FEMA's "Toxic Bureaucracy"
FEMA's been under fire from critics who claim the Gulf Coast recovery is moving too slowly. Now FEMA officials said they're investigating allegations of serious misconduct at the New Orleans office. CBS News has learned workers there accuse their bosses of intentionally holding up Katrina aid.
The day Hurricane Katrina hit Slidell, La., in 2005, more than six feet of tidal surge flooded the city's downtown. Today Slidell mayor Ben Morris is still running city hall - out of a trailer.
"When the train goes by, it shakes," Morris said.
All because of endless delays, caused by FEMA, he says, which just last month delayed money for rebuilding yet again, CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports exclusively.
"It's been an indescribable nightmare that most people would not believe," Morris explained.
Today, nearly $4 billion intended to rebuild the Gulf Coast remain unspent. That's 68 percent of the $6 billion promised by FEMA.
This is leaving hundreds of projects, like a police station in New Orleans, and the Charity Hospital, waiting.
Now, a CBS News investigation has uncovered what more than a dozen current and former employees say is one key reason help isn't getting to those in need.
They point to a FEMA office in downtown New Orleans, which is responsible for distributing the money. They say the way the office is managed is itself a disaster.
Three senior level staff people - who still work for FEMA - fear they will lose their jobs for speaking out. CBS News agreed to protect their identities.
Keteyian asked one employee to describe the atmosphere in the office.
And in the last year, more than 30 complaints have been filed against one man - chief of staff Doug Whitmer - including charges of sexual harassment.
"The harassment, the equal rights - violations that are currently taking place over there, this office is slowing down the recovery in this region." said one former FEMA employee.
And slowing down the recovery - these former employees charge - is exactly what some senior managers at the New Orleans FEMA office want.
Cao said the New Orleans FEMA office needs to be investigated.
"They're more worried about their own positions in FEMA, their own salaries," Cao said. "Than the recovery process down here."
CBS News wanted to speak with Doug Whitmer or Jim Stark, his boss. Stark opened up this morning in Washington. He denied there was any intentional slow down of the recovery process.
"I find that pretty offensive, Armen," said Stark. "I live in New Orleans, I've lived there for six years. I joined FEMA to help my community to recover."
"Does that trouble you in any way that one man has 30 complaints in the last year against him, employment-related?" Keteyian asked.
"I am concerned for the people that may have been abused," Stark responded. "We'll have to see."
"The word that has been used with us is 'toxic.' That the atmosphere in your office right now is toxic," Keteyian said.
"Then we'll take steps to fix it," Stark said.
Gulf Coast resident shouldn't expect FEMA's recovery work to end here anytime soon.
Employees say they've been told to expect it to go on for as long as 15 years.
Copyright 2009 CBS. All rights reserved. The day Hurricane Katrina hit Slidell, La., in 2005, more than six feet of tidal surge flooded the city's downtown. Today Slidell mayor Ben Morris is still running city hall - out of a trailer.
"When the train goes by, it shakes," Morris said.
All because of endless delays, caused by FEMA, he says, which just last month delayed money for rebuilding yet again, CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian reports exclusively.
"It's been an indescribable nightmare that most people would not believe," Morris explained.
Today, nearly $4 billion intended to rebuild the Gulf Coast remain unspent. That's 68 percent of the $6 billion promised by FEMA.
This is leaving hundreds of projects, like a police station in New Orleans, and the Charity Hospital, waiting.
Now, a CBS News investigation has uncovered what more than a dozen current and former employees say is one key reason help isn't getting to those in need.
They point to a FEMA office in downtown New Orleans, which is responsible for distributing the money. They say the way the office is managed is itself a disaster.
Three senior level staff people - who still work for FEMA - fear they will lose their jobs for speaking out. CBS News agreed to protect their identities.
Keteyian asked one employee to describe the atmosphere in the office.
Keteyian: Cronyism?CBS News has learned that since January 1, nearly 80 employment-related complaints have been filed by staff at the office.
FEMA employee: Yes.
Keteyian: Sexual harassment?
FEMA employee: Yes.
Keteyian: Racial discrimination?
FEMA employee: Yes.
Keteyian: Intimidation?
FEMA employee: Yes.
Keteyian: Retaliation?
FEMA employee: Yes.
