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Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Bataan

By Jeralyn, Section Huricanes Katrina and Rita
Posted on Mon Sep 05, 2005 at 07:49:01 PM EST
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This is pretty incredible:

The Chicago Tribune reported that a huge assault ship, the USS Bataan, had been deployed in the Gulf of Mexico when the hurricane struck. Despite the fact it had six operating rooms and 600 hospital beds, and was willing to help, Fema did not use it all week.

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    Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Bataan | 14 comments (14 topical)
    Re: Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Ba (none / 0) (#1)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:18 PM EST
    It's the NaginBlancoLandriue's fault. There...beat the wingnuts to it. :)

    Re: Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Ba (none / 0) (#2)
    by Paralegal on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:19 PM EST
    Somehow, this is Clinton's fault too. You'll hear that eventually, I can envison Hannity or O'Reilly saying "well the city was below sea level when Clinton was in office and he did nothing". This admin has so many commissions and investigations but no action is taken. I just don't understand what is happening with our govt.

    Re: Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Ba (none / 0) (#3)
    by Che's Lounge on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:19 PM EST
    Do they keep any of those helicopter things on those big boats? Sure coulda used some of those last week.

    Re: Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Ba (none / 0) (#4)
    by wishful on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:19 PM EST
    I just don't understand what is happening with our govt.
    The incompetence is so perfect that it is impossible to believe that what is happening to our government is not a coordinated effort. Someone understands, but it is not for public consumption. For example, how could ALL outside rescue and emergency response be turned away by FEMA (local, faith-based, non profit, corporate, fishermen, hunters, international etc.) and local emergency communication line be cut by FEMA, and top admin personnel (Pres, VP, Sec of State, much of FEMA itself) all be on vacation and NOT RETURN for several days in the face of such human suffering? This couldn't just happen. Even the creator Himself could not arrange so many coincidences without taking an extra day of rest last week.

    Re: Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Ba (none / 0) (#5)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:19 PM EST
    My understanding, based on an MSNBC interview w/ Admiral Keating (Commanding Officer of USNORTHCOM) is that the Bataan's helo's were used for search and rescue fairly early on, but none of it's other resources were utilized. Somewhere today I read an interview w/ the Bataan's Skipper and it sure sounded as though he felt his ship was capable of contributing much more to the effort than what has so far been asked of it.

    Re: Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Ba (none / 0) (#6)
    by aw on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:19 PM EST
    The skipper is a she.

    Re: Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Ba (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:19 PM EST
    Thanks for the correction aw. Poor assumption on my part.

    Re: Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Ba (none / 0) (#8)
    by kdog on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:19 PM EST
    Look at the guy in charge of FEMA. He has no experience in disaster management. His only qualification was that he was a friend of and loyal to Bush.

    Re: Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Ba (none / 0) (#9)
    by kipling on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:20 PM EST
    I can't help feeling there's a lot more going on than meets the eye. Why were people stopped "by authorities" from leaving (e.g. by walking along the highway out)? It doesn't make sense, unless you start thinking in terms of seriously cynical conspiracies (like preventing survivors from leaving, e.g. in the case of a bio-terror or nuclear attack). Some folks are compiling lists of FEMA "failures" or negligent interference as someone put it. The whole FEMA thing stinks, frankly, but then what else would I expect from a subsidiary of Homeland Security (and we all know whose security it refers to, and in what terms).

    Re: Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Ba (none / 0) (#10)
    by SeeEmDee on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:20 PM EST
    Having been ex-military, all I can think of is the teeth-grinding frustration of the crew and the Marines on board: this is something they'd love to be challenged by. A rescue mission, a chance to really to show how skilled they are and feel they are serving their country - pi**ed away. And you have to ask: how many of those boys are native 'Looseeanans' or from 'Mis'sipee'? How do you think they felt?

    Re: Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Ba (none / 0) (#11)
    by Ernesto Del Mundo on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:20 PM EST
    The incompetence is so perfect that it is impossible to believe that what is happening to our government is not a coordinated effort.
    As much as I would like to believe they were behind an evil conspiracy I can't. Their own history has shown them to be more buffoons than villains. I know it's hard to believe, but they really are that incompetent.

    Re: Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Ba (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:20 PM EST
    Never attribute to Malice what can be more easily explained by ignorance. Though with this administration and their shills, it's a lot more difficult to do.

    Re: Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Ba (none / 0) (#13)
    by roy on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:21 PM EST
    The Bataan has a website. describing (among other things) its contribution. Make of it what you will.
    The multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) completed its sixth day of Hurricane Katrina humanitarian relief efforts in the storm-ravaged Gulf Coast region on Sunday, September 4.
    Some people are spinning the Bataan thing as a non-issue since it was in use since August 30 or so, but I can't figure out what resources of the ship were used when.

    Re: Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Ba (none / 0) (#14)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Dec 17, 2005 at 01:03:24 PM EST
    roy - You will some details here. And here. It is clear the ship was flying missions as soon as the hurricane went through - you can't fly in a hurricane. Much has been made about flying people on board for treatment. If you will read, you will see that medical teams were sent into the NO area, allowing them to treat thousands rather than the 600 bed space aboard ship.

    Another FEMA Failure: Not Deploying the USS Bataan | 14 comments (14 topical)