by

James Buchanan

A series of e-mails back and forth between a FEMA representative in New Orleans, Marty Bahamonde, at the Superdome and the upper bureaucracy of FEMA exposes the unbelieable arrogance and apathy of a federal agency that is supposed to help people during an emergency.

Here’s an excerpt from a recent Associated Press article:

” Marty Bahamonde, regional director for New England to David Passey, regional director for the Gulf Coast, Aug. 28, 4:46 p.m.

“Issues developing at the Superdome. 2000 already in and more standing in line. …The medical staff at the dome says they will run out of oxygen in about 2 hours and are looking for alternative oxygen.”

* Bahamonde to Deborah Wing, FEMA response specialist, Aug 28, 5:28 p.m.

“Everyone is soaked. This is going to get ugly real fast.”

…..

* Bahamonde to Michael Heath, FEMA official, Aug. 29, 7:33 a.m.

“Some pumping stations failed but no widespread flooding yet. The reall (sic) worry will be in the next 3 hours when he (sic) storm passes and we get the northerly winds blowing thwe (sic) lake into the city

….

* Bahamonde to FEMA Director Michael Brown, Aug. 31, 11:20 a.m.

“Sir, I know that you know the situation is past critical. Here some things you might not know.

Hotels are kicking people out, thousands gathering in the streets with no food or water. Hundreds still being rescued from homes.

The dying patients at the DMAT tent being medivac. Estimates are many will die within hours. Evacuation in process. Plans developing for dome evacuation but hotel situation adding to problem. We are out of food and running out of water at the dome, plans in works to address the critical need.

* Sharon Worthy, Brown’s press secretary, to Cindy Taylor, FEMA deputy director of public affairs, and others, Aug. 31, 2 p.m.

“Also, it is very important that time is allowed for Mr. Brown to eat dinner. Gievn (sic) that Baton Rouge is back to normal, restaurants are getting busy. He needs much more that (sic) 20 or 30 minutes. We now have traffic to encounter to get to and from a location of his choise (sic), followed by wait service from the restaurant staff, eating, etc.

* Bahamonde to Taylor and Michael Widomski, public affairs, Aug. 31, 2:44 p.m.

“OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! No won’t go any further, too easy of a target. Just tell her that I just ate an MRE and crapped in the hallway of the Superdome along with 30,000 other close friends so I understand her concern about busy restaurants. Maybe tonight I will have time to move my pebbles on the parking garage floor so they don’t stab me in the back while I try to sleep.

* Bahamonde to Taylor, Sept. 3, 1:06 a.m.

“The leadership from top down in our agency is unprepared and out of touch. … But while I am horrified at some of the cluelessness and self concern that persists…”

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The federal government sent the best 35 to 40 of Louisiana’s National Guard to fight in Iraq severely underming that state’s ability to respond to a natural disaster. The Feds had a responsibility to make up for all the emergency responders that they stole. Instead Mike Brown’s secretary is sending out an e-mail about how much time Mr. Brown needs for his meal while people evacuated from hospitals are literally running out of oxygen. Absolutely Unbelievable!!