Who is in charge? At 10:02 cst tonight Mayor Nagin stated

[Horse with no Name]

"Nagin also said that currently there is no martial law in the city of New Orleans, but he may order it on Wednesday."

However, according to earlier reports, FEMA reported martial law was in effect?

WTF is going on?

http://www.wdsu.com/weather/4917809/detail.html

[Maple]

1. Everyone is in charge, and no one

There is no coordination. No clear command structure.

The choppers meant to bring in sandbags to shore up the levee got diverted to search and rescue.

FEMA can override a mayor.

Hey, local, state and federal people don't even have the same radio equipment, so they can't communicate.

[pacifictiger]

6. so that would indicate

that Homeland Security, (supposed among other things to address the communication failures during 9/11) has failed to deliver its first test of how to handle a major disaster!!!!

[Maple]

11. They're involved too

however they don't seem to be coordinated either.

Within themselves, or with anybody else.

Like the mayor said...too many chiefs...so consequently nothing gets done...or gets done badly.

[Tace]

2. Seems Like A Perfect Situation For Selective Enforcement

[redacted]

3. Same as the levee repair -- no one in charge

[liberalpragmatist]

4. Some parishes tried to declare martial law

However, there's no provision for martial law in the Louisiana constitution so it was revoked. (At least that's what I read on the NYT website).

[tjdee]

5. See, this is where Rudy "control freak" Giuliani came in handy.

This might be as worrisome as the actual damage, FEMA overriding the mayor, not informing the mayor, etc.

Hopefully they get it together soon.

[expatriot]

8. No, this is usually where a FUCKING PRESIDENT comes in handy.

nt

[tjdee]

9. Well yeah...Bush was in office then too...

I think Nagin is less of an asshole than Giuliani--but I think he's learning quickly how to handle things when your "president" is a cretin.

[tjdee]

7. Also, does the FEMA director know WTF he's doing?

Wasn't he hired because he's a loyal Bushie?

[Horse with no Name]

10. same one who played everything down tonight as hype and rumors

said he had been out all day and didn't see one dead body.
Also promised they would "tell the truth" "as they knew it"
Which means we are in for a massive coverup.

[wli]

12. that's about the size of it

Can't let those budget cuts leak. Got to scrub those websites, you know?