Reply With Quote
I think he works for the state..
Col. Jay Mayeaux, the deputy director of the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
Red Cross: State rebuffed relief efforts
Aid organization never got into New Orleans, officials say
CNNThe Red Cross never launched its relief effort in the city.
The national president of the American Red Cross, Marsha Evans, first made the request to undertake the operation during a visit to the state on September 1, three days after Hurricane Katrina struck, a local Red Cross chapter official said.
Vic Howell, chief executive officer of the agency's Louisiana Capital Area Chapter, said he renewed that request the next day to Col. Jay Mayeaux, the deputy director of the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
"We had adequate supplies, the people and the vehicles," Howell said at a news conference in Baton Rouge. "It was the middle of a military rescue operation trying to save lives. We were asked not to go in, and we abided by that recommendation."
Mayeaux, appearing at the news conference with Howell, said he had asked the Red Cross to wait 24 hours for conditions to be "set" for the operation.
"To set up a feeding station to feed a large number of people, you need space. You need to escort the personnel into position. ... And we asked Mr. Howell, and he concurred, to wait 24 hours to go to set that in," Mayeaux said.
By Saturday, however, the point became moot because the large-scale evacuation of the city was under way, Howell and Mayeaux said.
"After that point in time ... their rescue operation was in full force, and they felt they had adequate supplies there to take care of it without (the Red Cross) being introduced into the situation," Howell said. "So we did not go directly into New Orleans."
The National Guard began moving large quan ies of food, water and ice into New Orleans and other damaged areas of southeast Louisiana on Wednesday, two days after the hurricane struck and a day before the Red Cross made its request to go in, Mayeaux said.
The supplies were being delivered from Camp Beauregard, a National Guard base near Alexandria, 150 miles away, in the central part of the state.
So far, 16.4 million pounds of ice, 14.2 million quarts of water and 7.9 million ready-to-eat meals have been distributed, Mayeaux said.
In addition, food and water had also been stored before the storm at the Louisiana Superdome and other shelters, Mayeaux said. He added that guard troops also brought supplies.
Mayeaux said that state officials did "push" supplies into the distribution pipeline before requests were made and did not wait for local officials to request them.
The Red Cross was simply not needed at that point, since the State and the FEDS already had supplies and medical attention for NO in the pipeline and a major evacuation was underway to get the Katrina victims out of the city. And it wasn't the Governor of Louisiana who kept the RC out of NO, as many right-wing talking heads are contending, but the deputy director for the local branch of Homeland Security.
I think he works for the state..
Col. Jay Mayeaux, the deputy director of the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
Who reports to Governor Blanco...the deputy director for the local branch of Homeland Security.
It's not the Federal Department of Homeland Security it's the State's Homeland Security Department. Thanks for shooting yourself in the foot Dan. Oh, I can't wait for the spin to begin!
Colonel Jadwin V. “Jay” Mayeaux, Jr. was raised in Alexandria and is a lifelong native of Louisiana. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration and a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies. Currently, Colonel Mayeaux is employed as the Executive Officer for the State Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.
His career in the Louisiana National Guard started with commissioning in 1981 and continued through combat arms assignments at Company, Battalion Command, and most recently as the Deputy Brigade Commander for the 256th Infantry Brigade. Colonel Mayeaux also served as the Louisiana National Guard Task Force Commander for Super Bowl XXXI-designated a National Security Special Event-involving over 750 Louisiana Guard solders, and included extensive coordination/integration with both federal, state and local law enforcement and 1st Responder agencies.
http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/agenc...boutagency.htm
A Brief History
The Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (LHLS & EP); formally the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness (LOEP), was created by the Civil Act of 1950 and is under the Louisiana Military Department. In 1976 LHLS & EP via the Louisiana government reorganization, was moved to the Department of Public Safety (DPS). In 1990 LHLS & EP was transferred again to the Military Department. In 2003 the Agency name was changed to the Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, reflecting the additional responsibilities to the State and her citizens.
