Jeb Bush wrote an entire guest editorial in the Washington Post last month, just to drive home the point that Hurricane Katrina mistakes were 100% the fault of state and local governments, not his brother’s. After all, he said, we know how to handle this stuff in Florida.
Just as all politics are local, so are all disasters. The most effective response is one that starts at the local level and grows with the support of surrounding communities, the state and then the federal government…
“It’s been chaos,” said store manager Luis Gonzalez… “Where is FEMA?” said Yamara Higgins of Deerfield BeachFlorida’s emergency response system…is second to none…Once a storm is forecast for landfall in Florida, all these groups put their disaster response-and-recovery plans into high gear…
But with proper preparation and planning, it is possible — as we in Florida have proved — to restore order, quickly alleviate the suffering of those affected and get on the road to recovery.
Wow. Sounds great. But how’s all that “leave the Feds out of it and let us handle it” stuff working for you now, Jeb? Here’s the scene in South Florida, where Pensito Review’s man in Miami, Buck, is still unaccounted for. South Florida Sun Sentinel:
Although state officials had bragged about their readiness for Wilma, trucks with water and ice didn’t start arriving in Broward County until late Tuesday. Palm Beach County and Miami-Dade County centers also reported problems. As a result, tensions ran high and some fights broke out as residents complained help was not coming quickly enough…
Florida Power & Light Co. said it had restored service to almost a half-million people statewide, but more than 2.8 million remained without electricity Tuesday, including 98 percent of Broward. Officials are still estimating it could take weeks to get the area up and running.
So 98% of Broward County (i.e, Fort Lauderdale) is without power? That’s like all of it. Still, Jeb was prepared so I know things aren’t too bad.
Across the region, people went into scavenger mode, descending on those few sources of water, food and gas they could find. Most ignored pleas from government officials to stay off roads, still full of debris and without working traffic lights. As a result, traffic added to clogged conditions…
Sheriff Ken Jenne said he expects to ask for the National Guard in the next two or three days because of the workload on deputies…
Curfews remained in effect, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Broward and from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. in Miami-Dade.
Customers also mobbed a Publix [grocery store] in Sunrise that opened at 8 a.m., snatching up 250 cases of water in one hour.
“It’s been chaos,” said store manager Luis Gonzalez.
Whoa. Chaos? But Jeb is in charge. I don’t understand.
“Where is FEMA?” said Yamara Higgins of Deerfield Beach…
The source of the distribution centers’ problems boiled down to lack of communication and fuel. The state had trouble coordinating because of spotty phone service. There also wasn’t enough fuel for the trucks delivering supplies.
So, instead of sending trucks loaded with supplies to the distribution sites, the state sent them to the fairgrounds for refueling.
Who let the trucks run out of gas? The state did.
In Miami, Julio Sanchez stood on the side of the street watching a scene in disbelief — a crowd arguing in front of the Orange Bowl, one of 11 distribution sites in Miami-Dade, where many waited in line hours for ice and water.
“This is incredible. I just cannot believe it,” said Sanchez, 47. At 11 a.m. Bush, local and federal officials gathered at the Miami-Dade Emergency Operations Center where they urged residents to be patient as the relief effort continues.
“Tomorrow is going to be a better than today [sic],” Bush said. “My heart goes out to people who lost a lot, but rest assured that the federal and state government will help.”
Hmmm. The federal government first, Jeb says now, then the state.
God hates arrogant, hypocritical fools, and I guess every now and then, He needs to make an example out of one.
