Comments on: Napolitano’s Words and FEMA’s Actions http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/11/napolitano%e2%80%99s-words-and-fema%e2%80%99s-actions/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:06:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Willliam Kaneohe, http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/11/napolitano%e2%80%99s-words-and-fema%e2%80%99s-actions/#comment-21533 Willliam Kaneohe, Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:56:04 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=3618#comment-21533 It is good that Secretary Napolitano is calling on a re-education of American in terms of there is no national 911. It is the local fire, police, and emergency medical personnel who are our first responders. When they need assistance, the states support. The federal government is the last resort. Despite this, the last administration seemed to believe that the legacy of James Lee Witt (fortunate not to have a "big one" on his watch) would be an easy way to achieve popularity and name recognition. Michael D. Brown went around the country making a case that, "FEMA would be there". Subsequent leadership touted the "New FEMA" with spin and very little actual capability. Now it is time to move ahead but the great challenge will be to re-educate an America that demands one line solutions instanteously, even to complex catastrophes. The media has, of course, fostered this simplistic view and avoided the nuances of Constitutional responsibilities and authorities of our Federalist system of government. It is good that Secretary Napolitano is calling on a re-education of American in terms of there is no national 911. It is the local fire, police, and emergency medical personnel who are our first responders. When they need assistance, the states support. The federal government is the last resort. Despite this, the last administration seemed to believe that the legacy of James Lee Witt (fortunate not to have a "big one" on his watch) would be an easy way to achieve popularity and name recognition. Michael D. Brown went around the country making a case that, "FEMA would be there". Subsequent leadership touted the "New FEMA" with spin and very little actual capability. Now it is time to move ahead but the great challenge will be to re-educate an America that demands one line solutions instanteously, even to complex catastrophes. The media has, of course, fostered this simplistic view and avoided the nuances of Constitutional responsibilities and authorities of our Federalist system of government.

]]> By: Hank, NW Arkansas http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/11/napolitano%e2%80%99s-words-and-fema%e2%80%99s-actions/#comment-21400 Hank, NW Arkansas Thu, 12 Mar 2009 08:32:01 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=3618#comment-21400 Actually, Tom Ridge, George Bush (unless you are talking about Bush 41 when he was VP) and Andrew Card had nothing to do with the passage or signing of the Stafford Act. The Robert T Stafford Act was signed into law in November, 1988 by Ronald Reagan. Also, there ahve been 12 disaster declarations since Obama took office. You can find them listed at <a href="http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema" rel="nofollow">http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema</a>. It is important to remember that declarations are made only after being requested by the State governor. Actually, Tom Ridge, George Bush (unless you are talking about Bush 41 when he was VP) and Andrew Card had nothing to do with the passage or signing of the Stafford Act. The Robert T Stafford Act was signed into law in November, 1988 by Ronald Reagan.

Also, there ahve been 12 disaster declarations since Obama took office. You can find them listed at http://www.fema.gov/news/disasters.fema. It is important to remember that declarations are made only after being requested by the State governor.

]]> By: Bob http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/11/napolitano%e2%80%99s-words-and-fema%e2%80%99s-actions/#comment-21308 Bob Wed, 11 Mar 2009 15:33:28 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=3618#comment-21308 FEMA does not declare disasters. The White House does after a request has been made by a governor. The fact is that more governors have been saying that can't manage their disaster response without FEMA. Who wrote the Stafford Act that declarations are based on? Tom Ridge, the first director of DHS. Who has benefited from all of these declarations? That's right, contractors who do little or no real work. Tell all the states to have better disaster plans and then I will be behind you. By the way, Obama has not approved 21 disaters since taking office either. There have only been five since he became president. The others were signed by George Bush. Please don't get this twisted. FEMA is a construct of the Andrew Card and Ridge. FEMA does not declare disasters. The White House does after a request has been made by a governor. The fact is that more governors have been saying that can't manage their disaster response without FEMA.

Who wrote the Stafford Act that declarations are based on? Tom Ridge, the first director of DHS. Who has benefited from all of these declarations? That's right, contractors who do little or no real work. Tell all the states to have better disaster plans and then I will be behind you.

By the way, Obama has not approved 21 disaters since taking office either. There have only been five since he became president. The others were signed by George Bush. Please don't get this twisted. FEMA is a construct of the Andrew Card and Ridge.

]]> By: suek, so Cal http://blog.heritage.org/2009/03/11/napolitano%e2%80%99s-words-and-fema%e2%80%99s-actions/#comment-21272 suek, so Cal Wed, 11 Mar 2009 12:38:06 +0000 http://www.foundry.org/?p=3618#comment-21272 Well, guys...like every other bureaucracy, they have to justify their existence. Shucks...if they only declared 1 or 2 emergencies per year, would we begin to question whether we really needed them? And there's the accounting thing. If their budget is 10 million per year (figure totally made up)and there's only one incident, then that incident is allocated the full 10 million in cost. If they declare 10 incidents, then each incident is allocated 1 million. You get the picture...the more incidents, the lower the cost of each one. Makes them out as being _very_ efficient, and possibly justifies increasing the budget for next year - every bureaucrat's dream scenario. Well, guys…like every other bureaucracy, they have to justify their existence. Shucks…if they only declared 1 or 2 emergencies per year, would we begin to question whether we really needed them?

And there's the accounting thing. If their budget is 10 million per year (figure totally made up)and there's only one incident, then that incident is allocated the full 10 million in cost. If they declare 10 incidents, then each incident is allocated 1 million. You get the picture…the more incidents, the lower the cost of each one. Makes them out as being _very_ efficient, and possibly justifies increasing the budget for next year – every bureaucrat's dream scenario.

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