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Originally Posted by Platapus
It must be a good feeling to actually provide direct aid to people in trouble. Not just funding aid, planning aid, or endlessly discussing aid. But to actually be able to give aid. That is a successful life.
The best of luck in your noble efforts.
/salute
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After Katrina, FEMA made new plans and new directives. So, the planning of aid did happen in the past three years. Years ago, FEMA would chase storms. They then stopped. The end result and because of a lot of communication breakdown between Fed and local governments (some just ignored the storm and that is whole other thread) produced the end results as witnessed by Katrina. Katrina, however, was a different story. We are talking about 100s of miles of coast line just completely destroyed. Some of my trucks would drive the entire coast all day and not get out of any of the area that was hit. This would tell you the magnitude of that storm. So, were do you begin cleaning up after Katrina? It was a hard fought battle. All were involved to the best of their ability. But, the devastation of Katrina produced plans that were witnessed with Gustav. All of our relief supplies were there months ago just waiting. Gov Jindal declared the emergency days ahead of the storm. Jindal was on his game and should be applauded. Before Katrina, it was up to the state to declare the emergency(this was partial fault of some who sat on their thumbs for Katrina). The law states the Fed can not step in until asked by the state. This law was changed after Katrina. The Fed can go in when they wish. So, that law previous to Katrina was part of the issue. You will notice that New Orleans was a ghost town in under 3 days of evacuation. Relief supplies were onsite and ready to go weeks prior to the storm. Shelters were ready to go. It was about the most successful major evacuation I have ever seen. Yet, not one peep out of the press of a job well done. Relief for Gustav is still ongoing. Ike is just a kick in the head for the minute.