough questions about what went wrong is NOW, not after Bush leaves office. This is not just a partisan issue here (as many Republicans are spining it as)

Our government was made to protect its people. This administration is not interested protecting the people, or in firing those who blatently failed their duties, and the first person to go should be Michael Brown.
Think we'll see it? I doubt we will see any changes from this President.
Bush want to set up an investigation into why his government failed to respond to hurricane Katrina.... lol!!
Thats like asking the wolf to guard the hen house.
The only way the American people will be able to find and fix the problems is by means of an independant investigation into this debacle. And I believe the Bush administration will do everything in its power to deflect criticism and cover up for the President's poor leadership during not just Hurricane Katrina but 9/11 as well.
We have a government which protects itself above its people for whom it serves. This is a dark chapter in American history.

A look at Katrina Aid from Other Countries

 (AP) Dozens of nations are offering Hurricane Katrina aid.
Here are some of the offers:
-- AUSTRALIA: $8 million to American Red Cross.
-- AUSTRIA: Water pumps, plastic sheets, cots.
-- BANGLADESH: $1 million.
-- BELGIUM: Medical, logistics, civil engineering and diving teams, pumps, generators.
-- BRITAIN: 500,000 ration packs, medical experts, search gear, marine engineers, high-volume pumps.
-- CANADA: Three navy ships, coast guard vessel, Sea King helicopters, about 1,000 personnel.
-- CHINA: $5 million.
-- CUBA: 1,100 doctors.
-- CZECH REPUBLIC: Rescue teams, field hospital, pumps, water processing equipment.
-- DENMARK: Water purification units.
-- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Rescue workers, doctors and nurses.
-- EL SALVADOR: 100 soldiers, including medical personnel and engineers.
-- FRANCE: 300 tents, 980 cots, 60 generators, three water purification units, 30 pumps.
-- GERMANY: 70,000 ration packs, medical supplies, vaccination teams, water purification equipment, medical evacuation aircraft.
-- GREECE: Two cruise ships to house homeless.
-- GUATEMALA: 80 specialists from army, health and interior departments.
-- HONDURAS: 134-member medical and search team.
-- INDIA: $5 million to American Red Cross, medical teams.
-- INDONESIA: 45 doctors and 155 other staff, 10,000 blankets.
-- ISRAEL: Doctors, trauma experts, other medical staff, field hospital.
-- ITALY: 300 cots, 300 blankets, 600 sheets, pump, first-aid kits, baby food.
-- JAPAN: $1 million, tents, blankets, power generators, portable water tanks.
-- KOSOVO: $500,000.
-- KUWAIT: $500 million worth of oil and other goods.
-- LATVIA: Disaster team, financial aid, blankets, bottled water.
-- LITHUANIA: Rescue teams, meals, building materials.
-- LUXEMBOURG: Two jeeps, 1,000 cots, 2,000 blankets.
-- MEXICO: Navy ship with food, amphibious vehicles, helicopters, medical team; 15 army vehicles carrying food, health workers, water-treatment equipment, mobile kitchens.
-- THE NETHERLANDS: Three giant water pumps, frigate with water, medicine, helicopters and beds.
-- NEW ZEALAND: $1.4 million, search team, victim identification team.
-- NICARAGUA: Flooding and sanitation experts.
-- NORWAY: Navy divers, 10,000 blankets, unspecified financial aid.
-- PAKISTAN: Doctors and paramedics.
-- PANAMA: 120,000 pounds of bananas.
-- PERU: 80 to 100 doctors.
-- THE PHILIPPINES: 25-man relief team.
-- PORTUGAL: Loan of 2 percent of strategic oil reserve -- 500,000 barrels of oil.
-- QATAR: $100 million.
-- ROMANIA: Two medical teams.
-- RUSSIA: Three transport planes with generators, food, tents, blankets, drinking water, medical supplies.
-- SINGAPORE: Three CH-47 transport helicopters and 38 soldiers based in Texas flying supply and airlift missions.
-- SLOVAKIA: Water purification gear, cots, water.
-- SLOVENIA: Cots, bedding, first aid kits.
-- SOUTH KOREA: $30 million, search team, relief supplies.
-- SPAIN: Firefighters and equipment, medical staff, tents, cots, blankets, water treatment units, heating equipment, seals, water, generators.
-- SRI LANKA: $25,000 to American Red Cross.
-- SWEDEN: First aid kits, blankets, meals, generators, plastic sheeting, two water purification units.
-- SWITZERLAND: 50 tons of supplies.
-- TAIWAN: $2 million.
-- THAILAND: At least 60 doctors and nurses, rice.
-- URUGUAY: Two mobile water purification units, two tons of powdered milk.
-- VENEZUELA: 1 million barrels of gasoline, $5 million in cash, water purification plants, 50 tons of canned food and water.
-- UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Tents, clothing, food, other aid.

We Have Been Abandoned By Our Own Country

You have to watch this video to fully understand, how little regard our government has for the welfare of its own citizens.

Northern Command isn't happy

Because Northern Command oversees all active-duty military operations inside the United States, it's also responsible for organizing the relief operations on the Gulf Coast. There are early indications, however, that NorthCom officials aren't entirely pleased with the orders they've received of late from the president.

There's an interesting BBC World News report (brought to my attention by my friend Darrell) in which NorthCom Lt. Commander Sean Kelly explained the military's efforts which, in addition to military support, include distribution of medical supplies, search and rescue operations, distributing food and water, and meeting transportation needs.
When the BBC noted the criticism of the government's slow response, Lt. Commander Kelly explained that NorthCom was ready to go well in advance of Katrina making landfall, but suggested the president didn't make the right call at the right time.

