The Mahablog: 09/14/05

August 30

Knight Ridder reporters Jonathan S. Landay, Alison Young and Shannon McCaffrey report that Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff is at least as guilty as former FEMA head Michael Brown for the delays in federal Hurricane Katrina response.

The federal official with the power to mobilize a massive federal response to Hurricane Katrina was Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, not the former FEMA chief who was relieved of his duties and resigned earlier this week, federal documents reviewed by Knight Ridder show.

Even before the storm struck the Gulf Coast, Chertoff could have ordered federal agencies into action without any request from state or local officials. Federal Emergency Management Agency chief Michael Brown had only limited authority to do so until about 36 hours after the storm hit, when Chertoff designated him as the "principal federal official" in charge of the storm.

The memo suggests Chertoff was confused about his role and responsibilities. He seemed to think the role of the Department of Homeland Security was only to assist the Administration with its response to Hurricane Katrina.