CA firefighters (9/11 rescuers) barred from N.O. for a week!

I am a journalist. I just finished talking with a PR representative of the El Cajon Fire Department in San Diego County.

They sent a crew back laden with "several tons" of rescue gear and medical supplies, including boats. The crew's captain, a FEMA-certified rescue crew member with a trained canine, participated in the 9/11 search and rescue efforts.

Astoundingly, I've just learned that the feds forced these trained rescue professionals to hole up in a hotel in Texas for the past week, because of supposed security concerns over shootings! Today is the first day they've been allowed to enter New Orleans.

Sadly, some who may have been rescued earlier have no doubt died, making this more likely to be a "recovery" mission.

We must hold these murderers in Washington accountable!

?

People in central San Diego can probably get it at Parras Book Store,
they have everything.

????

going on.

"Under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, the Federal Government and FEMA are not allowed to interfere with local operations unless they are authorized by state and local leaders. Blanco did not authorize this until September 1, 2005.

FEMA was there and helping, in the capacity that was allowed by local officials, but could not swing into full gear until after Blanco gave them permission.

That would be Wednesday September 1, 2005"

I suggest they take a look at this:





Planning & Prevention


National Response Plan: Local/Federal Response Strategies & Coordination Structures

National Response Plan Main Page >> Local/Federal Response Strategies & Coordination Structures

Emphasis on Local Response

All incidents are handled at the lowest possible organizational and jurisdictional level. Police, fire, public health and medical, emergency management, and other personnel are responsible for incident management at the local level. For those events that rise to the level of an Incident of National Significance, the Department of Homeland Security provides operational and/or resource coordination for Federal support to on-scene incident command structures.

Proactive Federal Response to Catastrophic Events

The National Response Plan provides mechanisms for expedited and proactive Federal support to ensure critical life-saving assistance and incident containment capabilities are in place to respond quickly and efficiently to catastrophic incidents. These are high-impact, low-probability incidents, including natural disasters and terrorist attacks that result in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the population, infrastructure, environment, economy, national morale, and/or government functions.

Multi-Agency Coordination Structures

The National Response Plan establishes multi-agency coordinating structures at the field, regional and headquarters levels. These structures:

Enable the execution of the responsibilities of the President through the appropriate Federal department and agencies;

Integrate Federal, State, local, tribal, nongovernmental Organization, and private-sector efforts; and

Provide a national capability that addresses both site-specific incident management activities and broader regional or national issues, such as impacts to the rest of the country, immediate regional or national actions required to avert or prepare for potential subsequent events, and the management of multiple incidents.

New Coordinating Mechanisms Include

Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC)

The HSOC serves as the primary national-level multi-agency situational awareness and operational coordination center. The HSOC includes elements of the Department of Homeland Security and other Federal departments and agencies.

National Response Coordination Center (NRCC)

The NRCC, a functional component of the HSOC, is a multi-agency center that provides overall Federal response coordination.

Regional Response Coordination Center (RRCC)

At the regional level, the RRCC coordinates regional response efforts and implements local Federal program support until a Joint Field Office is established.


Interagency Incident Management Group (IIMG)

A tailored group of senior level Federal interagency representatives who provide strategic advice to the Secretary of Homeland Security during an actual or potential Incident of National Significance.

Joint Field Office (JFO)

A temporary Federal facility established locally to provide a central point for Federal, State, local, and tribal representatives with responsibility for incident support and coordination.

Principal Federal Official (PFO)

A PFO may be designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security during a potential or actual Incident of National Significance. While individual Federal officials retain their authorities pertaining to specific aspects of incident management, the PFO works in conjunction with these officials to coordinate overall Federal incident management efforts.


http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0569.xml


Does it look like any of this was done or, indeed, being done now?


I extracted this part from the local level component:

For those events that rise to the level of an Incident of National Significance, the Department of Homeland Security provides operational and/or resource coordination for Federal support to on-scene incident command structures.

because I just don't get refusing anyone not connected to the Fema bunch in?? Can it be they want as little going out to the public?? this is just fucking weird!

Please post your story as soon as you can.