What is the real, untold story behind Hurricane Katrina?
Why was the nation so unprepared?
How did our government perform, against all the odds?
The Path to Katrina: A Docudrama in Three Acts.
Act 1
Water droplets swirl menacingly over the Atlantic. Concerned meteorologists
are glued to their radar screens. Then the camera cuts to a rope line, where
President Clinton is receiving a hug from a beret-wearing Monica Lewinsky,
oblivious to the threatening line of approaching storm clouds.
Act 2
The late 1990's: The Army Corp of Engineers stands ready in New Orleans, with a
vast fleet of earth-moving equipment, and tons of earth, to build the levees high
enough to withstand a Category-5 storm. "All we need is the final go-ahead, Mr.
Vice-President". Al Gore, receiving the call in his Washington office, expresses
annoyance at these "alarmist" measures being undertaken in New Orleans, and
states that concerns over the weather are "overblown". He slams down the
phone. The Army engineers are stunned. "What if there's a hurricane? What
about all these people?" A disgruntled Army engineer wonders, "Why won't the
Clinton adminstration let us protect the people of New Orleans?".
Act 3
President Bush stands in the center of the Superdome, speaking through a
bullhorn, to the cheers of the evacuees, who are grateful for the concerted, rapid response
to the natural disaster. Flashback to the climax of the storm, and the President
and his closest advisors who are monitoring the storm in real time from NORAD.
Bush fires pointed questions in rapid-fire succession: have all of the evacuees
been accounted for? food, water, and medical supplies ready for rapid delivery?
accommodations and emergency electricity on standby? pets are safe?
In a moment of quiet exhaustion he stares off and says to no one in particular,
"None of this needed to happen. If only my administration had been in charge
soon enough to do what needed to be done... Oh well, now is not the time for
placing blame." Back on his feet, he rouses his sleepy advisors. "Lots of work
to do", he says with grim determination. "It's almost dawn."