February 11, 2009 6:44 PM
- Text
Tapes Show More Katrina Confusion
A newly released videotape shows even more confusion among government officials on the day Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast.
In the new tape, Louisiana's governor is seen assuring federal emergency management officials that New Orleans' levees were holding — hours after a levee breach had been reported.
"We keep getting reports in some places that maybe water is coming over the levees," Gov. Kathleen Blanco said shortly after noon on Aug. 29 — the day the storm made landfall.
"We heard a report unconfirmed, I think, we have not breached the levee," she said on a video of the day's disaster briefing that was obtained Thursday night by The Associated Press. "I think we have not breached the levee at this time."
Blanco gave that assessment three hours after the National Weather Service had already reported a levee breach, according to a White House record.
Former FEMA director Michael Brown, who's taken much of the heat for the government's response, was asked Friday if he was misled by the governor and if this had anything to do with the delayed response to those levees being breached.
"I'm sure it caused some delay. I think the public needs to know there was some confusion, that we had reports earlier in the day of a breach," Brown told CBS News' The Early Show.
"I think the important thing to remember is in emergency management you prepare for the worst. Whether there had been a breach or topping of the levees you still need to be getting rescue people in there immediately," said Brown.
The rampant confusion is highlighted in the two Federal Emergency Management Agency video briefings, obtained this week by The Associated Press, revealing disaster plans and damage reports detailed by officials as the storm smashed into the coast.
The tapes — and particularly the pre-storm Aug. 28 video that includes an appearance by President Bush — prompted widespread criticism by Republican and Democratic lawmakers who said the government should have been better prepared for the storm that flooded New Orleans and killed more than 1,300 people.
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. In the new tape, Louisiana's governor is seen assuring federal emergency management officials that New Orleans' levees were holding — hours after a levee breach had been reported.
"We keep getting reports in some places that maybe water is coming over the levees," Gov. Kathleen Blanco said shortly after noon on Aug. 29 — the day the storm made landfall.
"We heard a report unconfirmed, I think, we have not breached the levee," she said on a video of the day's disaster briefing that was obtained Thursday night by The Associated Press. "I think we have not breached the levee at this time."
Blanco gave that assessment three hours after the National Weather Service had already reported a levee breach, according to a White House record.
Delays in confirming levee breaches held up repair efforts and have been a key issue in reviews of the government's failed response, CBS News correspondent Claudia Coffey reports.
Transcript: Aug. 28, 2005 (day before Katrina hit)
Transcript: Aug. 29, 2005
Former FEMA director Michael Brown, who's taken much of the heat for the government's response, was asked Friday if he was misled by the governor and if this had anything to do with the delayed response to those levees being breached.
"I'm sure it caused some delay. I think the public needs to know there was some confusion, that we had reports earlier in the day of a breach," Brown told CBS News' The Early Show.
"I think the important thing to remember is in emergency management you prepare for the worst. Whether there had been a breach or topping of the levees you still need to be getting rescue people in there immediately," said Brown.
The rampant confusion is highlighted in the two Federal Emergency Management Agency video briefings, obtained this week by The Associated Press, revealing disaster plans and damage reports detailed by officials as the storm smashed into the coast.
The tapes — and particularly the pre-storm Aug. 28 video that includes an appearance by President Bush — prompted widespread criticism by Republican and Democratic lawmakers who said the government should have been better prepared for the storm that flooded New Orleans and killed more than 1,300 people.
- 1
- 2
- Next Page »
Add A Comment +
Popular Now in National
- Kayaker says he survived great white shark attack
- Ill. police hunt dead bride's newlywed husband
- Family: Girl shot in Cracker Barrel died
- New effort filed to free O.J. from Nevada prison
- Court records show Zimmerman had two black eyes
- Pentagon limits F-22 fighter flights
- Illegal immigrant worked air security for 20 yrs
- Army opens jobs in combat battalions to women
- Small town bank puts people before profits
- NY racial bias frisk suit gets class action status
- FBI director confirms probe into foiled-plot leak
- New U.S. nuclear emergency plans panned
- Fla. mom gets 20 years for firing warning shots
- Fire capt. demoted for alleged Trayvon rant
- Buffalo herd on the loose in Iowa
- S.D. man pleads guilty in old grudge death
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook
on CBS News
- Clashes in western Libyan town leave 6 dead
- Syrian leader says terrorists are behind unrest
- Subaru expanding Ind. plant to increase production
- Venezuelan foreign minister stands in for Chavez
on Facebook
on CBS News
