Las Vegas Sun

March 29, 2024

Nevada lawmakers vow to probe federal response

WASHINGTON -- Nevada lawmakers are vowing that Congress will find out what went wrong in the federal response to Hurricane Katrina.

Poor leadership, bureaucratic red tape, and a lack of communication were among the issues that may have slowed response times, they said. They agree Congress faces a massive task in figuring out what caused delay -- and how to prevent it in future disasters.

Rep. Jon Porter, R-Nev., said he was the first sign of help many people saw when he arrived Aug. 30 in Mississippi -- several days after the hurricane.

Porter drove to Pass Christian, Miss., with a trailer full of coolers, electric generators and other supplies to help the mother of Porter campaign finance director Lindsey McQueen, who lost her home to the hurricane. He wondered where help was from the local, state and federal governments. Porter's political consultant Mike Slanker, McQueen's fiance, called Porter for help on the trip just before the storm hit.

"I think all three levels (of government) dropped the ball," Porter said. "There is no reason why I can drive 2,500 miles with ice and people that were 150 miles away could do nothing."

Porter said he believes in local governments and that they should be the first responders in disasters. But the federal government needs to give them the tools they need to do the job right, he said.

"I don't think they were prepared for anything of this nature, of this magnitude," Porter said. "I think they thought they were but no doubt they weren't."

He said there was an obvious lack of communication on all levels, and that "no one was directing traffic" on how emergency services or even those who volunteered to help should be used.

Porter said Congress will be "looking with a microscope" at where specific breakdowns took place. Porter is a member of the House Government Reform Committee, which already is planning hearings on federal emergency agencies.

Emergency workers in Mississippi told him the federal government usually takes 72 hours to send aid.

"It's not good enough," Porter said.

Porter said the Federal Emergency Management Agency officials were in Mississippi while he was there, but the aid needed to be faster. He did not agree with those calling for FEMA Director Michael Brown to step down.

"The wrong track is to call for a resignation at a time when we are still rescuing people," Porter said. "Now is not the time to be pointing fingers at one individual."

Rep Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., agreed.

"We need to offer some real solutions," Gibbons said. "There is not a shred of solution coming from firing someone."

Gibbons said the government must learn from its mistakes.

Gibbons said a barge full of fuel is waiting to be dispersed in states hit by the storm, but lawyers are trying to work through regulations for unloading it. Doctors from other states wanting to help the sick or injured also faced legal obstacles, Gibbons said.

"Patients don't need bureaucracy, they need help," he said. "Until we get past the red tape, we are never going to get help there."

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid has not called for Brown's ouster. Reid, D-Nev., first wants to assemble an independent commission to investigate the response.

"Mark my words, it's going to happen," Reid said of the panel.

But Reid has had tough words for the federal response. He has said the "buck stops" with the president. Today he repeated his assertion that FEMA is a "toothless tiger."

"FEMA and other agencies failed the American people, in my opinion," Reid said today in remarks on the Senate floor.

Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., said the federal response was "inadequate" in the first 48 to 72 hours of the disaster. Congress will get to the bottom of what went wrong, he said. It's too early to call for anyone's ouster, Ensign said.

"There is going to be a time for that, when we hold people accountable if they didn't do their jobs," Ensign said.

Rep. Shelley Berkley, D-Nev., said Brown should go "in a heartbeat."

Berkley said that since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, she has voted for billions of dollars in federal money for emergency supplies and improved communication. Everyone knows communication problems hindered World Trade Center response, she said.

"This problem is rampant," Berkley said. "I don't know where these billions of dollars have gone."

Berkley said she plans to meet with first responders in Nevada to make sure they know what would happen in a similar crisis.

"Are we prepared in Nevada?" she asked.

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