Another local mayor reams FEMA

[Glenda]

I saw this clip on the WWLTV streaming video, and the transcript is at their web blog.

http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/WWLBLOG.ac3fcea.html

3:32 P.M. Ben Morris, Slidell mayor: "We are still hampered by some of the most stupid, idiotic regulations by FEMA. They have turned away generators, we've heard that they've gone around seizing equipment from our contractors. If they do so, they'd better be armed because I'll be damned if I'm going to let them deprive our citizens. I'm pissed off, and tired of this horse$#@@."

[MelissaB]

1. Recommending for a politician speaking out.

[Glenda]

4. It was more powerful seeing the clip of the guy ranting

Older guy. You can tell that the local establishment, when you actually get them on TV, is just really really pissed!

[Land Shark]

2. juxtapose Jefferson parish's experience

where they've been denied use of water and fuel, had emergency communications lines cut by FEMA (or attempted) and had to rebuild a levee themselves by working 24/7 (SOURCE: Broussard video from Meet the Press)

This is one of FEMA's three stated "Doomsday" scenarios (also includes nuclear attack on US city), so why they seem unprepared is truly a puzzle.

[Dunvegan]

3. September is NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH: Department of Homeland Security

Missed it by thaaat much, eh?

[txindy]

6. Well, they're preparing to prepare.

Preparing is "hard work," dontchaknow? :eyes:

[ohio_liberal]

5. Now we have two WHITE old guys throwing down on FEMA

Will this not lend some additional credibility to Mayor Nagin when he criticizes the Feds?

[infinitehangover]

7. My father is in FEMA and this is his take on it...

We live in Seattle, the last job his team went out for was the WTC. He was called the day it happened, however it took another day for them to figure who all was going. By Wednesday he and his crew started their trek. FEMA decided for some reason to bus them there. The reason given was supplies. So anyhow they had to bus for 50 something hours to get there. They just got to Dallas a day ago. Due to the violence against FEMA workers they have requested Dallas Fire Department shirts to hide who they are. A bit like the Canadian patch.
I only write this becuase many FEMA members are pissed about how this is being handled and believe FEMA is a overall good governmental group that currently is being pooped all over. I only hope people will start connecting FEMA's failure on the fact that they were co-opted into Homeland Secruity post-911.

[ohio_liberal]

8. Oh, I think we at DU realize that the highest ups in FEMA are to blame

If I worked for FEMA I'd still be wearing a t-shirt that says "Canadian--Don't Shoot!" if I were going into the affected area. People are just downright pissed off and any FEMA employees seen in the area are going to take the blame. It's just the way it is.

That said, in Sept 2004 my house had a foot of mud in the basement and my roof was gone from remnants of Ivan. My Mom's house shifted a foot off its foundation. FEMA did alright by me and mine. I had money for emergency repairs within a week.

[infinitehangover]

11. I'm sure most of you do, I just wanted to share the story that they begged

FEMA to let them were any shirt other then a FEMA shirt...

[spuddonna]

12. Thanks, the people are the ones with compassion...

The failures are happening at the highest levels...

[OneGrassRoot]

9. Do you think MoveOn.org will come up.........

with a public service announcement with clips from all these poor local officials detailing the needless suffering?

They could start off with a split screen of * telling Diane Sawyer no one could have anticipated this....with the Weather Channel people saying it over and over....then the aftermath and details from these local people.

That would be great.

[autorank]

10. Glenda, great post. This is what's needed.

[spuddonna]

13. Here's the audio link to hear it

http://www.indybay.org/news/2005/09/1764552.php

And here's my transcription... I tried to be as accurate as possible so you will see 'the's and other words that don't 'read' well, but make perfect sense when you hear the audio:

Ben Morris, Slidell Mayor: garbled "Faced with some of the most incredible, incredible, stupid ignorant regulations by FEMA. They have turned generators away from us. They've turned fuel away from us, because they determined or the driver determined that it wasn't the correct spot to put it. Uh, the generators... uh 'Oh, the spot, site, the site hadn't been inspected yet, we've got to bring an inspector in to see the where the thing is going...' you know...

Bring me generators. We're in a catastrophic situation, uh and that is absolutely incredible. We have heard that FEMA or some federal agencies are going around seizing equipment from our contractors etc.

If they do that they'd better bring weapons because I'll be Goddamned if I'm going to give anything up to a bunch of Feds coming in and we're in a catastrophic situation and taking our stuff. And I am really pissed off and I'm getting tired of this. Uh, they need to start doing things that make sense and quit all of this horseshit. It doesn't mean a damn thing to anybody except some bureaucrat in Washington."

[nicknameless]

14. Do you suppose this is another repug attempt to sway public opinion

away from idea of regulations? Be inept. Be callous. Work at cross-purposes to rescue and relief. And then blame it on red tape and regulations. Then they can conclude that it's all the more reason to privatize FEMA ... which they are already in the process of doing.

[NYC]

16. Yes.

I do.

[applegrove]

15. So sad.