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the obligatory political post
Sep. 7th, 2005 02:58 pmMy flist is exploding with links about the evilness of FEMA, and generally speaking the disorganized/ineffective nature of the Hurricane Katrina relief effort; and I thought I'd try to collect those links here in case there's anyone who's still in the dark about some of this stuff.
From Daily Kos: 1000 highly trained firefighters come down south thinking they're going to be helping rescue people. Instead, they find themselves doing "community relations," i.e., handing out the FEMA 800-number and helping Dubya look good. And here's a link to the original story in the Salt Lake Tribune.
From the Washington Post: Lots of foreign countries offered aid immediately after Katrina, but much of that aid has yet to be delivered because FEMA bureaucracy hasn't "processed" it yet.
From CNN: FEMA mistakenly transports evacuees to Charleston, West Virginia, instead of Charleston, South Carolina.
From the NY Times: Two Navy helicopter pilots are reprimanded for using their copters to rescue stranded victims. (if you don't want to register with NY Times, bugmenot.com is your friend)
From Reuters: FEMA doesn't want reporters photographing the recovery of dead bodies.
From Boingboing: FEMA to non-Windows users: Drop dead. The bottom line: If you don't have IE6 on Windows, you can't file a claim for disaster assistance on FEMA's website. Also,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
xochiquetzl points out that the FEMA website is also in violation of federal legislation requiring federal websites to be accessible to the disabled. So blind Katrina victims can drop dead too, as far as FEMA cares.
From MSNBC Katrinablog: Katrina victims seeking FEMA help can go to FEMA's website or call an 800-number to get a claim form. Given that many such victims don't have access to phones or the Internet, that's bad enough. But here's the kicker: After you call or get to the website, FEMA will ... mail a claim form to your home address. That's right! Even though the USPS may have suspended all mail delivery to your area (map showing status of USPS delivery in Katrina-affected areas) and in fact your entire home may currently be completely submerged underwater, FEMA will mail you a form! Which you can then fill out and return at your leisure! Lucky you!
Another Daily Kos post giving a laundry list of FEMA incompetencies including:
Just one more. If you want to help and have stuff to donate: http://wheretosenddonationsforkatrina.blogspot.com/
From Daily Kos: 1000 highly trained firefighters come down south thinking they're going to be helping rescue people. Instead, they find themselves doing "community relations," i.e., handing out the FEMA 800-number and helping Dubya look good. And here's a link to the original story in the Salt Lake Tribune.
From the Washington Post: Lots of foreign countries offered aid immediately after Katrina, but much of that aid has yet to be delivered because FEMA bureaucracy hasn't "processed" it yet.
From CNN: FEMA mistakenly transports evacuees to Charleston, West Virginia, instead of Charleston, South Carolina.
From the NY Times: Two Navy helicopter pilots are reprimanded for using their copters to rescue stranded victims. (if you don't want to register with NY Times, bugmenot.com is your friend)
From Reuters: FEMA doesn't want reporters photographing the recovery of dead bodies.
From Boingboing: FEMA to non-Windows users: Drop dead. The bottom line: If you don't have IE6 on Windows, you can't file a claim for disaster assistance on FEMA's website. Also,
xochiquetzl points out that the FEMA website is also in violation of federal legislation requiring federal websites to be accessible to the disabled. So blind Katrina victims can drop dead too, as far as FEMA cares.From MSNBC Katrinablog: Katrina victims seeking FEMA help can go to FEMA's website or call an 800-number to get a claim form. Given that many such victims don't have access to phones or the Internet, that's bad enough. But here's the kicker: After you call or get to the website, FEMA will ... mail a claim form to your home address. That's right! Even though the USPS may have suspended all mail delivery to your area (map showing status of USPS delivery in Katrina-affected areas) and in fact your entire home may currently be completely submerged underwater, FEMA will mail you a form! Which you can then fill out and return at your leisure! Lucky you!
Another Daily Kos post giving a laundry list of FEMA incompetencies including:
FEMA won't accept Amtrak's help in evacuationsI think that's enough for now, don't you? Are you all nauseated right along with me yet? OK, good.
FEMA turns away experienced firefighters
FEMA turns back Wal-Mart supply trucks
FEMA prevents Coast Guard from delivering diesel fuel
FEMA won't let Red Cross deliver food
FEMA bars morticians from entering New Orleans
FEMA blocks 500-boat citizen flotilla from delivering aid
FEMA fails to utilize Navy ship with 600-bed hospital on board
FEMA to Chicago: Send just one truck
FEMA turns away generators
FEMA: "First Responders Urged Not To Respond"
Just one more. If you want to help and have stuff to donate: http://wheretosenddonationsforkatrina.blogspot.com/
