# Resolved: We Will Not Slam/Praise Adequacy Of Disaster Response Immediately **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 3, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-we-will-not-slam-praise-adequacy-of-disaster-response-immediately/319827 "2005-09-03T00:10:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-we-will-not-slam-praise-adequacy-of-disaster-response-immediately/319827/81 "2005-09-05T19:48:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Sorry, I didn’t see where you were asking me for a specific response to your example. And yet you quoted it in full and proceeded to type out a long, irrelevant reply. Huh. So now that you’ve read the Louisiana State Plan, how about reading the [National Response Plan of the Department of Homeland Security](http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/NRPbaseplan.pdf). Here, I’ll give you some excerpts (all emphasis mine). . . > [@](#): > > Preface > > In Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD)-5, the President directed the development of a new National Response Plan (NRP) to align Federal coordination structures, capabilities, and resources into a unified, alldiscipline, and all-hazards approach to domestic incident management. This approach is unique and far reaching in that it, for the first time, eliminates critical seams and ties together a complete spectrum of incident management activities **to include the prevention of, preparedness for** , response to, and recovery from terrorism, **major natural disasters** , and other major emergencies. The end result is vastly improved **coordination among Federal, State, local, and tribal organizations to help save lives and protect America’s communities by increasing the speed, effectiveness, and efficiency of incident management.** > [@](#): > > NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN > I. Introduction > > The Nation’s domestic incident management landscape changed dramatically following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Today’s threat environment includes not only the traditional spectrum of manmade and natural hazards—wildland and urban fires, floods, oil spills, hazardous materials releases, transportation accidents, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, pandemics, and disruptions to the Nation’s energy and information technology infrastructure—but also the deadly and devastating terrorist arsenal of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive weapons. These complex and emerging 21st century threats and hazards demand a **unified and coordinated national approach** to domestic incident management. The National Strategy for Homeland Security; Homeland Security Act of 2002; and Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5 (HSPD-5), Management of Domestic Incidents, **establish clear objectives for a concerted national effort to** prevent terrorist attacks within the United States; **reduce America’s vulnerability to** terrorism, **major disasters** , and other emergencies; and minimize the damage and recover from attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies that occur. > [@](#): > > Purpose > > The purpose of the NRP is to establish a comprehensive, **national** , all-hazards approach to domestic incident management across a spectrum of activities including prevention, **preparedness, response** , and recovery. [note, not _just_ recovery.] [quote] Incidents of National Significance require the Secretary of Homeland Security to coordinate operations and/or resources, and may: [ul] [li] Occur at any time with little or no warning in the context of a general or specific threat or hazard;[/li][li]Require significant information-sharing at the unclassified and classified levels across multiple jurisdictions and between the public and private sectors;[/li][li]Involve single or multiple geographic areas; [/li][li]Have significant international impact and/or require significant international information sharing, resource coordination, and/or assistance;[/li][li]Span the spectrum of incident management to include prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery;[/li][li]Involve multiple, highly varied hazards or threats on a local, regional, or national scale;[/li][li]Result in numerous casualties; fatalities; displaced people; property loss; disruption of normal lifesupport systems, essential public services, and basic infrastructure; and significant damage to the environment;[/li][li]Impact critical infrastructures across sectors;[/li][li] **Overwhelm capabilities of State, local, and tribal governments** , and private-sector infrastructure[/li]owners and operators; [li]Attract a sizeable influx of independent, spontaneous volunteers and supplies;[/li][li] **Require extremely short-notice Federal asset coordination and response timelines** ; and[/li][li]Require prolonged, sustained incident management operations and support activities.[/ul][/li][/quote] [quote] Under provisions of the Stafford Act and applicable regulations: [ul] [li]A Governor may request the President to declare a major disaster or emergency if the Governor finds that effective response to the event is beyond the combined response capabilities of the State and affected local governments. [My Note: she did] Based on the findings of a joint Federal-State-local Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) indicating the damages are of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant assistance under the act, the President may grant a major disaster or emergency declaration. (Note: In a particularly fast-moving or clearly devastating disaster, the PDA process may be deferred until after the declaration.)