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. Over the years, the mission has evolved to include the spectrum of natural, man-made disasters and as of 2003; the duties and responsibilities for supporting Louisiana's Homeland Security needs.
Since 1990, LHLS & EP has been under the leadership of two Directors, Major General Ansel M. Stroud and Major General Bennett C. Landreneau. The staff at the Baton Rouge office has also undergone many changes and adjusted personnel to accommodate a number of large disasters such as Hurricane Andrew, Tropical Storm Allison, and more recently the damages resulting from Isidore and Lilli in 2002. The inclusion of the Homeland Security mission has also created additional staffing requirements.
LHLS & EP Sign Picture
Photo by S Burr
In the spring of 2002 LHLS & EP moved to a new facility, located in the Independence Boulevard area. The expanded capabilities that the new location provides, further enhances the Agency's mission readiness and ability to protect the citizens of Louisiana.
Effective communication and partnerships with the Military Department in New Orleans, the Governor's Office, the Legislature, our Congressional staff, State officials, Parish and City officials, Parish Emergency Directors, individual citizens and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has improved greatly since 1990. In most cases critical disaster data can now be transmitted instantly between the various supporting agencies and offices via the upgraded radio, computer and web based systems. These tools help provide a multi-tiered operational environment that is much more efficient and reliable during disaster operations; when time sensitive information is so vital to mission accomplishment.
The LHLS & EP staff in Baton Rouge is small when compared to other states, but remains poised and ready to serve the people of Louisiana at a moments notice.
On the Fox News Channel <http://www.foxnews.com/> just a little while ago, Major Garrett <http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,60317,00.html> , one of Fox's star reporters, and author of The Enduring Revolution <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/1400054664/qid=1126136396/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-7914140-6869601?v=glance&s=books&n=507846> , broke a very disturbing story for those on the left that want to play the blame game regarding the reaction to the Katrina. Here's his interview with Hugh Hewitt moments ago:
HH: Joined now by Major Garrett, correspondent for the Fox News Channel, as well as author of The Enduring Revolution, a best seller earlier this year. We talked about that. Major Garrett, welcome back to the Hugh Hewitt Show.
MG: Hugh, always a pleasure. Thanks for having me.
HH: You just broke a pretty big story. I was watching up on the corner television in my studio, and it's headlined that the Red Cross was blocked from delivering supplies to the Superdome, Major Garrett. Tell us what you found out.
MG: Well, the Red Cross, Hugh, had pre-positioned a literal vanguard of trucks with water, food, blankets and hygiene items. They're not really big into medical response items, but those are the three biggies that we saw people at the New Orleans Superdome, and the convention center, needing most accutely. And all of us in America, I think, reasonably asked ourselves, geez. You know, I watch hurricanes all the time. And I see correspondents standing among rubble and refugees and evacuaees. But I always either see that Red Cross or Salvation Army truck nearby. Why don't I see that?
HH: And the answer is?
MG: The answer is the Louisiana Department of Homeland Security, that is the state agency responsible for that state's homeland security, told the Red Cross explicitly, you cannot come.
HH: Now Major Garrett, on what day did they block the delivery? Do you know specifically?
MG: I am told by the Red Cross, immediately after the storm passed.
HH: Okay, so that would be on Monday afternoon.
MG: That would have been Monday or Tuesday. The exact time, the hour, I don't have. But clearly, they had an evacuee situation at the Superdome, and of course, people gravitated to the convention center on an ad hoc basis. They sort of invented that as another place to go, because they couldn't stand the conditions at the Superdome.
HH: Any doubt in the Red Cross' mind that they were ready to go, but they were blocked?
MG: No. Absolutely none. They are absolutely unequivocal on that point.
HH: And are they eager to get this story out there, because they are chagrined by the coverage that's been emanating from New Orleans?
MG: I think they are. I mean, and look. Every agency that is in the private sector, Salvation Army, Red Cross, Feed The Children, all the ones we typically see are aggrieved by all the crap that's being thrown around about the response to this hurricane, because they work hand and glove with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. When FEMA is tarred and feathered, the Red Cross and the Salvation Army are tarred and feathered, because they work on a cooperative basis. They feel they are being sullied by this reaction.
