Another call for accountability today in the Bush administration, this one from a man with eyewitness experience with flood disasters: Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack (D), who belonged to the Iowa state senate when catastrophic floods hit the Mississippi River in 1993.
On a conference call with New Hampshire residents earlier today, Vilsack called for the President to fire FEMA director Michael Brown. Governor Vilsack said Brown's removal amounted to an essential first step toward ensuring that no American ever again would have to face the delays in disaster response that Gulf coast residents encountered this week.
The demand came in the wake of mounting frustration with the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, signaled by the governor in a late Sunday blog post that reveals dawdling by FEMA over the New Orleans evacuation plan [emphasis added]:
For the last two days I have attempted to extend help in Iowa with evacuation efforts. Initially, we were told to expect folks on Saturday or Sunday. The first plan from FEMA had folks be sent to a variety of regional hubs around the country.
At the last minute the plan changed, and efforts were limited to a few states in the south and southwest. Given the magnitude of the effort and need, I had serious doubts about that approach. After talking with the governors of Oklahoma and Arkansas and staff from the governor's office in Texas I became more convinced that the plan placed too heavy a burden on too few states. I called the White House and spoke with the President's chief of staff Andy Card and again offered the assistance. Now it appears that a more sensible plan is in place to take advantage of all who seek to help.
Vilsack's reaciton to the delay? Exasperation:
Many thousands of Americans have suffered for far too long. They will need help for months to come. Far too many people have faced too much resistance in their efforts to help their fellow Americans carry on. Some victims have felt abandoned or forgotten, and we must come to their aid -- now. ... All of us, from every community ... should be allowed to help when [help] is needed.
I hope the leaders and people of America come out of this disaster with renewed awareness that community and shared sacrifice are values that can carry us through tough times. We must remember that -- because no American, when disaster strikes, should ever again have to endure endless waits while much-needed help remains on the sidelines.
And meanwhile, in Washington? Bush aides say it's all everybody else's fault. Heavens to betsy ...