Follow with me, the trail of blame...
Emergencies & Disasters
Preparing America
In the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or other large-scale emergency, the Department of Homeland Security will assume primary responsibility on March 1st for ensuring that emergency response professionals are prepared for any situation. This will entail providing a coordinated, comprehensive federal response to any large-scale crisis and mounting a swift and effective recovery effort. The new Department will also prioritize the important issue of citizen preparedness. Educating America's families on how best to prepare their homes for a disaster and tips for citizens on how to respond in a crisis will be given special attention at DHS.
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=4598
Other Department Realignments
* Improve National Response and Recovery Efforts by Focusing FEMA on Its Core Functions. FEMA will report directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security. In order to strengthen and enhance our Nation’s ability to respond to and recover from manmade or natural disasters, FEMA will now focus on its historic and vital mission of response and recovery.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/cabinet.html
The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Defense is a cabinet position, appointed by the President.
FEMA reports to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff.
http://www.fema.gov/about/history.shtm
As it has for more than 20 years, FEMA's mission remains: to lead America to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from disasters with a vision of "A Nation Prepared."
Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Michael D. Brown, who was nominated by Bush, has recently been fired for incompetence, after Bush made public remarks that "Brownie you are doing a heck of a job"
Louisiana Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness
Since LHLS & EP was placed under the Military Department in 1990, the Agency has managed over 16 Federal Disaster Declarations and has coordinated several hundred State Disaster Declarations authorized under the Governor's signature.
BUT
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. KBB 2005 - 18
This Executive Order, signed on July 11, 2005, specifically states that ALL emergency preparedness plans and control and implementation of those plans are the responsibility of The director of the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, Military Department, state of Louisiana.
There are two directors:
Major General Ansel M. Stroud
and
Major General Bennett C. Landreneau.
Nowhere in that executive order does it mention responsibility of local officials for Emergency Preparedness and Response, but that the directors of Louisiana Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness have control over all assets, at the state and local levels to achieve their mandate.
All indications are that Governor Blanco, and Mayor Nagin were not responsible for the Emergency Preparedness Plan, so, where does the culpability lie again?