Monday, September 19, 2005

9/11 AND KATRINA

By William Fisher

The U.S. Government’s sluggish and uncoordinated response to Hurricane Katrina again drew public attention to some of the key recommendations of the 9/11 Commission that have yet to be implemented or have made unsatisfactory or marginal progress.

This is the conclusion reached in a new report by the 9/11 Commissioners, now operating privately as the Public Discourse Project. Since the end of its public mandate, the former commissioners have held a series of public hearings on what the government has done – and failed to do – to correct the flaws it exposed in its best-selling report last year.

Many of their recommendations are as relevant to natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina as they are to man-made terrorist attacks.

Among the steps on which the report says the government has made only “minimal progress” is the allocation of radio spectrum that would allow police, fire, emergency medical services and other first responders to communicate with one another, and the National Guard and agencies of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

This was a major shortcoming on 9/11, and cost several hundred lives. Authorities experienced the exact problem during Katrina, four years after 9/11.

The Report said legislation pending before Congress would compel the return of the analog broadcast spectrum and its reallocation, including for public safety purposes. “Congress should mandate this reallocation by the earliest possible date.”

Four senior lawmakers, writing in The New York Times this morning, said, “After watching the horrific communications breakdown that occurred during Katrina, will we wait another four years before acting? How many more lives will be lost? What kind of catastrophic disaster is necessary for Congress to give these heroes the tools they need to save lives?” The four are Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) and Reps. Jane Harman (D-Calif.) and Curt Weldon (R-Pa.).

The Commissioners’ report also charged that the government has made only minimal progress toward the adoption of an Incident Command System (ICS). “When multiple agencies or multiple jurisdictions are involved, they should adopt a unified command. … In the future, the (DHS) should consider making funding contingent on aggressive and realistic training in accordance with ICS and unified command procedures.”

The lack of a unified command system was one of the major obstacles contributing to widespread chaos and confusion during Hurricane Katrina.

The Commissioners said, “Many fire and police departments and state and local authorities are already well versed in using the ICS — others are being trained in it. Hurricane Katrina demonstrates a major failure: the absence of unified command…Clear lines of command and control for responding authorities are essential to minimize civilian and responder casualties.”

The Commissioners said the DHS set October 2004 as the deadline for full Incident Command System compliance ‘to the maximum extent possible’. ”The hard deadline for full compliance as a condition for federal preparedness funds is October 1, 2006. This date must not slip. All jurisdictions must train and exercise the Incident Command System as it applies to them”, the report warned.

The Commissioners also gave the government a failing grade on preparing a plan to “regularly assess the types of threats the country faces to determine (a) the adequacy of the government’s plans—and the progress against those plans—to protect America’s critical infrastructure and (b) the readiness of the government to respond to the threats that the United States might face.”

It graded the government’s progress in carrying out this assessment as “unsatisfactory”.

It said, “The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 required DHS to issue a report by June 15, 2005, assessing the risks and vulnerabilities of the nation’s critical infrastructure. This report has not yet been released.”

This type of report would have assessed the nation’s ability to respond to natural disasters such as Katrina, as well as terrorist threats.

“Regular national assessments of threat, vulnerability, and preparedness will ensure that government efforts are making measurable progress in reducing the overall terrorist threat. DHS should produce the report…as soon as possible, and demonstrate its capability to regularly review and modify the assessment to reflect the changing threat environment and state of readiness,” the report said.

Finally, it urged the DHS to encourage the private sector, principally the insurance and credit-rating industries, to establish standards for private preparedness, adding that that only minimal progress has been made in this area.

The Commissioners recalled that in a May 2005 speech to private sector representatives, (DHS) Secretary (Michael) Chertoff “correctly noted that preparedness is not solely a government responsibility. The insurance and credit-rating industries are beginning to incorporate national preparedness standards into their underwriting and risk-analysis criteria. Leaders in the legal profession are beginning to evaluate the National Preparedness Standard as a “legal standard of care.”

Still, it said, “awareness of the Standard throughout the corporate sector is low".

“In another attack and in any natural disaster, private-sector employees will likely again be on the front lines. As the 9/11 Commission Report showed, employees of enterprises that institutionalize a high level of emergency preparedness are far more likely to survive in a disaster.”

The Commissioners urged corporate leaders to “take the lead in encouraging all American businesses, especially those in high-risk areas, or who own critical national infrastructure, to incorporate National Preparedness Standards into
their business practices. DHS should make private-sector preparedness a higher priority. The insurance and credit-rating industries should incorporate the National Preparedness Standard into their evaluations.”

