Given the year Kansas has had, Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Major Gen. Tod Bunting were wise this week to remind everyone from public officials to ordinary Kansans to be prepared for nature’s worst. The state’s more than $1 billion in damage already this year — from western Kansas’ ice storm to the Greensburg tornado to southeast Kansas’ flooding — has tested the state’s emergency readiness. The Sept. 11 anniversary also was cause to note that authorities cannot rely on the federal dollars that flowed after the disaster. In the past four years, Kansas has seen its Department of Homeland Security grant funding shrink by 71 percent, from $29 million in 2004 to $8 million this year. That means 75 percent more money for likely targets California, New York and Washington, D.C. — dollars they need and deserve. But meanwhile, Kansas must spend less without being less safe.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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8 Comments
“be prepared for nature’s worst.”
What does that mean?
If the government can’t do everything for me, what am I supposed to do?
Someone help…
Poor “Nathan” –
You’re such a tool.
Government exists to address those issues and crises no one can be expected to deal with alone.
It’s supposed to be government of, for, and by the people.
You’ve drunk the Kool-Aid and consider government to be *them* instead of *us.*
A mile this way or that way and the Greensburg tornado would have been a big wind out on the prairie. A few miles north and the June/July rains in southeast Kansas would have been controlled by reservoirs. A couple degrees colder and the western Kansas ice storms would have been snow; a few degrees warmer and the western Kansas ice storm would have been rain.
But when s#it happens, we’re all in this together if, in fact, we’re a civilized society.
You, poor “Nathan,” happened to avoid personal hardships caused by the western Kansas ice storms or the southeast Kansas floods or the Greensburg tornado. Lucky you.
But if you think the taxpayers of Kansas will ignore you *if* you suffer from a natural catastrophe, you’re mistaken.
Even though, given your attitude, that’s exactly what you deserve.
No worry LTPFTL, it’s OKIYAR.
someone needs to ask the governor and the Major General to publicize the “readiness report” done by FEMA and DHS 2 years ago.
It will show that Kansas has failed in over a dozen areas of readiness – and it has nothing to do with the national guard shortage – it has everything to do with the lack of leadership from Sebelius and Bunting and how they are sweeping the problems under the carpet here in kansas.shame.
I guess I’m not seeing the connection with Homeland Security and natural disasters. I thought Homeland Security is supposed to combat illegal immigration and terrorism. Am I misinformed, or do I not have all the facts about Homeland Security?
TDT,
DHS absorbed FEMA, along with many other agencies, whose mission is disaster response and relief.
Poindexter,
I’m guessing this “readiness report” is public record, and if so, there’s probably a copy on the internet somewhere. Mind posting a link?
“it has everything to do with the lack of leadership from Sebelius”
Why pointy, I’m shocked, SHOCKED, I say, that you would notice such a thing.
Do you suppose that is why she is mockingly called “governor leadership”?
Her motto should be “which way did they go, and how many were there? I must know. I am their leader.”