What's Wrong with this Hurricane?

I just noticed that the daily brief customarily done in advance of a hurricane is happening because Gustov is bearing down on the Gulf Coast...but a big shift here: the briefing is being given by NORTHCOM. So what does this tell us and why does it matter? It tells us that things are as broken as they were before Katrina.

The military, like EPA, Commerce, or anyone else, is only involved in emergency management to the point that they are requested to do so by the governor or the FEMA director (who acts on behalf of the President).

When it comes to disasters, the governor is always in charge. At any point, he or she can call in their state's National Guard, and/or ask other governors for their help in augmenting response efforts with their national guard or other resources. If a governor is worried things are getting out of control, they ask the President to provide help through FEMA at any point before or after the incident. FEMA is then in charge of coordinating the resources of the federal government to support the governor and the state. In a sense, when FEMA is working properly--as it did under Clinton--when the FEMA director tells another Federal agency to do something, it's as if the President is calling. The government agency is expected to deliver and cut through red tape to make things happen and happen fast.

There is no allowance or legal authority for the Department of Defense to take any sort of control or command in this scenario. In a hurricane, DoD, like Human Services, Transportation, etc, all work for FEMA and the governor of the impacted state.

This is done for a very specific and important reason: here in America, we believe that governors should have control over their own states. The federal government needs to be there to help, but they absolutely do not move in and take over. We also do not believe that the military should ever forcibly operate inside the United States unless they are under civilian control.

With NORTHCOM taking the lead on briefing the public, it's clear the Bush administration wants to send the message that everything is under control. Instead, to those that do this for a living, the message is clear that everything is absolutely and completely broken.

Perhaps the state governments need help. Perhaps FEMA is not up to the job. Perhaps the Bush Administration simply wants a uniform on camera, and this way of doing things is preferable to things happening the way that they should (a process, by the way, that WORKED before Bush screwed it up).

NORTHCOM taking the lead in public relations is a clear indication that nothing has been fixed in DHS and FEMA since Katrina. As a result, there is no confidence in FEMA's ability to respond to this hurricane. With NORTHCOM at the helm, the Bush Administration either doesn't care if, or doesn't want, the systems to work. This Administration has issued a lot of reports since Katrina (none of which suggest the military should take control, Incidentally) but no one has been held accountable and the lessons have not been learned. The priority is still on preventing embarrassment, not keeping people safe.

The other thing to remember here is that this is not a mission the military wants. Sure, they can ride in on a white horse and do what they can, but their job is to fight wars, not deal with disasters. Governors need their national guards to make this a priority (but most are in Iraq) but DoD needs to worry about the rest of the world. By dumping this on them, the Bush Administration is reinforcing the idea that the military is the only government agency that people can trust and continues to burden them with missions for which they are not trained.

The bottom line is that things will not work the way they should with NORTHCOM in charge. Governors don't take orders from Generals. No one else in government takes orders from DoD. No one in emergency management even knows what NORTHCOM does, except come in and issue "orders" to a bunch of civilians who don't work for them.

I hope for the sake of the people on the Gulf Coast that the hundreds of civilians who want to do right by them prevail over the system that the Bush Administration has failed to fix.

H/T to Jason McNamara for this one.

Follow Moira Whelan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/mdub12

Comments

[princessofnowt]

This is part of the plan to sell the American people on the idea of privatized everything.

Is anyone going to tell us how involved Blackwater & similar companies are in this?

Probably not- until afterwards when they can brag about it. When they are sure there are no witnesses to any 'indiscretions' the mercenaries may have commited.

I am glad they are getting everyone out, and handling those who stay behind as looters or suspicious characters. In theory.

Will we hear the whole story though?

[mgloraine]

Keep your eyes peeled for the arrival of Blackwater and other mercenary goon squads. They showed up unannounced and uninvited (by state or local officials) in the wake of Katrina. Since it seems that Gustav is to be handled by troops with guns (NORTHCOM), BushCo standard operating procedure says to send in their private SS troops as well. In fact, it's likely that all of the usual crony corporations will descend upon the disaster site so that they can grab up all of the emergency funds which may be available. There's nothing like a good disaster for capitalist exploitation and profiteering (except for another war, which is, after all, a man-made disaster).

[Falafel]

Allow me to expand on the wise philosophy of Pastor Hagee who reminded us that the sinful lifestyle in New Orleans caused Katrina...

Gustav is proof that Jesus hates the Republicans. Why else would he dare disrupt their big party in Minnesota?

[MaryfromMontcoPA]

The military in charge of a domestic emergency?

Check out Cheney/Bush's unilateral National Security Presidential Directive 51 which lets Bush declare himself in charge of all 3 branches of government in the case of a national emergency... From one analysis at http://www.concordbridge.net/NSPD-51.htm

"...An almost entirely secret directive, NSPD-51 can be invoked when the president decides 'any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government functions' occurred. Bush alone will decide when he must assume this burden..."