Prof. Beau Grosscup of California State University at Chico says, “This provides further proof of two current political realities. First, for the Bush administration the real purpose of the 9/11 Commission was to shift the blame away from it and the Pentagon and onto the 'Clinton-wrecked' intelligence agencies, notably the FBI. Secondly, and more important to the future of the nation, making government work goes against the Bush Administration's privatization agenda and thus is to be systematically avoided.”

45 comments:

  1. I like your blog - good info. If you don't mind, I'm going to bookmark and link to it. I have a simple credit government report website with credit government report related stuff. Check it out!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello, you have a great blog here! I'm definitely going to bookmark you!
    I have a experian credit report site. It pretty much covers network marketing lead related stuff. Check it out if you get time :-)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow, I really like this one. I have a website that talks mostly about company online paid survey top You should check it out sometime.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've put together a little page to help "accessory buick"
    people find good places for "accessory buick"
    related sites. If you get a chance check out "accessory buick"
    .
    Keep the shiny side UP!. Ray in San Diego**KEYWOR

    ReplyDelete
  5. Debt consolidation can get you out of debt forever! cheap debt consolidation loan You can also work at home or credit repair and you can still consolidate with cheap debt consolidation loan and you will also like work at home

    ReplyDelete
  6. nice site :)

    Check out adult friend finder indiaadult friend finder india adult friend finder india

    ReplyDelete
  7. High Google and Yahoo link popularity can be yours,

    ReplyDelete
  8. High Google and Yahoo link popularity can be yours,

    ReplyDelete
  9. adult blogwww.wirtualnafrancja.com
    Nice Site! Good Work ;)

    ReplyDelete
  10. blog sexuelswww.wirtualnafrancja.com
    Nice Site! Good Work ;)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hey, you have a great blog here! I'm definitely going to bookmark you!

    I have a credit score site/blog. It pretty much covers ##KEYWORD## related stuff.

    Come and check it ou twhen youhave time :-)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hello,

    Finally, I have come to the right place. This is an excellent Blog site, which covers the topic almost similar to my site
    bad credit repair report

    It pretty much covers bad credit repair report related that you and your members may find interested.

    It would be appreciated if you kindly have a look at my site SoftwareFantasy.com and you are most welcome to send your comments at response@softwarefantasy.com

    To all fellow Internet Mareketer, please have a look at my site SoftwareFantasy.Com

    It is full of Fantasy Stuff you may want to have a try.

    You can get all these software for FREE, please visit at SoftwareGoldClub.Com

    To Your Success

    Mark

    ReplyDelete
  13. I wanted to say I think you have a great blog. I also wanted to tell you about this site on geico car insurance located at: geico car insurance .

    I know your visitors will just love it: geico car insurance .

    ReplyDelete
  14. You'll receive Valuable how-to Lessons, Millions and Millions of FREE Ads, and High in Demand Software Applications

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have a pretty cool site about Check out article about enzymes

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi! I am just Blog Browsing and we share the same becoming a stay at home mom interests. Blog browsing is fun and I love reading blogs about becoming a stay at home mom. Wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving !

    ReplyDelete
  17. Increase your Search Engine Rank in Days noy Months!

    ReplyDelete
  18. You have a great website here, and I'm going to tell all my friends about it.

    ReplyDelete
  19. All I can say is WOW BILL. The other half and I just got back from our friends house (well her friends house) and I needed a huge break. I am working on a project right now that is based on boston car insurance. I have literally been on-line for 2-3 hours doing research. Even though 9/11 AND KATRINA really isn’t on the same page as boston car insurance I am certainly glad I came across your blog. There are a ton of great view points on this blog. Well I think I can here the kids screaming in the background. I put you in my internet favorites and I will certainly come back and visit. If you want to take a peek at my site you can find me here at boston car insurance. I update my site very frequently. Again, great job blogging and I will be back again soon!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Well this blog certainly is not about boston car insurance. What the heck! I guess the internet can play some tricks on us sometimes. I have been on-line for two hours
    researching boston car insurance and came tumbling across your blog. I LOVE IT! I needed a break from boston car insurance anyways :-) If you don't mind I want to add your
    blog to my favorites list so I can come back later on and read some more stuff. Well I guess I should get back to researching boston car insurance.
    Even though my search is not on 9/11 AND KATRINA I am glad I came across your blog. Keep blogging away!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Shop, compare and save on your next home mortgage, refinance, auto loan, payday loan advance and even personal credit lines. Regardless of your prior credit, you can qualify for a better loan at a better rate by shopping and comparing our extensive site of lenders. Fill out a no obligation, simple one page application and get a FREE rate quote. We specialize in great low rates for those with poor or bad credit, even no credit at all. Good credit customers can expect the lowest rates available.

