Gulf Coast Update

I've decided that at least once a week, I'm going to try and do a post focused on the Gulf Coast recovery, if for no other reason than because I feel a deep and abiding obligation to the people of the region. Ideally, there will be some good news mixed in with analysis of how things are going, but based on the papers this week, and especially today, it might be a stretch to promise anything.

"The supply of trailers is not the issue; we have plenty of trailers" - Nicol Andrews, FEMA spokesperson.

If you haven't clicked on the link above, please do. Now, if you haven't punched a hole in your computer monitor, or spilled coffee all over your keyboard after slamming your desk, congratulations.

Now this ...

Apparently, then FEMA Director Michael Brown and DHS Sec Chertoff's Chief of Staff both knew by the night of August 29th that, "(conditions) far more serious than media reports are currently reflecting. Finding extensive flooding and more stranded people than they had thought — also a number of fires."

Alright, first things first. RE: FEMA trailers. According to the article, some 135,000 trailer requests have been made and roughly about 50% of those request have been filled. Even if Ms. Andrews is correct, which is suspect considering the article mentions only 19,000 unclaimed trailers thus far, that does not make the bureaucratic mess and lack of inaction any better. There are people who want to move back, want to get on with their lives, and need a trailer to do so (Note: this isn't a luxury trailer. From personal experience, I can say, the trailers at Spartan at best, cramped & barely livable at worst). It's time to cut through the red tape and stop the bickering between federal, state and local officials. They need trailers, you've got trailers, in the spirit of the region, "get 'er done." Now. (A little leadership would help ... say, maybe more then 146 words in a 5,000 word speech)

Moving on to the investigations into the inept immediate response to the disaster... if the findings of the investigators and the committee are true, and the White House knew of the gravity of the situation, but it "did not register" - - well, not that the excuses worked the first time around, but they certainly don't carry ANY weight any more. The President felt the region had "dodged a bullet" and Sec. Chertoff (who I had thought would be the best of the second term cabinet) kept his regularly scheduled briefing on the avian flu, in Atlanta.

This most recent revelation (and what should be its public airing at the Senate hearings today) puts a further dent in the White House message that "mistakes were made at all levels." Yes, they were, but leadership was absent at the mostimportantt level. That's what this really points to, a lack of leadership. Ultimately, the White House did respond, but it was only after severe public criticism and public outrage over the images from a ravaged New Orleans. Leadership isn't reactive, its pro-active.

The Gulf Coast region will rebuild and it will rebound, but in order for it to do so in the most equitable, fair, and democratic fashion, its the responsibility of all to scrutinize the process, push it forward, and hold leaders at all levels accountable. The residents of the region wouldn't have it any other way.