Lt. Gen. Russel Honore led Task Force Katrina in the aftermath of the hurricane that struck the Gulf Coast in 2005. Here he weighs in on how Sandy is being handled -- it is not good.
From CNN:
Gen. Honore: Sandy recovery is stumbling
Superstorm Sandy inflicted havoc and heartache throughout the Northeast, hitting the Big Apple and its surrounding coastal towns hard. We have seen this kind of destruction before: I had an up-close-and personal view when Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
On August 31, 2005, I was designated commander of Joint Task Force Katrina, responsible for coordinating military relief efforts for damaged areas across the Gulf Coast. My arrival in New Orleans came after what was widely believed to be a poor performance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and its director Michael D. Brown. We learned a lot about what really works in our Katrina recovery efforts -- but New York and New Jersey seem to be ignoring those lessons.
First, I would like to praise the search and rescue operations in New York and New Jersey. But they could be doing much better now that they've entered the difficult part, the recovery operation.
Where is the command center? Who is in charge? Where is the National Guard?
During the aftermath of Katrina, National Guard troops were positioned on every block to establish a sense of safety and source of help for the people in need. They did not leave communities till people were safe and sound. This has not happened in New York or New Jersey.
And the numbers:
During the Hurricane Katrina disaster, about 20,000 federal troops were mobilized; 20 ships, including a hospital ship, about 50,000 National Guard members and 200 helicopters assisted in the relief efforts. So far, in Sandy relief efforts, about 11,000 National Guard troops were deployed, and only two ships have assisted -- this as people still suffer.
And Katrina was a much smaller storm -- only 200 miles in diameter while Sandy was over 600 miles -- a much smaller area affected. And we continue to think that a large Federal Government is supple enough to learn and adapt. Of course, it's all Bush's fault...