HH: Of course they are. Now Major Garrett, what about the Louisiana governor's office of Homeland Security. Have they responded to this charge by the Red Cross, which is a blockbuster charge?
MG: I have not been able to reach them yet. But, what they have said consistently is, and what they told the Red Cross, we don't want you to come in there, because we have evacuees that we want to get out. And if you come in, they're more likely to stay. So I want your listeners to follow me here. At the very moment that Ray Nagin, the Mayor of New Orleans was screaming where's the food, where's the water, it was over the overpass, and state officials were saying you can't come in.
HH: How long would it have taken to deliver those supplies, Major Garrett, into the Superdome and possibly the convention center?
MG: That is a more difficult question to answer than you might think. There were areas, obviously, as you approached the Superdome, that were difficult to get to, because of the flood waters. And as the Red Cross explained it to me, look. We don't have amphibious vehicles. We have trucks and ambulance type vehicles. In some cases, after the flood waters rose as high as they did, we would have needed, at minimal, the Louisiana National Guard to bring us in, or maybe something bigger and badder, from the Marines or Army-type vehicle. They're not sure about that. But remember, Hugh, we were transfixed, I know I was. I'm sure you were and your listeners were, by my colleague, Shep Smith, and others on that overpass.
HH: Right.
MG: ...saying, wait a minute. We drove here. It didn't take us anything to drive here.
HH: Right.
MG: Why can't people just come here?
HH: I also have to conclude from what you're telling me, Major Garrett, is that had they been allowed to deliver when they wanted to deliver, which is at least a little bit prior to the levee, or at least prior to the waters rising, the supplies would have been pre-positioned, and the relief...you know, the people in the Superdome, and possibly at the convention center, I want to come back to that, would have been spared the worst of their misery.
MG: They would have been spared the lack of food, water and hygiene. I don't think there's any doubt that they would not have been spared the indignity of having nor workable bathrooms in short order.
HH: Now Major Garrett, let's turn to the convention center, because this will be, in the aftermath...did the Red Cross have ready to go into the convention center the supplies that we're talking about as well?
MG: Sure. They could have gone to any location, provided that the water wasn't too high, and they got some assistance.
HH: Now, were they utterly dependent upon the Louisiana state officials to okay them?
MG: Yes.
HH: Because you know, they do work with FEMA. But is it your understanding that FEMA and the Red Cross and the other relief agencies must get tht state's okay to act?
MG: As the Red Cross told me, they said look. We are not state actors. We are not the Army. We are a private organziation. We work in cooperation with both FEMA and the state officials. But the state told us A) it's not safe, because the water is dangerous. And we're now learning how toxic the water is. B) there's a security situation, because they didn't have a handle on the violence on the ground. And C) and I think this is most importantly, they wanted to evacuate out. They didn't want people to stay.
HH: Now off the record, will the Red Cross tell you what they think of Governor Blanco and Mayor Nagin?
MG: No.
HH: Will they tell you what they think about FEMA director Brown?
MG: No.
HH: Will they tell you any...will they give any advice of how to make sure this doesn't happen again?
MG: Well, there is something, Hugh, that I think we have to be honest with ourselves about. New Orleans is a situation, because of its geography, utterly unique in America. We don't build cities in bowls, except there. This complicated the Red Cross efforts, and the FEMA efforts, from the start. In the mid-90's, the Red Cross opened a shelter in South Carolina that was eventually flooded. And there was a big controversy about that. After that, the Red Cross made a policy decision that it would never shelter, or seek to shelter, any evacuee from any hurricane, anywhere where flooding was likely to occur. High ground is where they were going to be, and where they were going to go. Well, that basically rules out all of New Orleans.
HH: Sure. Does the Red Cross, though, assist in evacuation, Major Garrett?
