Did I miss something? An official declaration of some type?

[blondeatlast]

Perhaps I missed it or peraps this isn't as important as I thought, but I was wondering aloud today at work, and my colleagues echoed me.

Shouldn't there have been an official declaration of a disaster occurring?

Is this important or just a formality?

And what's with these weird statistics from DHS that I found while trying to stanch my curiousity? Where'd these stats come from?

Key Federal Statistics for the Gulf Region Response


Lives Saved – 4,500
People Assisted – 30,000
Refugees Evacuated/Assisted – 22,000
Federal Law Enforcement Officers – 400
U. S. Coast Guard – 4,000
National Guard – 15,000
U. S. Military Forces – 7,843
Relief Supplies Delivered (tons) – 125 tons

http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4781

The one that gets me is the "lives saved," from what?

[tridim]

1. "Lives saved" = People snatched off their roof and thrown into hell

within the military prison known as the Superdome.

[SofaKingLiberal]

3. I wonder if they're keeping track of the people that died in the SD

some of the ones they 'saved' might be dead.

[ThoughtCriminal]

2. I'm guessing to 4500 saved

People who were rescued from roofs etc by helicopter or boat.

[liberaliraqvet26]

4. you've got to be kidding me...

they got 10K people locked in the convention center but have time to keep records

[blondeatlast]

11. DINGDINGDING! We have a winner.

That's what I found disturbing, too.

[Dogmudgeon]

5. They have to make hay fast

Once the horror stories and death tolls start coming in, they're going to have a lot to answer for.

This is all CYA stuff. Within a few weeks, people will want to know why there was no extensive pre-landfall preparation like there was for last year's hurricane strikes.

Oh, right. I forgot. Last year was an election year!

--p!

[davepc]

6. It was declared BEFORE the hurricane hit.

Which makes the slow federal response even MORE scandalous.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/27/tropical.weather/

Governors of both Louisiana and Mississippi declared emergencies Friday in anticipation of the strengthening storm.

"Ladies and gentlemen, this is not a test. This is the real deal," New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin said at a news conference.

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

10. And George Bush himself went on national television to warn America

before he went off to celebrate John McCain's birthday with a cake followed by a guitar concert in San Diego AND DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. The Chimp knew. Bush KNEW and still did nothing.

[rodeodance]

7. There is a legel term that Chertoff used the other day which allows

all these things to be put into effect--He talked of it--a 400 page directive from Homeland Security.

You might find it via goggle. It was two words but sorry I do not recall at the moment.

[rodeodance]

8. one of the talking heads today mentioned these stats at a news

conference.

Lives Saved – 4,500

[rodeodance]

9. Chertoff mentioned it at his press conference (same day as Bush talked)

[vivalarev]

12. Complete Bullshit

Fuck those sons a bitches. Look at the goddamn numbers and you know they're lying, and even being really bold about it. The only acurate or (non-round number on there is the military). They made the other shit up.

They need to define this trash. What exactly is "Lives Saved" to them? Handing a bottle of water to a thirsty refugee?

God I hate how our government tries to suck its own dick!!!!

[blondeatlast]

13. Note, too--"refugees assisted" and "people assisted"

Pray tell, what is the difference?

I'm not really sure I want to know what their idea of the difference is.