@SPAM+++++++++ RE: [Vision2020] Re:

Mon Sep 5 11:40:12 PDT 2005

Nice try Tom,

At 05:53 AM 9/5/2005, you wrote:
>Apparently Mr. Harkins is struggling with his 
>interpretation of FEMA’s “mission statement”:
>
>"In the event of a terrorist attack, NATURAL 
>DISASTER or other large-scale emergency, the 
>Department of Homeland Security WILL ASSUME 
>PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY on March 1st for ensuring 
>that emergency response professionals are 
>prepared for any situation. - it is evidient to 
>me that the military personnel that engaged in 
>this disaster were adequately trained and 
>provisioned - and I commend them for their bravery and their actions.

>This will entail providing a coordinated, 
>comprehensive federal response to any 
>large-scale crisis and mounting a swift and 
>effective recovery effort. It was surprising to 
>me that the National Guard was delayed in 
>engaging in the fight, but that might be 
>explained by the fact that they weren't called 
>up at the first of the week (can only be 
>activated by the governor) and it takes them about 48 hours to mobilize.

>The new Department will also prioritize the 
>important issue of citizen preparedness. 
>Educating America's families on how best to 
>prepare their homes for a disaster and tips for 
>citizens on how to respond in a crisis will be 
>given special attention at DHS." [emphasis added 
>(from the literature I have received from feds 
>on this, I would say they have done a pretty 
>good job.  And looking at TX, it appears that they have their act together!]
>
>There is no way that “WILL ASSUME PRIMARY 
>RESPONSIBILITY” can be misinterpreted to mean 
>“WILL ASSUME PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY (upon 
>approval of appropriate request from competent authority).”
>
>I was raised to believe that you say what you 
>mean and you mean what you say - and don't 
>paraphrase or quote out of context.  Apparently, 
>much like our city council, that concept is lost 
>in positions of authority (I agree here!).
>
>Take care, Moscow.
>
>Tom Hansen
>Moscow, Idaho
>
>"If not us, who?
>If not now, when?"
>
>- Unknown
>
>
>----------
>From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com 
>[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] On Behalf Of Jeff Harkins
>Sent: Sunday, September 04, 2005 9:18 PM
>To: Andreas Schou; vision2020 at moscow.com
>Subject: [Vision2020] Re:
>
>Yes, Exactly - coordinate and assist.  The 
>command and control remained with state and local government.
>
>At 07:24 AM 9/4/2005, you wrote:
>
>
>
>On 9/4/05, Jeff Harkins <<mailto:jeffh at moscow.com>jeffh at moscow.com> wrote:
>Andreas,
>All of the details will be available for you and others - just be patient.
>And the Feds were staged and ready to go before 
>the storm actually hit.  For the first time in 
>our history, the Feds declared a state of 
>emergency 48 hours before the storm.  But they 
>are not allowed to engage until authorized by 
>state officials, which did not happen until 2 
>days after the storm hit. You may not like it, but that is the reality.
>
>This is incorrect on two counts. First, FEMA is 
>to respond to emergencies either (a) at the 
>request of state government, or (b) 'at FEMA's 
>discretion'. Second, dated August 26th, 2005, 
>this is the announcement of the order to move 
>FEMA in. It's available on the White House web site:
>
>The President today declared an emergency exists 
>in the State of Louisiana and ordered Federal 
>aid to supplement state and local response 
>efforts in the parishes located in the path of 
>Hurricane Katrina beginning on August 26, 2005, and continuing.
>
>The President's action authorizes the Department 
>of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency 
>Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all 
>disaster relief efforts which have the purpose 
>of alleviating the hardship and suffering caused 
>by the emergency on the local population, and to 
>provide appropriate assistance for required 
>emergency measures, authorized under Title V of 
>the Stafford Act, to save lives, protect 
>property and public health and safety, or to 
>lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in 
>the parishes of Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, 
>Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Claiborne, 
>Catahoula, Concordia, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, 
>East Carroll, East Feliciana, Evangeline, 
>Franklin, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, 
>Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, 
>Pointe Coupee, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, 
>Richland, Sabine, St. Helena, St. Landry, 
>Tensas, Union, Vernon, Webster, West Carroll, West Feliciana, and Winn.
>
>Specifically, FEMA is authorized to identify, 
>mobilize, and provide at its discretion, 
>equipment and resources necessary to alleviate 
>the impacts of the emergency. Debris removal and 
>emergency protective measures, including direct 
>Federal assistance, will be provided at 75 percent Federal funding.
>
>Representing FEMA, Michael D. Brown, Under 
>Secretary for Emergency Preparedness and 
>Response, Department of Homeland Security, named 
>William Lokey as the Federal Coordinating 
>Officer for Federal recovery operations in the affected area.
>
>FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FEMA (202) 646-4600.
>
>The LA governor bears the brunt of the criticism here. Period.
>At 09:10 PM 9/3/2005, you wrote:
>
>
>P.S. If you don't believe me, let me quote the 
>Department of "Homeland Security"s website:
>
>"In the event of a terrorist attack, natural 
>disaster or other large-scale emergency, the 
>Department of Homeland Security will assume 
>primary responsibility on March 1st for ensuring 
>that emergency response professionals are 
>prepared for any situation. This will entail 
>providing a coordinated, comprehensive federal 
>response to any large-scale crisis and mounting 
>a swift and effective recovery effort.  The new 
>Department will also prioritize the important 
>issue of citizen preparedness. Educating 
>America's families on how best to prepare their 
>homes for a disaster and tips for citizens on 
>how to respond in a crisis will be given special attention at DHS."
>
><http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/theme_home2.jsp>http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/theme_home2.jsp
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