And in the last year, more than 30 complaints have been filed against one man - chief of staff Doug Whitmer - including charges of sexual harassment.
"The harassment, the equal rights - violations that are currently taking place over there, this office is slowing down the recovery in this region." said one former FEMA employee.
And slowing down the recovery - these former employees charge - is exactly what some senior managers at the New Orleans FEMA office want.
Keteyian: But what's in it for them? To slow this process ..."Shame on FEMA," said Rep. Joseph Cao, R-La.
Former FEMA employee: They're making ... over $100,000 plus a pension in some cases.
Keteyian: So they've taken a natural disaster and turned it into a huge boondoggle for themselves?
Former FEMA employee: In my opinion, yes.
Cao said the New Orleans FEMA office needs to be investigated.
"They're more worried about their own positions in FEMA, their own salaries," Cao said. "Than the recovery process down here."
CBS News wanted to speak with Doug Whitmer or Jim Stark, his boss. Stark opened up this morning in Washington. He denied there was any intentional slow down of the recovery process.
"I find that pretty offensive, Armen," said Stark. "I live in New Orleans, I've lived there for six years. I joined FEMA to help my community to recover."
"Does that trouble you in any way that one man has 30 complaints in the last year against him, employment-related?" Keteyian asked.
"I am concerned for the people that may have been abused," Stark responded. "We'll have to see."
"The word that has been used with us is 'toxic.' That the atmosphere in your office right now is toxic," Keteyian said.
"Then we'll take steps to fix it," Stark said.
Gulf Coast resident shouldn't expect FEMA's recovery work to end here anytime soon.
Employees say they've been told to expect it to go on for as long as 15 years.
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If the neocons ever get back in government, then maybe the same incompetence and corruption and lies that came from the Bushies will reappear.
Bush and his inept appointed officials were more worried about paying off their supporters than getting a job done.
The Obama administration and the Democratic Congress are just now starting to expose the corruption, rot, and incompetence that was the conservative GOP Bush administration.
Hold on folks, there will be even more GOP failures that come to light.
6.9 Billion dollars that is being held hostage is for the CITY not the citizens.
1) Fix Charity Hospital so there is a) an active ER in the city, and b) a Public Hospital
- I guess Jill doesnt believe New Orlean American citizens arent supposed to have a hospital.
2) Public Works : Replace miles of broken water pipes, streets and street lights.
- I guess Jill thinks New Orlean Americans arent allowed to have a fixed water system, repaired streets and street lights
3) Fix the Fire Houses: there are only 3 working firehouses in New Orleans Proper.
- I guess Jill taht Tax Paying New Orleanians aren't allowed fire protection
4) Fix the Police Stations: over half of the police stations were destroyed, currently, the New Orlean's Police are working out of TRAILORS!
- I guess JILL doesnt believe we have a right to police protection
5) Rebuild the Public Schools - most were destroyed, including private schools.
- I guess Jill doesn't want New Orleanian Children access to education.
Fact: Most home owning New Orleanian's had flood insurance, sadly that flood insurance rate was based on the Army Corp's flood maps. Those maps were very wrong. Thus, there is a gap between what the insurance will pay - if they pay at all - caused by the army corpes FAILURE to acknowledge a well known fact: The LEvees were going to fail.
_ But JILL believes its our fault we didn't have enough insurance.
Fact: To help the home owners fill the gap between their insurance and the actual damage, the Federal goverment credited the Road Home Program.
- But JIL believes its fair to short change tax paying american citizens.
6.9 Billion dollars of OUR money is being held back by FEMA - but to JILL that's okay
Katrina did not destroy my HOME. The army corpes of engineers failure to respond to a known fact: The levees were poorly designed and built completely wrong.
That is what destroyed the city.
And where is Bush's tax incentive for Business to remain or come to the city? Never Happened.
We can get food and water to the tsunami victims in less than 24 hours, but we couldn't take care of our own citizens...I find that frightening.
Because the fact is: there will be another disaster. and WE ARE NOT PREPARED.
Jill, get off your high horse. New Orleaniaqns are American, tax paying, voting citizens who have teh same rights as you.
And, without New Orleans, teh State would have no real income as we remain one of the major gulf ports.
And those are facts that are not disputeable!
Nawlins Dean
5) Fix the COurt building and recover criminal evidence
Posted by cdwalker
you are if you think government can fix it