Comments on: Saying Katrina destroyed New Orleans is like saying traffic destroyed the Minneapolis bridge

By: Ford

Ford — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:30:57 +0000

Stupid arguments on in favor of New Orleans. Its obvious that New Orleans is a horrible place and does not need to exist. Sure 40% of the country may or may not be protected by levies. I do not care. What is obvious is that US taxpayers should not pay for New Orleans to be rebuilt. Texas is much better anyway! Stay there!

By: Sadie Hebert

Sadie Hebert — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:06:39 +0000

Some of you are just so heartless. Why doesn’t everyone stop pointing fingers and work together to make this area a better place to live? Please see our story posted at http://katrinasos.wordpress.com/.

By: Jim

Jim — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:04:50 +0000

The Sierra Club did not sue the Corps in
any FEMA trailer matter, apparently,
but it or ( it’s proxies) has sued the Corps in
cases in which
Dr Seed filed materials for the Corps, that
is Ray Seed’s father.
The Sewer Districts were responsible
for intercity canals, but maybe the La
Senators can get the U S taxpayers to
foot so many tabs, now that the Corps
rubber stamped so many PE’s drawings/ plans
in La who did the actual design work
that was not up to par.
Why would any in La want
that disclosed, when Corp of Engineer
rubber stamps are so easy to get in La….?
At least, no evidence supports the
claim the Corps designed FEMA
supplied trailers.
The names covered up are private engineers
who got design jobs, and got federal
monies.
The Corps knows that, too.

By: JESSE FINERAN

JESSE FINERAN — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:08:18 +0000

Becky Gillette & Sierra Club’s effort brought this issue to attention of congressional investigative committees. Becky is also responsible for http://www.toxictrailers.com. It is the general consensus of the FEMA victims that the OIG report was a softball attempt to demonstrate that FEMA did something wrong without coming close to opening any door providing accountability in Recovery agencies. FEMA and CDC behavior will likely have long term heath effects on many that stayed in trailers for long periods. The congressional investigations produced emails between the players in FEMA, the committees e-published the emails. This pointed to more evidence that FEMA, OSHA, EPA and CDC obscured the dangers of formaldehyde from the survivors occupants. These survivors have become victims of agency CYA policies. It is an inter fact that FEMA refers to disaster survivors as victims. February 2008 CDC was required to come clean about the IAQ danger in trailers because of a CDC whistleblower. The OIG report does appear to show that OSHA/FEMA was aware of problem before FEMA claims they were aware of any IAQ issues. FEMA knew the occupants were suffering and did nothing but protect itself.

By: Norm

Norm — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:01:53 +0000

I ran toxic trailers through google, and this really struck me:
Quote from the SITE:
“One thing the really bothers me(THE WWW SITE AUTHOR) about the recent Inspector General report criticizing FEMA for failing to respond to the problems with formaldehyde in FEMA housing is that names of the people who covered up and delayed for FEMA were not named and are not being required to take responsibility for their actions. Names aren’t used (like the name of the person in FEMA who received results of Sierra Club tests showing high formaldehyde levels two years before FEMA took action), only titles. No one who is responsible for Brittany’s illness and the illnesses and deaths of many others has so much has had a hand slapped. Meanwhile, families struggle with medical bills and the anguish of lives cut short.”

source:
http://www.toxictrailers.org/

Notice the names of the ones involved from the Corps who botched things so badly are never named, it is the Gov, or the USACE.
But the ASCE is real good at never naming names, they are too busy scratching backs.
What were the names of people in the USACE Engineering branch(ETC), are they nameless..
Sad, so many died, and Congress has no clue of what the names are of the USACE people… who >>>>>>>
FILL in the blanks….
Your point is not missed by some, Jesse…

By: JESSE FINERAN

JESSE FINERAN — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:04:32 +0000

You might find

http://www.toxictrailer.com

interesting.

By: Norm

Norm — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:59:44 +0000

Thanks, Jesse:
You notice whenever any sue FEMA, or the COE, the DOJ files enldess motions to get rid of the suits, often so soom poor harmed person never ges his day in Court.
That seems to be what is happening in the matter you referenced.
THE DOJ will motion the matter to death.

