Failure of Disaster Planning

Joanne Grueskin, former Sioux City council member writes:

"I think there was a responsiblity for the city and the county to plan for this possible disaster, but it was certainly also the responsiblity of the state and the federal government to have a plan too. That's why we have a government. I came from Sioux City where we were prepared for Flight 232--when United 232 crashed--half the lives were saved. Two years prior the city and the county--which included all the neighboring towns had a test run of their plan of what would happen if a DC-10 crashed--there were plenty who complained about what a waste of time to reanact something that could never happen. After they practiced the plan, the reviewed it and changed it where needed.

"Bush was caught flat footed again. The storm happened Sunday night and yet Tuesday here he was for another photo op. Reminds me of him reading the upsidedown book to the kindergarten kids in Florida. I suppose Sunday night, he was busy packing his suitcase for his Monday trip to San Diego.

"What can you say about our Homeland Security except to say they don't make me feel secure. And what about the people stranded at the convention center? A reporter from there called into Talk of the Nation where Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff was a guest and told him that 2000 people were there without food, water and medical care for 4 days. Chertoff said, no, you're wrong, the national guard took food and water to them. The reporter said, no, I'm standing here with the people who are desparate and they have had no food and water.

"I know that if Clinton were in office, we would have seen a different reaction and different actions. This disaster is heartbreaking and so sad about the slow response of the government. The Red Cross and Salvation Army seem to be the ones that know how to respond."

Joanne