Florida response saved lives, Gov. Bush says (lashed out at GC officials) [View All]

[sabra]

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/politics/content/state/epaper/2005/09/15/a11a_kat_gov_0915.html

Florida response saved lives, Gov. Bush says
By Dara Kam


TALLAHASSEE — Without naming names, Gov. Jeb Bush lashed out at Gulf Coast officials on Wednesday after he visited Southern Mississippi, rattling off a list of how Florida would have responded differently to Hurricane Katrina.

"Our special-needs population would have been given a direct opportunity door-to-door to be in a shelter. We would have evacuated the vulnerable areas on the coastline in mobile homes and the low-lying areas significantly earlier. Our hospitals would have been evacuated. Our nursing homes would not have been left," he said after returning to the capital.

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"We don't massive-shelter in a place that doesn't have food and water. I don't know how you do that. That would be inappropriate." Bush said.

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"A governor of any state knows his state better than a FEMA director. Or a general," he said. "If this is a high priority for our state, which it is, it requires our leadership and our responsibility and then we need to be held accountable."