"Northcom started planning before the storm even hit. We were ready when it hit Florida, because, as you remember, it hit the bottom part of Florida, and then we were planning once it was pointed towards the Gulf Coast.

"So, what we did, we activated what we call 'defense coordinating officers' to work with the states to say, 'OK, what do you think you will need?' And we set up staging bases that could be started.

"We had the USS Bataan sailing almost behind the hurricane so once the hurricane made landfall, its search and rescue helicopters could be available almost immediately So, we had things ready.

"The only caveat is: we have to wait until the president authorizes us to do so. The laws of the United States say that the military can't just act in this fashion; we have to wait for the president to give us permission."

Apparently, that permission could have been given right away, but it wasn't. Bush was on vacation, sharing some cake with John McCain, and pretending to play some guitar.

This seems like it could be a fairly big deal. There's been some frustration on the part of military officials about bureaucracy and FEMA's ineffectiveness, but Kelly's remarks to the BCC sounded like a fairly direct challenge to the president's leadership — they wanted to leap into action, but the White House never made the call.

Considering that there are already questions about who was in charge last week, can someone please ask the White House who first gave the order to NorthCom and when?

An Angry 'Times-Picayune' Calls for Firing of FEMA Chief and Others in Open Letter to President On Sunday

By E&P Staff

Published: September 04, 2005 10:40 AM ET
NEW YORK
The Times-Picayune of New Orleans on Sunday published its third print edition since the hurricane disaster struck, chronicling the arrival, finally, of some relief but also taking President Bush to task for his handling of the crisis, and calling for the firing of FEMA director Michael Brown and others.

In an "open letter" to the president, published on page 15 of the 16-page edition, the paper said it still had grounds for "skepticism" that he would follow through on saving the city and its residents. It pointed out that while the government could not get supplies to the city numerous TV reporters, singer Harry Connick and Times-Picayune staffers managed to find a way in.

It also cited "bald-faced" lies by Michael Brown. "Those who should have been deploying troops were singing a sad song about how our city was impossible to reach," the staffers pointed out. "We’re angry, Mr. President, and we’ll be angry long after our beloved city and surrounding parishes have been pumped dry."

Here is the text.

***

We heard you loud and clear Friday when you visited our devastated city and the Gulf Coast and said, "What is not working, we’re going to make it right."

Please forgive us if we wait to see proof of your promise before believing you. But we have good reason for our skepticism.

Bienville built New Orleans where he built it for one main reason: It’s accessible. The city between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain was easy to reach in 1718.

How much easier it is to access in 2005 now that there are interstates and bridges, airports and helipads, cruise ships, barges, buses and diesel-powered trucks.

Despite the city’s multiple points of entry, our nation’s bureaucrats spent days after last week’s hurricane wringing their hands, lamenting the fact that they could neither rescue the city’s stranded victims nor bring them food, water and medical supplies.

Meanwhile there were journalists, including some who work for The Times-Picayune, going in and out of the city via the Crescent City Connection. On Thursday morning, that crew saw a caravan of 13 Wal-Mart tractor trailers headed into town to bring food, water and supplies to a dying city.

Television reporters were doing live reports from downtown New Orleans streets. Harry Connick Jr. brought in some aid Thursday, and his efforts were the focus of a "Today" show story Friday morning.

Yet, the people trained to protect our nation, the people whose job it is to quickly bring in aid were absent. Those who should have been deploying troops were singing a sad song about how our city was impossible to reach.

We’re angry, Mr. President, and we’ll be angry long after our beloved city and surrounding parishes have been pumped dry. Our people deserved rescuing. Many who could have been were not. That’s to the government’s shame.

Mayor Ray Nagin did the right thing Sunday when he allowed those with no other alternative to seek shelter from the storm inside the Louisiana Superdome. We still don’t know what the death toll is, but one thing is certain: Had the Superdome not been opened, the city’s death toll would have been higher. The toll may even have been exponentially higher.

It was clear to us by late morning Monday that many people inside the Superdome would not be returning home. It should have been clear to our government, Mr. President. So why weren’t they evacuated out of the city immediately? We learned seven years ago, when Hurricane Georges threatened, that the Dome isn’t suitable as a long-term shelter. So what did state and national officials think would happen to tens of thousands of people trapped inside with no air conditioning, overflowing toilets and dwindling amounts of food, water and other essentials?

State Rep. Karen Carter was right Friday when she said the city didn’t have but two urgent needs: "Buses! And gas!" Every official at the Federal Emergency Management Agency should be fired, Director Michael Brown especially.

In a nationally televised interview Thursday night, he said his agency hadn’t known until that day that thousands of storm victims were stranded at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. He gave another nationally televised interview the next morning and said, "We’ve provided food to the people at the Convention Center so that they’ve gotten at least one, if not two meals, every single day."

Lies don’t get more bald-faced than that, Mr. President.

Yet, when you met with Mr. Brown Friday morning, you told him, "You’re doing a heck of a job."

That’s unbelievable.

There were thousands of people at the Convention Center because the riverfront is high ground. The fact that so many people had reached there on foot is proof that rescue vehicles could have gotten there, too.

We, who are from New Orleans, are no less American than those who live on the Great Plains or along the Atlantic Seaboard. We’re no less important than those from the Pacific Northwest or Appalachia. Our people deserved to be rescued.

No expense should have been spared. No excuses should have been voiced. Especially not one as preposterous as the claim that New Orleans couldn’t be reached.

Mr. President, we sincerely hope you fulfill your promise to make our beloved communities work right once again.

When you do, we will be the first to applaud.