Shocking News!

February 17, 2006 Posted by Roger Overton

Headlining the ABC 5:00 news this evening in Los Angeles was
this startling message: “There is surprising news about earthquake readiness.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has no plan to deal with a catastrophic
earthquake in southern California.”

Why are they surprised? If they think FEMA is supposed to
deal with every catastrophe, then they shouldn’t be surprised after what
happened due to Katrina. In their minds the federal government has failed
again.

I’m surprised for a different reason. Someone in the federal
government has it right! “Federal officials maintain that local and state
agencies are responsible for such strategies. FEMA contends that its role is to
offer only technical help and guidance to state and local leaders.” [San Gabriel Valley Tribune] Hats off to
Michael Chertoff for standing up to Boxer and Feinstein. I’ve never been too
sure about the guy since for some reason he reminds me of Sloane from Alias,
but I’m behind him now.

Chertoff made it simple: “Emergency management must begin at
the local level because municipal, county and state governments are best suited
to understand the needs, capabilities and vulnerabilities of their respective
locales.” I have my doubts whether the California state government is really
“best suited,” but this is generally true (in every other state). The federal
government’s role is to aid the plans of the local governments. Asking FEMA to
do it all is like having the National Guard give people speeding tickets. It’s
not their job; it’s the job of local law enforcement.

I am curious, though, why Boxer and Feinstein stop at FEMA.
If they want such a big government, why not make it bigger? Why not petition
the U.N. for earthquake disaster plans? I’ll be the first to agree that FEMA
really screwed up with Katrina (see this report on wasted money), but some of
that had to do with the inappropriate pressure put on the agency to do things
outside of their responsibilities. While Boxer and Feinstein whine on about the
need for bigger government, I’m thrilled that we have a wise man in charge of
Homeland Security.

Maybe it was just a slow news day. The next story had
one of their reporters in a rain jacket interviewing people about how cold and
overcast it was (61° and sunny at the time of the report, and we haven’t had
rain in weeks).