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Former FEMA director Michael Brown argues the public will not learn from Hurricane Sandy or past natural disasters when it comes to fully preparing th...
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OK sandy wreck Havoc on the northeast leaving floods fires devastation in its wake in -- some residents were left.
No power no heat no water no gas no means of communications cell tower didn't work is it.
In these natural disasters many depend on Federal Emergency Management Agency -- about to help them get their necessities.
But some -- former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani said in this case FEMA did not do its job.
I think that that -- is.
Is as much a failure now is it was that could -- Katrina I do not understand why there's not enough water in New York.
Joining me now former -- -- director Michael Browne.
Is is seen oversold as some sort of Florence Nightingale comes running in and it takes care of everybody automatically or I've never thought of -- as -- first responder.
Welcome that that is a great way to start out because FEMA is not a first responder.
But to go to the mayor's -- -- I think what did surprise me here was.
This was this was no different than any other hurricane other than it was hitting -- densely populated.
Place that they that we're not accustomed to them -- So there should have been water there should -- -- -- all the things that we always pre positioned should've been pre positioned so I think there's -- There was a disconnect of some sort between FEMA.
And the state and local governments because our -- heard Mayor Bloomberg for example talking about evacuations are heard Governor Christie talking about.
Evacuations but.
That's great but what about the details where is the water where -- the communications across the kind of -- that this was that it broke down when we should have known better.
Well and and and that was where of course you -- your fame by getting criticized for of the Katrina response.
-- but but at the same time this was a different like you said a different type of storm we had people.
Elderly people in high rise apartments in -- in Manhattan that couldn't go up and down the stairs they had no water.
They had no power they couldn't get -- they couldn't get food I mean it was a different kind of response and I look and I go the same thing you got criticized for.
Was actually the governor of Louisiana the mayor of New Orleans they were.
Quietly.
Criticized is that.
Is that really where the criticism needs to go is to the local officials.
It it really does because.
Again I mean this is like a replay from seven years ago if you go back and you look at my discussions with -- of your colleagues on Fox Business new and on the Fox News Channel.
You heard me talking about expect power to be out -- of Manhattan and the surrounding environs for.
Maybe 72 hours but I would really bet that there are some places will be without power for up to seven or ten days there when you think about.
The the infrastructure of that there that part of the country as you say high rises densely populated.
People should have been thinking about that ahead of time it's not rocket science.
So now they will.
Now -- well I mean if there had been well the weather because they radar pattern for the next ten years do you expect them to have learned a huge lesson from the.
Tom I don't think so there and that's the frustrating part for me is a garden still studies these kinds of disasters and -- respond and react to them.
I I blames state local and federal officials but I continue to say to the American public.
Don't expect the government to be their first responder.
If you wanna be safe if you wanna have power if you wanna have water if you wanna be you know screaming into -- television camera work well water we're -- in more -- You need to take care about yourself.
And I would say even more so when you live in a place like New York City and the surrounding and violence.
Well it -- a look at the broader the broader subject is the fact a lot of people have been trained and rely upon the government to be.
Everything to them and and in this particular case.
I feel we got plenty of warning I feel we were told make sure you have three days worth of supplies -- like you said.
Maybe a week or two.
A lot of people did not heed them.
They they didn't you know here's the news that absolutely astonishes me -- Is when you think about the amount of warning -- -- we watch this hurricane what we what's really irritating -- Work its way up from you know the Caribbean up the Florida coast of the Carolina coast.
We we knew it was going into New York this is what -- -- the kind of storm that we predicted you know some ten years ago -- was likely to occur sometime.
It's just that.
Nobody ever wants to believe it's going to happen to them and second as you so eloquently stated everybody believes -- -- that the federal government.
Can and will -- who have died and they're gonna take care of everybody and there is just inherently impossible.
So.
Why -- why do you get so much Greece.
Why isn't the current FEMA director getting any grief.
Well but my personal theory is this -- my boss was George W.
Bush.
-- -- -- Losses brought cobalt.
Draw your own conclusions I think I think it's just.
It's a matter of -- the media playing politics.
As -- -- on this station -- settled on yours on on Fox News also.
That Fox News and Fox Business were actually covering what was going on.
While the other parts of the -- some of the networks.
We're just covering the fly in and say hello and things are going great and then moving -- you know -- kudos -- to fox for actually.
Getting down and dirty in covering what's really happening here.
-- are you surprised by the post election.
Analysis that said.
The president showing up in New Jersey actually helped him in the election.
I'm not sure yes I'm surprised by -- I'm not sure I believe that.
But I will say this kind of -- the obviously apparent you've been criticized prior to that -- might have had some.
Nominal effect on the election but I think you would have caused some people -- Maybe there really isn't anything here.
And in terms of the substance of what he's doing -- but it might have had some affect.
But all presidents.
Do that in -- it's one of those things words if the president doesn't go do a disaster area they get criticized -- they do go.
They get criticized for photo -- so it's they're you know they're there in between a hard spot Iraq.
They are -- let me give you some new option there.
You remember the iconic photograph of of George Bush look ago when Dover air -- -- yesterday was criticized for that photographed.
Let me explain why I think he was criticized because he failed to land.
I was on the ground screaming -- through productively Air Force One.
What actually landed in Baton Rouge and the reason for that was he -- landed in Baton Rouge outside the disaster zone.
That he could deliver the message and I think should be delivered and in new York and -- this disaster -- does not being delivered and that is this.
President saying to his cabinet.
When the FEMA director so there's a need XYZ I want you to move heaven and earth to -- -- FEMA director gets what he needs.
That's what the president should have done yet -- and I think that he did but I don't think that message -- Through Michael Brown always good to gauger -- your input thank you so much for joining us.
Thanks for talking to -- --