    Don't delay, come to www.nwcleasing.com and apply today and get an instant decision and lock in your lowest possible rate.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Well I just got back from the gym and I am beat. I am currently doing some research on san jose california car insurance and stumbled across your blog. Which cracks me up really. The internet can certainly land you off base sometimes. Even though 9/11 AND KATRINA is not completely related I think it is a cool blog. I have read back through the archives and lots of people make some very good points. Well I have been on-line forever it seems. I need to continue to plug away at san jose california car insurance. If you have the energy swing by san jose california car insurance. I try to update my site weekly and maybe you will see something you like. I already snagged your URL and put it in my favorites. If you do not mind I will be back again. Great job!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Http://www.debt-consolidation.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Http://www.debt-consolidation.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. where i get more info?

    ReplyDelete
  26. La mia missione � di spargere il debt consolidation company in california di parola � la parola.With Compliments, Alex debt consolidation company in california

    ReplyDelete
  27. �C�mo s� qu� manera correcta para m�?Salaam, Gayle document fax loan no payday signature

    ReplyDelete
  28. Shop at your favorite stores 24 hours a day. Why go to the mall when you can shop online and avoid the traffic

    ReplyDelete
  29. I assume everyone has an idea of what I'm talking about.Earnestly, Gay debt consolidation company california

    ReplyDelete
  30. Shop online today. Forget driving to the mall when you can just click the mouse and order from your favorite store. No traffic to deal with

    ReplyDelete
  31. Christmas is just around the corner. No time to go to the mall...then do your shopping online. We sell everything that the mall sells. Shop today!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi. Nice blog. I have very little to say, as I don't do this often.
    car loan quote

    ReplyDelete
  33. If you struggle with bad credit, credit card debt, or are facing bankruptcy, our bankruptcy/dect counselling resources can help you understand your finances better and help you improve your financial standing. If your site is of simmilar interest contact me and link sites.
    Debt Resources Services.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Online debt consolidation information is availiable through many internet sources that specialize in assisting many American households in managing or eliminating their outstanding debt.
    counselors
    Debt Resources Services.

    ReplyDelete
  35. If you struggle with bad credit, credit card debt, or are facing bankruptcy, our bankruptcy/dect counselling resources can help you understand your finances better and help you improve your financial standing. If your site is of simmilar interest contact me and link sites.
    Debt Resources Services.

    ReplyDelete
  36. With personal debt in the US at an unprecidented level, the good news is that help is at hand for those carrying the burden, in the form of the US Debt Help Manual, produced by the (PRWEB) October 2005__The US Debt Help Manual, produced by The Debt Counsellors. is a free, no_nonsense guide.
    If your site is of similar interest contact me and link sites.
    Debt Resources Services.

    ReplyDelete
  37. I dig your blog. How long has it been on-line? Reason I ask is I am doing a ton of research in the area of car diamond insurance and will probably end up starting a blog of my own. Funny how the internet brought me here when I was doing searches on car diamond insurance. Oh well, I am glad it did. Keep up the great blogging and I am sure I will visit your blog again!! I mean I know I will stop by again.
    I also sent it off to a good friend of mine.

    p.s added you to my favorites take a moment to stop by car diamond insurance for I update it frequently

    ReplyDelete
  38. I found your blog when I was googling for love and romance articles. I also visited an interesting site at http://top-personals.net that is also related to local personals and has some useful tips for singles, check it if you�re interested.

    ReplyDelete
  39. Ci� � un buon luogo osservante!Salaam, Felisha personal loan without credit check

    ReplyDelete
  40. Hello ##NAME##, with all the information on telecommute I became very overwhelmed. Anyway, I was online doing a specific search for the most current information on telecommute and somehow I ended up on your site. ##NAME## to be frank, ##TITLE## wasn't not the exact match to what I was looking for, but boy am I glad I'm here. You've certainly managed to grab me attention and peak my interest. I must say this is a great blog and I'm most certainly happy that I stopped by eventhough it wasn't the telecommute related information I was looking for. Thanks. Keep up the good work.

    ReplyDelete