The official blog of the Libertarian Party
October 17, 2005
Federal Government Didn't Learn from Past Disasters
The mistakes made by federal government relief agencies in response to Hurricane Katrina and Rita appeared to be reminiscent of similar relief-effort errors in the 1990's.
Federal officials exhibited their short-term memory when the White House secretary Scott McClellan commented on the 3 million Texas residents fleeing from Hurricane Rita. McClellan stated, "This was an unprecedented number of people who were being evacuated." The evacuation of 3 million people was not unprecedented because it happened in 1999 when the same number of people left coastal Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas during Hurricane Floyd.
After the 1999 hurricane, FEMA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers produced a lengthy report detailing the many problems that South Carolina residents had when they evacuated Charleston. These problems included shortage of supplies and highways that were not quickly converted to one-way exit routes. Many of these mistakes were repeated in the Hurricane Rita evacuation.
Hurricane Andrew produced a heightened interest in creating an expanded role for the military in responding to natural disasters. The Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman at the time, Sam Nunn, supported an expanded domestic role for the military, according to the Washington Post. Similar sentiments were expressed by President Bush after Hurricane Katrina.
Some critics assert that the federal government should not produce new plans and directives, but rather should execute current policies more effectively. Arnold Punaro, a former aide to Senator Sam Nun and ex-Marine general stated, "the problem with lessons learned is people unlearn them and make the same mistakes."
Posted by at October 17, 2005 03:59 PM
Reader Comments:
Prior to Hurricane Rita, Texas had never used contraflow on any of its highways. It had some plans, but they had never seen real-world experience. By the way, contraflow is a state-level decision, not a federal one.
Complicating contraflow in Texas is the design of entrances and exits to interstate highways in Texas, which are different from most other states in that most exits/entrances attach to a frontage road running parallel to the interstate. In many cases, the frontage road is a two-way road. This sort of layout is infrequently seen outside Texas, and greatly complicates contraflow plans.
Lex, can you see if there are more like this, we need all the Libertarians in office we can get. HEY ANY LIBERTARIANS to run for office in Idaho?
Yeah, that's what we Libertarians need to focus on obtaining . . . city council seats in Idaho. Maybe we can get our people into soil and water district offices in Alaska next. Those will definitely be stepping stones to Congress!
Got to start somewhere. More Libertarians in office - any elected office - is a good thing, and helps build a resume.
The question is **not** whether the government should follow disaster plans already in place or come up with new ones.
The only practical solution to government fumbling of disaster relief is to get it out of the way altogether.
Downsize it, eliminate its tax-squandering legions of so-called "disaster-relief" bureaucracies, and end the siphoning of trillions of dollars of looted taxpayer cash and property.
Only then will citizens be better able to fend for themselves and recover quickly.
I suspect Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Goodwill, The Salvation Army, churches, and other nonprofit & for-profit agencies -- if left alone to do the job -- would be much better at providing for needy citizens than the super-expensive super-state ever will be.
The answer isn't "more government"; it's not even "good government". The answer is "less government".
Government exists for only one reason: to perpetuate itself. It can't even "help" anyone without forcibly extracting the means to do so from many others.
Only in societies where individuals are left free and sovereign can those in need be properly helped to regain their feet -- quickly and quietly -- so that they can once again contribute to the productive, private sector.
Eliminate FEMA, eliminate the "Homeland InSecurity" agency, reduce spending, eliminate a tax or two, and get government out of the way. Free people are responsible people. Let them keep their money and watch them accomplish great things.
Understanding there are those that awake to a blank sheet of paper to fill every day, sometimes reach too far in their criticism to beat up FEMA, while ignoring local and state failures. Can't get national distribution for beating up on a city mayor or state governer can one? Makes me wonder if thay are just agenda driven by hatred of this administration. Fails the logic test but heck, who ever said a logical presentation was newsworthy.
Federal Emergency Management Agency - Management, as in coordinate/supervise and direct others resources. After all just how many people would you put on a payroll standing by waiting for some work to do.
In a our federal republic, local and state governments respond to disasters and if asked, then FEMA may follow after the fact. Somehow everyone seems to have forgotten all the hurricanes disasters FEMA under M. Brown managed in the past two 1/2 years reasonably well.
Homeland security has already informed us that in the event of a major disaster, prepare to be on your own for 24 hours or so. We have been forewarned so have you prepared for anything?
It is certain that martial law is not the right solution.
In any case, it is certain that martial law is not the right solution.
Sorry, my connection went out and somehow I posted twice.
I guess you libertarians think that ralph nader is going to take charge for you, wrong!
When the police fail to show up for work, like when the levies failed in New Orleans, insufficient law enforcement remains to deter lowlifes from acting up. This leaves people on their own, waiting for the National Guard.
By the time the NG arrives, security situation has deteroiated. In order to quickly impose peace expect martial law to be imposed, or at least order general disarmament.
Unable to identify friend or foe the Guard Commander is likely to also suspend individual rights of self defense and confiscate private arms to avoid fire fights.
Illegal, maybe but they can ask forgivness later instead of writeing letters to the survivers of his dead troops or defending troops for killing an innocent civilian or two.
One should be able to see the positions of the Commander wanting to protect his troops and the absent police wanting to see after their families first.
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Prior to Hurricane Rita, Texas had never used contraflow on any of its highways. It had some plans, but they had never seen real-world experience. By the way, contraflow is a state-level decision, not a federal one.
Complicating contraflow in Texas is the design of entrances and exits to interstate highways in Texas, which are different from most other states in that most exits/entrances attach to a frontage road running parallel to the interstate. In many cases, the frontage road is a two-way road. This sort of layout is infrequently seen outside Texas, and greatly complicates contraflow plans.
Posted by: IO ERROR at October 17, 2005 04:17 PM