link dump time: progress despite politics

a big day of progress in New Orleans.... happy reading Katrina: NPR has this on surveying the damage in Mississippi (audio available) ABC News Reporters' Blog: Raw Accounts from the Front Lines of Katrina Hurricane Katrina Relief PSA: "Hello all! We have created a Public Service Announcement for the American Red Cross. Please feel free to use it as you like! Download Now Keep up the great work! :-) Tony http://www.PodCastRadioShow.com" Don Hammack, staff writer for the Sun Herald has a great blog for Katrina updates: Eyes on Katrina Avi Zenilman tackles a tough question: How do you pay for a house that no longer exists? New York Times: Hard New Test for President FirstGov.gov has set up a Hurricane Katrina Recovery page GCN has this on the Federal response: Feds mobilize recovery operations for Katrina survivors

At this time, we are directing the full range of federal resources and capabilities to assist and protect those who have born the brunt of this catastrophe,” said Homeland Security Department secretary Michael Chertoff in a statement today. He pledged the federal government will provide the sustained support and aid necessary for citizens of the Gulf Region to eventually recover and reclaim their homes and communities. The federal response includes: FEMA. The agency deployed 39 disaster medical assistance teams from across the country to staging areas in Alabama, Tennessee, Texas and Louisiana and is now moving them to impacted areas. The agency also deployed 18 urban search task forces and two incident support teams to Shreveport, La., and Jackson, Miss., as well as 8 swift-water rescue teams. Coast Guard. Coast Guard ships, boats and aircraft continue to support FEMA and state and local authorities with rescue and recovery efforts. The Coast Guard also has activated three national strike teams to help remove hazardous materials. Chertoff has authorized the recall to active duty of 550 Coast Guard reservists to support response and recovery activities. National Guard. National Guard units from the four most heavily impacted states are providing support to civil authorities. Guard units also are providing generators, medical assistance and shelters. More than 31,500 members from the four impacted states are providing assistance. Defense Department. The U.S. Northern Command is supporting the FEMA disaster relief efforts. NORTHCOM, the lead Defense Department organization for Hurricane Katrina response, is establishing a joint task force to coordinate military response in support of FEMA. Health and Human Services Department. The department has placed 415 public health service officers on stand-by for deployment. Transportation Department. The department has dispatched a team of 66 transportation experts to support state and local officials in assessing damage to highways, railroads, transit systems, ports and pipelines. The department also is supporting detour planning and critical transportation system repairs. Agriculture Department. The Forest Service has assigned 10 management and logistical teams and seven 20-person crews to the affected areas and host communities. These resources are intended to assist in setting up logistics staging areas, distributing food and removing debris. Labor Department. Region VI has deployed its Emergency Response Team to Baton Rouge to assess the situation and provide assistance to recovery workers and utility employers engaged in power restoration. Treasury Department. The IRS has announced special relief for taxpayers in the Presidential Disaster Areas, which will give them until October 31 to file tax returns and submit payments. Small Business Administration. The SBA will position loan officers in federal and state disaster recovery centers. SBA also will provide help to other states in the eastern half of the country where the storm may lead to disaster area declarations.

Top Knight Ridder Execs Describe Visit to Biloxi CBS News set up a Katrina Disaster Blog NationalGeographic.com has video explaining: Why New Orleans Is Vulnerable to Hurricanes USNews.com asks: Why not more preparation? The San Diego Union-Tribune: Terror priority hampered FEMA Belleville News-Democrat: terror focus delays FEMA response Herald.com: Terror war may have hurt storm response Katrina reminded Iowans about their own experiences with FEMA while under Allbaugh's direction: QCTimes.com - The big question can wait

"In 2003, Congress approved a White House proposal to cut FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) in half. Previously, the federal government was committed to invest 15 percent of the recovery costs of a given disaster in mitigating future problems. Under the Bush formula, the feds now cough up only 7.5 percent." [from Liberals Against Terrorism: Rising tide]

From The Washington Post: Planning, Response Are Faulted FT.com makes the argument that Bush's policies have crippled disaster response