[/li][li]If the President determines that an emergency exists where the primary responsibility for response rests with the Government of the United States, or because the emergency involves an area or facility for which the Federal Government exercises exclusive or preeminent primary responsibility and authority, the President may unilaterally direct the provision of assistance under the act and will, if practicable, consult with the Governor of the State.[/li][li]**DHS can use limited pre-declaration authorities to move initial response resources (critical goods typically needed in the immediate aftermath of a disaster such as food, water, emergency generators, etc.) closer to a potentially affected area.**[/li]\ [li]In a major disaster or emergency as defined in the Stafford Act, **the President “may direct any Federal agency** , with or without reimbursement, to utilize its authorities and the resources granted to it under Federal law (including personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, and managerial, technical, and advisory services) in support of State and local assistance efforts…” [sections 402(a)(1) and 502(a)(1) of the Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. §5170a(1) and § 5192(a)(1)].[/ul][/li][/quote] [quote] III. Roles and Responsibilities \ As a State’s chief executive, the Governor is responsible for the public safety and welfare of the people of that State or territory. The Governor: [ul] [li]Is responsible for coordinating State resources to address the full spectrum of actions to prevent,[/li]prepare for, respond to, and recover from incidents in an all-hazards context to include terrorism, natural disasters, accidents, and other contingencies; [li]Under certain emergency conditions, typically has police powers to make, amend, and rescind orders and regulations;[/li][li]Provides leadership and plays a key role in communicating to the public and in helping people,[/li]businesses, and organizations cope with the consequences of any type of declared emergency within State jurisdiction; [li]Encourages participation in mutual aid and implements authorities for the State to enter into[/li]mutual aid agreements with other States, tribes, and territories to facilitate resource-sharing; [li]Is the Commander-in-Chief of State military forces (National Guard when in State Active Duty or Title 32 Status and the authorized State militias); and[/li][li]Requests Federal assistance when it becomes clear that State or tribal capabilities will be insufficient or have been exceeded or exhausted. [/ul][/li][/quote] > [@](#): > > Pursuant to HSPD-5, **the Secretary of Homeland Security is responsible** for coordinating Federal operations within the United States to prepare for, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies. HSPD-5 further designates the Secretary of Homeland Security as the “principal Federal official” for domestic incident management. In this role, **the Secretary is also responsible for coordinating Federal resources utilized in response to or recovery from** terrorist attacks, **major disasters** , or other emergencies if and when **any** of the following four conditions applies: > (1) a Federal department or agency acting under its own authority has requested DHS assistance; > (2) the resources of State and local authorities are overwhelmed and Federal assistance has been requested; > (3) more than one Federal department or agency has become substantially involved in responding to the incident; or > (4) the Secretary has been directed to assume incident management responsibilities by the President. > > [Note: "28 August 2005 > > \*\*[President Bush has declared a state of emergency](http://author.voanews.com/english/2005-08-28-voa6.cfm) \*\* for the Gulf Coast state of Louisiana, as it braces for the expected onslaught of Hurricane Katrina, set to make landfall on Monday. > > Saturday’s emergency declaration **authorizes federal officials to coordinate all disaster relief efforts and provide appropriate assistance** in several Louisiana parishes." > > Looks to me like the Secretary of Homeland Security became responsible for executing this 114 page plan effective August 28, as all 4 conditions applied.] > [@](#): > > Overall Coordination of Federal Incident Management Activities > > The President leads the Nation in responding effectively and ensuring the necessary resources are applied **quickly and efficiently** to all Incidents of National Significance. I don’t have time to read through the whole rest of it right now, but I think you get the idea. Looks like neither plan was executed very effectively or efficiently. Colossal fuckups all the way around. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-we-will-not-slam-praise-adequacy-of-disaster-response-immediately/319827/82 "2005-09-05T20:37:57Z")
> [@AFAIKnow](#): > > Can you define what doing their job in an “expeditious manner” is? I’m sorry, but I don’t think you have the authority to define that. It’s pretty simple really. The earthworks in New Orleans were built to hold back water. Work on the breaches waited until the level of the water in the city, and that in lake Ponchartrain reached equilibrium. Thus there is **no way** that they could have increased the depth of the debacle by waiting longer than they did. It does not take a degree in hydrology and civil engineering to recognize **Total** defeat when you see it. ---