MG: Not under the state plan in Louisiana. And not very many other places, either, because again, the Red Cross is a responding private charity. It is not an evacuation charity. It does not assume, as you can well imagine, Hugh, the inevitable liability that would come with being in charge of evacuating.
HH: How senior are your sources at the Red Cross, Major Garrett?
MG: They're right next to Marty Evans, the president.
HH: So you have no doubt in your mind that they have...
MG: Oh, none. None. And I want to give credit to Bill O'Reilly, because he had Marty Evans on the O'Reilly Factor last night. And this is the first time Marty Evans said it. She said it on the O'Reilly Factor last night in a very sort of brief intro to her longer comments about dealing with the housing and other needs of the evacuees now. She said look. We were ready. We couldn't go in. They wouldn't let us in, and the interview continued. I developed it more fully today.
HH: And the 'they' are the Louisiana state officials?
MG: Right.
HH: Now any in the 'they'...is the New Orleans' mayor's staff involved as well? Or the New Orleans police department?
MG: Not that I'm aware of, because the decision was made and communicated to the Red Cross by the state department of Homeland Security and the state National Guard. Both of which report to the governor.
HH: Do they have any paper records of this communication?
MG: I did not ask that. It's a good question. I'll follow up with them.
HH: I sure would love to know that. And if you get it, send it to me. We'll put it up on the blog. Major Garrett, great story. Please keep us posted. Look forward to talking to you a lot in the next couple of weeks on this story. Thanks for breaking away from the Fox News Channel this afternoon.
End of interview
Hey Dumbass, go reread my first post. I never said it was the FED Homeland Security, but the Deputy Director for the NO office of HOmeland Security who made the call. We can sit here and speculate about whom that Deputy Director reports to, but as the rest of the post proves, the Red Cross was simply not needed in the city because the STATE had already sent emergency care and supplies into the city by the time the RED CROSS would have been set up. Ignore this at your own peril.It's not the Federal Department of Homeland Security it's the State's Homeland Security Department. Thanks for shooting yourself in the foot Dan. Oh, I can't wait for the spin to begin!
Excellent anti democrat post thx Dan.
It's already well established he reports to the director of state HS, who reports to Gov. Blanco (I know this *fact* didn't come from Al Jazeera, Chinese Xinjua News Agency, or democraticunderground.com, so you'll probably question that, though it is the truth).We can sit here and speculate about whom that Deputy Director reports to
What? In the last two weeks you have trashed Bush and FEMA saying they blocked the Red Cross from going in to help. Now that it's been proven it was democratic leadership that shot down the ARC, the Red Cross "wasn't needed and the state had it under control"., but as the rest of the post proves, the Red Cross was simply not needed in the city because the STATE had already sent emergency care and supplies into the city by the time the RED CROSS would have been set up.
Well, I'll say one thing. You're consistently inconsistent. And another - you just disproved one of your own arguments that you were screaming about the last two weeks. I guess that makes you an idiot too.
i think you ought to take a good long look in the mirror and ask yourself who the real idiot is. I originally fell for the spin and thought it was the Governor's call that the RC not be sent in, but after reading up more on this, I'm not so sure anymore. You have yet to provide me with any proof that the Deputy Director for Homeland Security was making this call on behalf on the Governor.What? In the last two weeks you have trashed Bush and FEMA saying they blocked the Red Cross from going in to help. Now that it's been proven it was democratic leadership that shot down the ARC, the Red Cross "wasn't needed and the state had it under control".
Well, I'll say one thing. You're consistently inconsistent. And another - you just disproved one of your own arguments that you were screaming about the last two weeks. I guess that makes you an idiot too.
So, let me get this straight... You think that this guy made this call, in the midst of the biggest natural disaster in US history, without consulting his boss?
Meanwhile Bush is to blame for all of FEMA's F ups?
Typical left wing commie logic.
Ummm, no. All I'm saying is that all this is a moot point because the RC was not needed in NO since it would have taken them 24 hours just to set up, by then the mass evacuation out of the Superdome and Convention center would have been nearly complete.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
