Katrina Links - New Orleans Area

Katrina Links - New Orleans Area

some Katrina Relief & Situation Links - clci here

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 Where any state cannot do the job to Federal standard -it remains a forced junior partner - quickly superseded and relieved of its mission by the national Agency.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.

Add'l Katrina Related Links

Add'l Katrina Links

Louisiana State Police Road Closure Index GIS Maps FEMA Locating Victims etc - link via FEMA from FirstGov.gov Other matters of note -- San Antonio is accepting additional New Orleans and Katrina refugees and will provide housing and shelter at the former Kelly AFB. Katrina victims are eligible for unemployment compensation if they prove their job halt or loss was due to Katrina .. same eligibility for welfare Congress -- Senate has passed Pres Bush $10.5 Billion Katrina Relief aid package -- House meets tomorrow Railroads - Gulf area arerepairing - line iterruptions from Pascagoula to New Orleans ... Norfolk Southern has commenced repair of its causeway trestle on Pontchartrain ... Union Pacific (UP) service is interrupted pending track repair - serice is rerouted above the coast -- ditto Norfolk Southern .. Amtrak serice suspended indefinitely to New Orleans as well as through service from Beaumont to Florida. New Orleans floodgates close the rail lines into the city until after storm and flooding cease. --from news sources and corporatepess releases.

New Orleans District US Army Corps of Engineers

New Orleans District US Army Corps of Engineers Website -- maps-PDF Levee reports & construction projects & history; floodways etc

America's Venice

America's Venice

CNN & Fox News (received via e-mail alerts) have announced that New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina's near miss must be entirely evacuated; per the order of Louisiana's Governor ... due to a major two block long breach in the major lakefront Lake Ponchartrain levee. Lake waters are pouring into the city and are flooding entier northern sections of the city -endangering rescue and refugee centers. Love the old town (never seen enough by this blogger) or hate it for its city ways and natural costs and climate (as some do) ... it has become an American committment through wisdom & folly and through politics & money to save and sustain New Orleans. It has become an American Venice in cost, romance and history. New Orleans is a good and feasible river delta port and container shipping center .. but it is soft and low ground. Half to three quarters of a million people live there. If it were to become a giant harbor island and shipping financial district with tourist sectors that might be different. However people do live there, and invest there. Government has committed to keeping New Orleans city as the last great floodplain conserve .. build for it and protect it then with feasible diking and pumps -inside and out and portable as well. That would sustain insurance and investment. Should the Governor and state government fail to address the city's distress ..then place it under a management district of the US Army Crps of Engineers and put the generals in charge until it is safe again. Flooding aside -- the city and her people risked a stay in a cesspool. Political realties and -yes- the benefit of the Union dictate help - but noting that it is other peoples money as well. State government should be permitted its contribution and direction - but due to the Federal need and expertise ... unless you and your state and city are privately capitalizing ... then it will be a 'God Committee' in which Louisiana participates with the Feds -- or go it alone and die as a ghost town. International money would flow out with the Federal exit. In best public health and disaster management the city should have been evacuated to repair it .. all modern science for surveys and record keeping will save properties - which may also be sold. In the very least -- the federal and State funding of New Orleans flood protection as an encouragement -- deserves a follow through of temporary public rent subsidized sheltering. Can we build as fast as WWII barracks on bases? Lets show the nation and the world .. and despite its thrall 'Fuck the Big Easy' as a mentality. This will be the greatest urbanology undertaking in modern US history .. and a good and sad test for modern times which may face a disaster burdened city anytime. I'd guess it's like rebuilding Atlanta.