**Author:** ![AFAIKnow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a6a055/32.png) [@AFAIKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AFAIKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-we-will-not-slam-praise-adequacy-of-disaster-response-immediately/319827/83 "2005-09-05T20:58:36Z")
> [@Squink](#): > > It’s pretty simple really. The earthworks in New Orleans were built to hold back water. Work on the breaches waited until the level of the water in the city, and that in lake Ponchartrain reached equilibrium. Thus there is **no way** that they could have increased the depth of the debacle by waiting longer than they did. It does not take a degree in hydrology and civil engineering to recognize **Total** defeat when you see it. So tell me how they could have repaired the breach with billions of gallons of water rushing through it. _And_ done it “in an expeditious manner”. Seriously, It sounds interesting. If you have the answers it may be a good episode of History Channels Modern Marvels. (one of my favorite shows) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-we-will-not-slam-praise-adequacy-of-disaster-response-immediately/319827/84 "2005-09-06T03:15:36Z")
> [@AFAIKnow](#): > > So tell me how they could have repaired the breach with billions of gallons of water rushing through it. _And_ done it “in an expeditious manner”. Seriously, It sounds interesting. If you have the answers it may be a good episode of History Channels Modern Marvels. (one of my favorite shows) Despite what some people say the Army corps of engineers are not dummies. They had [a plan in place](http://www.dod.mil/transcripts/2005/tr20050902-3847.html) : > [@](#): > > Lieutenant General Carl Strock, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; > The challenge we faced was that we had two breaches in the levees on the Lake Pontchartrain side. These levees were at 17th Street and at the London Avenue Canal. The greatest challenge here, I suppose, was trying to understand the nature of the problem we faced, because like everyone, we had evacuated the city, and it was only after the storm had passed that we began to get out and assess what was going on. And even then, as you understand, communications and access were very difficult. So even getting to the site and understanding what we face was a challenge for us. > And then after understanding and setting a plan in foot – and by the way, we do have a plan on the shelf in anticipation of this – mobilizing the equipment, the people and material to go out and address the problem was also a challenge, because the site was essentially completely surrounded by water. > The approach we took was threefold:… > First, to try to gain access in the land… > The second is to work from the water… > The third element is an aerial approach… Bulldozers, barges, helicopters; all were approaches to dumping stuff, dirt, concrete, sandbags, into the breach, or even physically blocking the hole with a barge. Stopping an 8 foot deep channel of moving water isn’t all that difficult or unprecidented if you can get to it, although it _does_ take a deal of work. The trouble was they couldn’t get to it by land or water, and didn’t have on hand the helicopters and sandbags they needed to do the job from the air ([Aug 31](http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/breaking_news/12517261.htm) [also here](http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/090105ccjrwwlthousandsdrowned.13bc8d1d.html) , [and here](http://www.tallahassee.com/mld/tallahassee/news/breaking_news/12517261.htm) ). Neither did they have secure spotters in the city to tell them what they faced (see first link) as soon as possible. Of course, by late tuesday the problem was virtually moot as the [lake and city water levels had equalized](http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/news/breaking_news/12517261.htm). The story would make a great episode for Modern Marvels, or any similar program; there’s a lot of interesting detail available if you can dig through the blizzard of stories. More: [Complications in plugging the industrial canal](http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/083105cccawwlunwater.4a22d2ba.html) [Corps hurricane response homepage](http://www.mvd.usace.army.mil/hurricane/chr.php) ---
**Author:** ![MMI](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/53a042/32.png) [@MMI](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MMI)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2005, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-we-will-not-slam-praise-adequacy-of-disaster-response-immediately/319827/85 "2005-09-06T15:08:08Z")
While the administration is spending significant efforts on spinning things positively I see no reason why they should be allowed to define the narrative. Anyone who sets up a food distribution center solely for the purpose of (and duration of) a photo-op deserves to get ripped a new one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/resolved-we-will-not-slam-praise-adequacy-of-disaster-response-immediately/319827.md?page=4)