Political-Legal US Govt Approach for Katrina Relief

Political-Legal US Govt for Katrina Relief

When Storm Katrina passed -- FEMA's processes were proved inadequate to move the government in faster relief. FEMA turned to the newer Department of Homeland Security for assistance. In any similar terrorist attack against the US .. HLS's redtape cutting and money-creditpowers would be applied -- so assumedly reasoned the HLS Secretary Chertoff with other Cabinet & Presidential assent .. enwrapping the emergency in the greater response powers of the chief US domestic security department. No FEMA Chief - national or Regional can convey orders to US Armed Forces and State militiae unless the President commits the force directly or Federalizes a State National Guard for relief. FEMA unfortunately may have been sandbagged from the start through an inadequately or excessively de-centralized civil defense mission. If FEMA needs an overhaul -- to sustain a national effort of coordination as appears necessary -- then the US Government should follow the US-EPA model. In that Agency's pollution and enironmental control mission -- power shared with the states is spearheaded by Federal expertise and money -- the States are certified lead partners through their state agencies (ie DEP etc) only when qualified to sustain their mission with funds, personnel & expertise. (Example - EPA certifies the States agencies adequacies to review and grant pollution control permits; etc.) Where any state cannot do the job to Federal standard -it remains a forced junior partner - quickly superseded and relieved of its mission by the national Agency. FEMA should be revamped and disaster rescue & relief planning reformed in that EPA State certification model. Louisiana - poorer and waterborne ..was clearly not ready for Katrina - -or clearly overwhelmed. In any process as just described (the new federalism of RM Nixon) - the federal govvernment would have led the response from the beginning. Federal lead response must be made law in certain disaster categories and certain states. The West Virginia of the Gulf States needs much more than Baton Rouge's shadow. Department of Homeland Security America clearly remains a democracy - a good one - in facing domestic disasters -- and save for spot commanders - no dictators need apply.