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For Immediate Release
February 15, 2006 |
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Katrina Panel Releases Report
on Hurricane Failures
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, the Select Bipartisan
Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response
to Hurricane Katrina released a 600 page report, detailing
90 findings on the government’s planning and response
failures in dealing with the storm.
Congressman Christopher Shays (R-CT) is a member of the Select
Committee and visited the Gulf Coast days after the hurricane
hit [http://www.house.gov/shays/news/2005/september/septvisit.htm]
The report can be found at: http://www.katrina.house.gov/
“This report underscores what we have long known:
our government failed at all levels in planning for and responding
to Hurricane Katrina. The White House was clearly in a fog,
Secretary Chertoff was totally detached and Michael Brown
was negligent. Governor Blanco was not decisive and Mayor
Nagin fueled the rumor mills with inaccurate information,”
Shays said.
“Despite the Hurricane Pam exercise, which warned us
a year before the storm that a level 4 hurricane could cause
a breach of the levees, and despite the National Weather Service’s
forecasts, which warned us of the enormity of this storm days
before it hit, we didn’t take the precautions that were
necessary to save lives,” he continued. “This
was a storm of Biblical proportions, but the loss of life
could have been stemmed with smarter, more decisive action.
“I am disappointed we do not appear to have learned
many lessons from September 11. This report is just the latest
example of the fact that those who do not learn from history
are doomed to repeat it. Congresswoman Maloney and I are continuing
to draft legislation to implement the remaining 9-11 Commission
recommendations and will continue to work hard for reforms
that not only increase human communication and accountability,
but improve technological and logistical effectiveness,”
he concluded.
Click here to read Congressman
Shays' opening statement
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