A Can’t-Do Government – New York Times

Before 9/11 the Federal Emergency Management Agency listed the three most likely catastrophic disasters facing America: a terrorist attack on New York, a major earthquake in San Francisco and a hurricane strike on New Orleans. “The New Orleans hurricane scenario,” The Houston Chronicle wrote in December 2001, “may be the deadliest of all.” It described a potential catastrophe very much like the one now happening.

So why were New Orleans and the nation so unprepared? After 9/11, hard questions were deferred in the name of national unity, then buried under a thick coat of whitewash. This time, we need accountability.

These are the questions I have been asking myself: “First question:Why have aide and security taken so long to arrive?” and “Why wasn’t more preventative action taken?”

I am concerned that there wasn’t immediate federal response to this tradgedy. Very concerned. It feels as if we have no leadership right now. It seems as if the Bush administration just doesn’t care. I know he’s been giving interviews on morning “news” programs and doing photo ops where he is “looking at the devestation” and even giving speeches. But it doesn’t seem sincere to me at all. If it was sincere, there would be more help. It’s like it’s all half-assed help or something.

Secondly, as I read more and more, it appears that the Federal Government knew that New Orleans was in store for a disaster of epic porportions if they didn’t get some help to prevent it. They knew this could happen yet nothing has been done, obviously (hence the disaster). Why? I agree, there needs to be some accountability.

I woke up last night at around 2AM and couldn’t get back to sleep. I had images seared into my head of dead bodies floating in water, of somebody’s mother and grandmother dead in a wheelchair, nobody able to do anything. And what can I do? I know, give money. And I have. But this is big. This requires much more than me giving money. And it seems as if nothing is being done. It’s frustrating.