I am not disputing what you say, the COE is good a burying things in its many obfuscations, but the DOJ is even better at filing motions to stop most citizens from even getting their day in court–on the merits of the matters where they have been harmed.
However, Judge Duvall may not fall for all the DOJ running interference for the COE–these time on some things.
If you have material info, bring it out, if you are a witness stand up, if you know something you feel you have a civic duty to shine sunshine on, let it come out.
Don’t let any scare you off Jess, step up to the plate, raise your right hand, and tell it like it is(in a forum that counts), if it helps some citizen.
You know more on the trailer matters than most, GOOD LUCK

By: JESSE FINERAN

JESSE FINERAN — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:33:53 +0000

Norm, thx for links. Could not open CE pages. In Mississippi Bechtel was preferred contractor for FEMA and USACE trailer related contracts. I am aware that Fluors did construct two parks in Hancock county. Trailer related litigation can be tracked on US District Court, Eastern District site.
http://www.laed.uscourts.gov/FEMA07md1873/FEMAtrailer.htm
It was my understanding that FEMA requested USACE to provide Spec for blocking and strapping of travel because FEMA legal was concerned that unsecured units were a FEMAs legal exposure with RITA in the Gulf.
What I am referring is a wall type structure with several sliding gates or walls that run between the IC and the container facility. I was reviewing some Mid Sept. 2005 fly over photos showing that these movable devices in the same location can be seen in did pre-Katrina satellite images. After 4 years, I can’t seem to find anyone interested in these photos and/or willing /able to provide a answer this question. I am simply interested in the truth and find the CE inspired explanations a bit difficult to accept.

By: Norm

Norm — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:02:13 +0000

Jesse et al:

The New Republic did a piece on the US-COE, and its political hustlers, and notes the Industrial Canal

SEE;

http://84.395.93.562/search?q=cache:o7BLuhhTYbkJ:www.tnr.com/article/new-orleans/progmation+industrial+canal+new+orleans+short+cut+oil&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&ie=UTF-8

The US-COE works in a climate of hustlers, hucksters, and those who store hard cold cash in their freezer, some of those Craw Daddy Gulf Congressmen, and King Fisher Senators who lord if over the FOLKS.
But, any mention, then the local News( hype-club) paper will point to some COE contract specialists in Afgan, who accepted bribes to stir deals to her SIS.
And, a contract specialist is not even an engineer, most likley, as is the same with a floodgate operator.
Ya, Jesse, it is a damn mess.
Funny you noted whistleblowers, and names.
Aren’t those branded as RATS in the Command
columns, but you spokeup, like no big secret.( The Major, and his Stripes)
The more people(Congress/ L-Org etc) hear from citizens the better for America.
Most curious, you mentioned the Industrial Canal, as millions around the world watched in 2005, utterly shocked at what was going on, who before never knew anything about it.
They are learning more, even now 2009, and are just as shocked.

By: Norm

Norm — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:28:48 +0000

Jesse:
You are not the only one in the news:
How about this, (FROM AP)
“Critics say the probes, commissioned and funded by federal agencies, were more about covering up human and agency misdeeds than determining what went wrong with the failed structures.

Last month, the society’s Task Force on Engineering Reviews said Reston, Va.-based ASCE should draw up an ethics policy to eliminate questions of possible conflicts of interest.

The panel started work after Raymond Seed, a levee expert with the University of California-Berkeley, sent a 42-page letter to ASCE in October 2007 accusing it of colluding with the Army Corps of Engineers to cover up engineering flaws found after Katrina struck in August 2005. Seed was on an independent levee investigation team funded by the National Science Foundation.

Seed’s team said corps and ASCE reports placed too much blame on the power of Katrina and did not spend enough time studying design flaws. The independent team also complained that the Army Corps and ASCE team obstructed access to data and tried to keep them away from the site of one of the major levee failures.

The letter also revived accusations that ASCE’s examination of the World Trade Center collapse was flawed. Critics have charged the group wrongly concluded the skyscrapers could not have been designed to withstand aircraft strikes.

Source:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008288505_apembattledengineers.html

In August of 2005, wind determined the flow paramaters of water in from the Lake.
Wind caused the surge of waters to lift off the normal lake level some significant number of feet.
It is a bit more complex than a drainage canal in the Delta.
It is ironic, Seed(Ray) wrote a memorial piece for his dad that noted his dad received more awards from the ASCE than any member in its history.
If you have a beef with enginers, hay, no skin off my nose, we know that engineers can’t walk on water, at least if it is not frozen.
And, in August in New Orleans water is not frozen.