Dean: Four Years Later, America Still Not Prepared to Deal with Disaster

WASHINGTON - DNC Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement on the fourth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001:

"Today, we remember the great loss suffered by the victims, their families and loved ones on September 11, 2001, but we also remember the heroism, generosity and spirit of our first responders and ordinary Americans. We remember the patriotism and unity we felt in the aftermath of that horrible day when we came together as one community.

"Some four years after the most violent terrorist attack on American soil, we were horrified by images from the worst natural disaster in American history. And again we saw America at its best, coming together to try and bring some measure of comfort to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

"Unfortunately, when the skies cleared, the catastrophe was just beginning. In addition to the painful reminders about poverty that the storm uncovered, it also uncovered frightening questions as to whether or not our nation is adequately prepared to handle the aftermath of a large scale incident. Too many questions remain as to why, despite the experience of mobilizing a large-scale relief and recovery effort after 9/11, the federal government struggled to assist in evacuation and search-and-rescue efforts, and the flow of food, bottled water and other desperately needed supplies were bogged down in a tangled mess of red tape.

"Sadly, the federal government's lack of preparation followed by its inept response had deadly consequences for far too many Americans in Katrina's path. Today is a day not just to remember the violence of four years ago. It's also a day to remember the lessons of that terrible day and our promise that we won't ever let it happen again. The American people are counting on their leaders in Washington, DC to do better."

Put to Katrina's Test

After 9/11, a master plan for disasters was drawn. It didn't weather the storm.

From Times Staff Writers
Los Angeles Times
September 11, 2005

It was conceived as the solution to confusion and bureaucratic logjams that hampered responses to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks -- a 426-page master plan to coordinate government agencies in a disaster.

When it was unveiled amid fanfare in January, the Department of Homeland Security's National Response Plan promised "vastly improved coordination among federal, state, local and tribal organizations to help save lives" from storms, floods, earthquakes or terrorist assaults.

Hurricane Katrina turned out to be its first real-world test -- but the plan broke down soon after the monster winds blew in.

To read the entire story, go to: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-plan11sep11,0,5859497,full.story?coll=la-home-headlines

Revising 9/11

Editorial
New York Times
September 11, 2005

On the first three anniversaries of Sept. 11, 2001, the nation had the grim luxury of uncluttered memory. We looked back on that day's events as the most terrible thing that could happen on American soil. Today, we are cursed with an unwanted expansion of that vision.

It took a day or two after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast to understand that it could affect our feelings about what happened at the World Trade Center, at the Pentagon and in rural Pennsylvania. After all, the people who died on Sept. 11 were murdered by other human beings. Katrina's malevolence was only a metaphor, no matter how damaging its winds. But by the time the hurricane died down and the floodwaters stopped rising, it became clear that this hurricane would force us to revise 9/11, which, until now, had defined the limits of tragedy in America.

To read the entire editorial, go to: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/11/opinion/11sun1.html