Heckuva job: The House panel investigating the government’s response to Hurricane Katrina has released some e-mail exchanges that A) contradict what FEMA Director Michael Brown said in his testimony before investigators, and B) make him appear even more ineffectual than we thought.
The Department of Homeland Security has provided more than 1,000 pages of requested e-mails to the committee. They involve Brown’s actions serving as what DHS’s “battlefield commander” on the ground in the days following the Gulf Coast disaster on Aug. 29.
Some of the e-mails provided by DHS and released Wednesday by the committee indicate that Brown had no appreciation for the situation and was completely clueless about what he was supposed to do:
For example, on Aug. 31 Brown received an e-mail from Marty Bahamonde, one of the only FEMA officials on the ground in New Orleans, saying “the situation is past critical.” Bahamonde said hotels were kicking people out, thousands were gathering in the streets with no food or water, and medical patients were going to die within hours.
“We are out of food and running out of water at the [Louisiana Superdome], plans in works to address the critical needs,” Bahamonde wrote.
Brown replied four minutes later: “Thanks for the update. Anything specific I need to do or tweak?”
On Sept. 2, Brown received an e-mail saying that 42-foot trailers full of beds, wheelchairs and oxygen concentrators were waiting to be deployed but needed direction. Brown waited four days before finally forwarding the message to other FEMA officials, saying only: “Can we use these people?”On Aug. 30 — the day after the storm hit and New Orleans was submerged in flood waters — Brown sent an e-mail to his assistant asking if he knew anyone who could watch his dogs.
In other e-mail exchanges, Brown expressed concern that his reputation was being tarnished. The e-mails show he spent time trying to find people to vouch for him.
And on Sept. 4, Brown’s press secretary, Sharon Worthy, wrote him an e-mail about his physical appearance. “Please roll up the sleeves of your shirt … all shirts,” Worthy said. “Even the president rolled his sleeves to just below the elbow. In this crises and on TV you just need to look more hard-working … ROLL UP THE SLEEVES!”
Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-La., said the e-mails show the need for documentation from the administration.
“These e-mails paint of portrait of Mr. Brown that differs significantly from Mr. Brown’s testimony before Congress about his actions,” Melancon said. “In the midst of the crisis, Mr. Brown found the time to exchange e-mails about his appearance, his reputation and other nonessential matters.”
Has he rolled up his sleeves yet?
… didn’t think so.
Yeah, you can tweak this, Brownie!