mondrian’s neon fantod

CNN notes FEMA failed to accept Katrina help

A spokesman for Homeland Security, which includes FEMA, says the Bush administration is examining how to better utilize federal and other resources in catastrophes.

But, he observed, “Were there federal assets that were not used in Katrina? Of course.”

The Interior Department offered FEMA 500 rooms, 119 pieces of heavy equipment, 300 dump trucks and other vehicles, 300 boats, 11 aircraft and 400 law enforcement officers, according to a questionnaire answered by a department official.

Interior law enforcement officers included special agents and refuge officers from the department’s Fish and Wildlife Service.

“Although we attempted to provide these assets, we were unable to efficiently integrate and deploy these resources,” an Interior Department official wrote the Senate committee investigating the government’s response to Katrina.

Why? Why, goddamnit, why?!? Whoever the fuck was responsible for this colossal cockup, whether it was Bush or Brownie or Biraxian the Unknowable (or whatever imaginary bugaboo the administration tries to pin it on) should be dragged through the streets of New Orleans and put on trial for a seriously non-zero percentage of the 1,322 deaths associated with Katrina. And keep in mind that these fucks strongly support the death penalty (rather than, say, erring on the side of life as they urge us to do with blastocysts and vegetables).

I’m sorry, I know that we Americans are all burned out on “Katrina Fatigue” and just want it all to go away, but it won’t. And it will happen again (not necessarily another hurricane hitting New Orleans, but another disaster of epic proportions) and go just as poorly if we don’t hold the feet of those accountable for the human part of the tragedy to the fire. So pay attention and demand some answers, goddamnit.