Katrina Sparks Review of Federal Response

[Eugene]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/09/AR2005090900125.html

Katrina Sparks Review of Federal Response

By LARA JAKES JORDAN
The Associated Press
Friday, September 9, 2005; 3:11 AM

WASHINGTON -- Federal officials concerned about the slow response to
Hurricane Katrina are looking at new ways to organize front-line
emergency workers during catastrophes, including possibly using
federal troops for law enforcement.

Talk of the changes comes less than a year after the Homeland Security
Department issued a national response plan that puts local and state
authorities in charge of a disaster's immediate aftermath.

"Our current system is inadequate for a catastrophe of this
magnitude," Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chairwoman of the Senate
Homeland Security Committee said Thursday of Katrina. "This has simply
overwhelmed local, state and federal systems. We need a new approach
when we're confronted with a natural disaster or, I would say, a
terrorist attack that has these kinds of consequences."

<snip>

Possible changes range from staffing regional backup teams immediately
outside a disaster area before it hits to designating federal forces
as primary responders.

Collins and Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., said they also would consider
ways to temporarily ease the Posse Comitatus Act's prohibition on
military forces carrying out law enforcement missions.

more...

[krkaufman]

1. What the hell is this spin all about...??!?!?

Talk of the changes comes less than a year after the Homeland Security Department issued a national response plan that puts local and state authorities in charge of a disaster's immediate aftermath.

Didn't one of our fellow DUers highlight that the NRP charged FEMA w/ primary responsibility -- once the Pres has declared a State of Emergency? This article seems ill-informed, based on previous interpretations.