Anyone following media coverage of rescue and relief operations in New Orleans will notice the ferocity of complaints by municipal and state officials in Louisiana (all Democrats) aimed at the U.S. federal government and President George Bush (a Republican).
This story, in Saturday's Washington Post, documents the struggle to unify command and control over the rescue efforts.
Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineau Blanco has stilled not declared a state of emergency in and around New Orleans, almost a full week after the hurricane devastated the region. Despite the ease with which some politicians have been playing up accusations of racism in the federal American response to the hurricane it appears that city government in New Orleans did little if anything to establish an effect emergency response. Blanco reportedly took over 24 hours to review a proposal from President Bush that would have streamlined the command and control structure among city, state and federal authorities trying to conduct emergency rescue and relief operations.
By Friday, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin had reportedly lowered the tone of his rhetoric and was expressing optimism on the emergency response following his meeting with President Bush.
Despite the change of tone, the collapse of local law and order can be traced directly to the mayor's office (which is currently located in the Hyatt Hotel next to the SuperDome). Police reportedly have been forced to scrounge for food and water, weapons and ammunition in an effort to retain some semblance of control. It is incomprehensible that civic officials failed to provide emergency stocks of food and water, let alone weapons and redundant communications that would have allowed police to provide effective service despite the damage suffered by the city.
Two senior police officers have reportedly committed suicide since Katrina devastated the City of New Orleans.
Before anyone jumps to man the barricades in defence of state and city officials, remember that emergency response in a federal system starts at the municipal level, then goes up to the state level and finally to the federal. All must work together, but since Tuesday, both the New Orleans mayor and state officials have been busily tossing the monkey of the disastrous emergency response onto Washington's back. At the heart of the problem appears to be a gross lack of preparedness at the city and state level, coupled with something bordering on incompetence at the State House in Baton Rouge.
In this story from the Army Times, the writer refers to national guard units beginning combat operations in New Orleans. That American military have to refer to their actions as combat operations suggests the extent to which municipal and state officials have lost control of New Orleans.
In a related incident, police escorting civilian engineering contractors to repair damaged levees shot and killed five or six gunmen in New Orleans. The gunmen were part of an armed group who opened fire on the convoy.