As congress looks into the handling, or mishandling, of disaster relief before, during, and after Katrina, the hurricane, by the Department of Homeland Security and its sub-agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, I’ve some thoughts on the subject myself.
Before I share those thoughts though, let me just say that first and foremost, I very strongly believe it to be an individual responsibility to protect oneself and one’s family in the face of any disaster. To put it simply, personal responsibility comes first, and last, in my humble opinion. Don’t take me wrong, it is the government’s inherent responsibility to protect and defend this nation from all enemies, foreign and domestic, but in the face of mother nature’s wrath, if the government is going to offer assistance, I expect nothing but the best from my tax dollars.
Having said that, I humbly suggest that the Department of Homeland Security, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, ought not be just another set of bureaucratic agencies run by political appointees. Rather, and recognizing my bias towards the military, I feel strongly that the DHS and FEMA should be organized and ran much like our armed services. Why not hire retired military who have spent 20 to 30 years planning for and executing contingency operations? Both General Honore of the USA and Admiral Allen of the USCG performed famously in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. And they did so not because they had planned to be put in charge of that mission, but because they had spent a lifetime of leading a myriad of missions through severe adversities.
Not that anyone is asking, but my reccommendation is to re-look how we’ve organized and staffed the DHS and FEMA. I’m just saying. What say you? Sgt Hook out.
Posted by Hook @ 0326 zulu | | Permalink
This post is filed under: Americana & Soap Box