Martial law, anyone?

[robXdion]

This just means martial law has already been declared. Look for police and military brutality in the wake of the hurricane towards citizens returning home AFTER the hurricane.

[ghostdance]

One question to the "literal" Christians. If all of God's bad weather was to punish liberals and secularists in America...why didn't Gustav come during the Democrat convention?

[jeanrenoir]

Katrina and Gustav will forever be the touchstones of the utter domestic incompetence of the Bush Administration, matching its utter foreign incompetence in Iraq. These imbeciles have visited on this nation perfect storms, because of their haplessness, both at home and abroad. Thank God January is not that far away now, even if those devastated by Bush incompetence in the Gulf region will get small comfort from that hopeful fact. Even the dumbest Americans must finally be "getting it" about the Alfred E. Neuman these morons elected TWICE to run the greatest nation on earth. What a testament to the ancient historians of the falls of Athens and Rome who were so skeptical of the ability of the moronic masses to provide good government through democracy! Thank God that Obama and Biden will not be giving us the cliche of a "government as good and decent as the American people" but one much BETTER than the poor fools who voted twice for Bush-Cheney.

[DeSwiss]

And in contrast to Katrina, John McFlame is making sure this time, that there's no cake-cutting ceremonies going on anywhere near him. He's taking his show on the road with his trusty sidekick, Sarah, where they'll be appropriately displayed on the MSM in rain slickers and wading boots (Sarah won't have to change, of course).

And Johnny and Sarah will meet Gustav for a staring contest in N.O. He'll use the backdrop of a human disaster to tell us how "he is the CHANGE that we can believe in," Not those other guys. Because, well I'm here aren't I? And then he'll show America his resolve through clinched teeth and the winds stiffen. He will be seen as the visage of courage in the face of adversity. One we can count upon. And he show America that he too, like his great friend from Texas, is a compassionate conservative. And he's just there to lend a hand. Like maybe finding a FEMA guy for someone.

Its like a movie made for teevee....

:-|

[Cameronj]

Well, no matter what happens, I'm sure they'll do a heckuva job...

[schatsie]

Wow, just rerun the stuff from Katrina, specially the cake and the guitar playing, (seems like Rome /new Orleans was burning)....

Are people dumb enough to really think that they care this time when there are still so many problems...

And DON'T blame the Army Corp of Engineers, I am sure they knew about the Levee issues and DOD just killed the funds to send the money elsewhere... (too expensive, just like veterans benefits....)

[Pigliacci]

If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

[TexGator]

As a resident of Houston I'm praying that the track of the storm stays well away from here. But also as a member of the Houston commmunity who has friends and relatives in New Orleans and has seen the devastation to lives wrought by Katrina I'm praying that the severity of the storm is not as bad as currently predicted and that everyone can be back at there homes cleaning up only minor damage by Wednesday.

Regardless of political affiliation we can all agree that we want to see minimal damage and suffering of innocent people. The one thing I am thankful for is that come January we will have a President who uses wisdom and good judgement as a criteria to put the most capable people in charge of all governemental department­s...includ­ing FEMA.

God be with the people of New Orleans and all the residents of the central Gulf Coast.

[Jon Raymond - Huffpost Blogger]

I don't know. With the military involved we'll be sure not to have any of those pesky looters. They can go in their and pick 'em right off. Besides the military has all the money. FEMA is probably broke.

[BusGreg]

I suppose the term military regime could be applied. Thats who it took after Katrina and that's how "shrub" conducts foreign policy. McCain is just more of the same. I just hope for the sake of the good people of Louisiana and the rest of the Gulf Coast that Gustav does none of the damage Katrina did or that the Army Corps' levees hold.

[WorkingClass]

George Bush breaks things. The only thing he knows how to fix is elections.

[larry278]

Wrong, Cheney & Rove did the fix. W's record shows that he's the prototype for the failed executive who must have a saavy back up team to keep his job.

[BusGreg]

Considering that Katrina happened during a non election year it is not one bit surprising that this time in the midst of an election cycle all stops are being pulled to avert the repeat of utter incompetence by bushco in 05. After all in 04, the second election of shrub, emergency response was well coordinated in Florida during the storms, so these guys "knew" what to do in 05, but were not concerned. Certainly the "Vacationer in Chief" had better things to do than worry about Louisiana when he served up birthday cake for his buddy and soulmate, McCain. Louisiana and its inhabitants can rest assured that shrub will pull whatever it takes out of his hat to avoid looking stupid, as government did in the 05 off election hurricane season!

[Marlyn]

"The priority is still on preventing embarrassment, not keeping people safe."

This is the essence of it.