Helene hit Florida's Gulf Coast last week

Ok, I lied, I will reply one last time.

I never said it was easy.

What I said was this is not their first time around. Fl and FEMA have been partners on many many hurricane responses. Those lines of command had already been established, and likely have been re-affirmed through pre-hurricane season trainings.

And what I expect to happen, and what most likely did happen, is that a call or two were had with the heads of those Regions, the State managers, and FEMA managers pre-storm to work out any details that were necessary. Those managers then would share that information with their people.

If people waited until 48 hours before a storm to start planning everyone would be screwed. That just isn't how it is done.

 

And the worst are the people who say they're in the middle but who do nothing but denigrate and insult posters on the left with just occasional gentle disagreements with right-leaning posters. Those are by far the biggest hypocrites of all.

 

DeSantis is just running for Prez and enjoying all the airtime he can get.
What he says is meaningless for ops, but could be useful to populace.
Fema and EOC management have year round conversations on resources etc. unless Dezsantis severed those.
Generally it is about providing assistance while politicians take credit.

 

Here is what you actually said: That would be true if he was saying that off camera to his and FEMA crews. That sure seems like you think it would be easy, he just say can say it to the FEMA folks off camera. Not that hard.

How do you know all the same personnel are working this hurricane? FEMA has a lot of people tied up in NC, SC, GA, and western TN. What if you are getting 30% to 50% different FEMA personnel this time around? If all the FEMA personnel are not the same, how do you know lines of command have already been established? Why would you count on the heads/managers to share your guidance with their people instead of making it publicly available? If you do go the heads/managers route, why do you assume that they would have the time to be able to share that information with their people, since we are now back to the VTC scheduling issue with that.

You are making so many assumptions that are just not realistic when it comes to an operation like this. If you are right and there are all kinds of issues with Florida officials and residents obstructing FEMA personnel doing their jobs, you can come here and dunk on DeSantis ad nauseam. DeSantis is in charge and he gets to decide how he wants to run this effort and if that issue occurs, it is his fault.

 

Ok, this is the last time... and I mean it this time.

You are putting so many words in my mouth.

I never said it was easy. You misunderstanding what I said, or more likely not trying to listen to what I said, doesn't make it true.

I also wasn't saying he was going to mess anything up. Florida has lots of experience with Hurricanes.

I said he was taking a cheap shot at FEMA, and that that interview was not intended to clarify to FEMA the lines of command.

You are the one trying to claim he was "communicating to FEMA and his people that FL is in charge." Recently you admitted that it was unlikely many FEMA or FL responders even saw the interview. So you know in your heart he wasn't communicating with them, you even admit you don't like how he said it, but you just won't admit you are wrong that he wasn't trying to make a political statement.

If this comment had happened in a vacuum, it would be one thing. But Pubs have been on a anti-FEMA rampage trying to make it out as if the Dem run FEMA is incompetent.

It was just one more cheap shot at FEMA from a little Dictator wana be who is trying to position himself for another Presidential run.

 

If it is not easy and actually challenging, how would you have communicated DeSantis guidance "off camera"? I have offered several different CONOPs, which one would you choose? The fact that you cannot address this issue is why I keep responding. Just tell me how you would do it or admit that there was not a better venue to do it through.

Here is what I actually said: "I doubt they watched the press conference but I'd be shocked if almost all of them did not see the clip on social media or have it sent to them at some point during the next 24 hours." So yes, almost all the FEMA folks saw those comments and got DeSantis' guidance.

Additionally, while you think it was a cheap shot a FEMA, there is the other fact that DeSantis does not know which FEMA personnel are actually supporting this effort. As previously pointed out, a lot of FEMA personnel that were likely slated to support this effort, are still doing operations in GA/SC/NC/TN. So you likely have a lot of new FEMA folks and guess what, the Feds have a tendency to try and big foot locals when they come in. GS-15s (the equivalent of a military 0-6 - Colonel) tend to not like having to defer to locals when there is a professional disagreement over something. And I say that as someone that has worked with the Federal government for 20+ years. So reminding FEMA that they are in the supporting role, is not out of line and completely withing the rights of the leader of the supported effort.

Having experience is a good thing but it does not equate to operational success or competence every single time. Everything works until it doesn't and then the guy in charge gets blamed. I get you think DeSantis is "a little Dictator" but what you do not get is that he is acting like any supported commander would act like in this situation. I've worked for a lot of General Officers that were the supported commander that were a lot worse. If this the relief efforts for Milton are not as good and as efficient as previous efforts, DeSantis is going to have to take the blame. So once again, he gets to run this how he wants to as the supported commander. Thinking that you can just go through the motions and go by the checklists ahead of a storm and just assume everything will work out is a recipe for failure. You have to stay vigilante and ensure everyone is on the same script and that takes communicating with everyone participating in the operation.

 

Oops, someone is upset that they got called out. I've called out plenty of Right leaning posters and politicians. Sucks for you that you are a far lefty. Maybe don't be such a hypocrite. Trying to project it on others is hilarious.

 

I am back from my week helping with cleanup in Boone area. Over all things there are getting back to normal.

Boone wasn't the hardest hit area, but there was a good deal of damage, especially along the many creeks and rivers.

While there were many projects to work on, it seemed the critical needs had been taken care of.

I may head back again in a few weeks, but will likely head to Ash county where the damage was reported to be worse.