i read that one of the intentions of the working with the subject matter is that you wanted to use katrina s an analogy to the federal government's performance as regulating the financial crisis? >> that sounds so didactic as a room clearer. i think there is an analogy that needs to be made. if any character would to say anything that directly, it would be cut out of the script. new orleans was hit with a category 2, not even a category 3 hurricane. if you tell anybody from new orleans and say they were drowned by a hurricane, they will get mad at you. their city was drowned by shoddy workmanship and bad decisions in terms of transportation policy and the ineffectiveness of congress in terms of dealing with mississippi river issues. this is our country and you compare it to the dutch which has been able to keep their country out of the north sea for generations. it is humiliating. if you think about those canal walls, how badly they were built, how much corruption went into the poor maintenance and poor planning of them, and you think about the sec and all of the regulation that was not th

difficult time in our state in responding to 2005 hurricanes kachina and rita, the landfall of us katrina, it had to close and our united way of northeast louisiana began taking all the 211 calls that were directed from new orleans and overnight we have expanded from a four person call center to 65 person 211, we had additional support that was outstanding. from 211 call specialists around america, 25 states send people to our committee and there were hundreds of local volunteers who responded. as a result of that in monroe, 211 responded to more than a hundred 11,000 calls in two months. mccaul volume peaked at 7,000 the day that rita hit. after 2005 we were even better prepared for 2008. going into the hurricane season of 2008, we have a partially integrated telephony, statewide disaster plan, centralized disaster database, and 24 hours a day seven day a week average. 211 louisiana answer more than 117,000 calls between hurricane gustav hitting on august 31st of september 16th of 2008. in the peak of that, we were assisted by the 211 system in california which was invaluable in expandin

read that one of the intentions of you working it that subject matter is youd to -- you wanted to use katrina as making analogy with the federal government's response in writing ahead a a financial crisis? >> that sounds so die deck tick as to be a room clearer. >> no, true or no? >> i think there's an analogy to be made. but if any character were to say anything that directly it would be cut out of the script. but it is true. new orleans was hit with a category 2, a high category 2, not even a category 3 hurricane. the hurricane, if you tell people from new orleans that their city was drowned by a hurricane, they'll get very angry with you and rightly so. their city was drowned by the corps of engineers and by shoddy workmanship and stuff that wasn't built to code and bad decisions in terms of transportation policy. and the ineffectiveness of congress in terms of dealing with mississippi river issues. you know, this is our

did i read that one of the intentions of you working with the subject matter is you want to use katrinaf making an analogy to the federal government's performance with let's say regulating the head of the financial crisis? is that correct? >> that sounds so it didactic as to be a room clearer. [laughter] >> we're still here. >> i think there is an analogy to be made in of a character to say anything that directly it would be cut out of the script, but it is true. new orleans was hit with a category two, high category two. not even in category three hurricane. the hurricane, if you tell people from new orleans their city was john by a hurricane there will get very angry and rightly so. their city was drowned by a corps of engineers and by shoddy workmanship and stuff that wasn't built to code. in bad decisions in terms of the transportation policy. the ineffectiveness of congress in terms of dealing with mississippi river issues. this is our country and you compare to the dutch to have managed to keep most of their country out of the north sea for generations. it is humiliating. and if y

we know the international help that came to us during hurricane katrina, we know what we ask with the tsunami, this is a terrorist tsunami. and i want to say that the government, albeit we disagree with its strength, i believe they love democracy. these conditions that may be opposed will workity way through congress but if we didn't -- work its way through congress but if we didn't act today we would continue to have the burials of so many people that are going on in this country. the kind of massive bombing that the terrorists think they can do to intimidate the people of pakistan. so as a co-chair of the pakistan caucus, i am grateful that we made a first step. i want the american people to know that your neighbors are pakistani-americans, they are doctors, they are lawyers, they are entrepreneurs, they are retailers, they love this country and they want to help their country as well. i am glad we made this first step. let me move quickly to a domestic issue and put an exclamation point on what we did right for pakistan and say that i stand here today and support a restoration and

telephony capacity to be connected -- we are very blessed that people gave after hurricane katrina, to give us the opportunity to flip a switch and move this around. this is absolutely incredible. but the capacity. technology is just critical. >> if you can take this down for a moment and leave the state issue -- uic that new york has some serious problems in the highly urbanized area? new york and new jersey? is that pennsylvania? and is that kentucky -- is this west virginia? >> this is delaware. >> further out -- >> this is the western states. the reason i raise this issue is because the predictions is that the feeling about this season, because the storms have been so intense, there is a feeling that this is the time of the eastern coast, and i want to reinforce that i know that people in the northeast have not had a storm in a long time but there are significant studies, showing what will happen if there is. this is not a pretty picture. in 1938 there was a major storm on long island, think about what the population was back then, and what this is today. 80 years later. i am asking you, y

us is the telephony capacity to be connected. we are very blessed in louisiana that there was donors that gave after katrina that enabled us to have voiceover ip, and that gives us the opportunity with the flipping of a switch to move it around, and that is an absolutely incredible opportunity. but that is very rare in our country, and so the capacity through technology is just critical. >> okay. if you could put, take that down, if you would just a moment, and leave the state issue. >> the map. >> the map. am i seeing that new york has some serious gaps in that very highly-urbanized area there? you're shaking your head. new york, new jersey, is that pennsylvania? >> that is correct. >> pennsylvania. and then is that kentucky or -- kentucky, west virginia? >> delaware. >> no, no -- >> oh, further out? kentucky, south dakota, arizona, wyoming. >> okay, the western states but on the eastern sea board, and the reason i raised this issue at this hearing in the beginning of the season is that the predictions that i've seen or the feeling about this season because the storms have been so intense in the gulf coast -- >> that's correct. >

we are blessed in louisiana for money given after katrina, and i gives us the opportunity to move around, which is an incredible opportunity. the capacity through technology is critical. >> if you could take that down for a minute and leave the state issue, am i seeing that you are shaking your head in new york and new jersey and pennsylvania, and is that kentucky, west virginia, or delaware? >> kentucky, south dakota, arizona, wyoming. >> the reason i raised this is because the predictions for the feeling about it, because the storm is there, there is some sense that this is east coast time, and i need to reinforce that -- reinforce that the people in the northeast have not had a storm in a long time, but there are significant studies showing what will happen if there is, and it is not a pretty picture. and there was a major storm that hit long island, for you to understand what there is today. , 80 years later. i'm asking you, are you testifying that that part of the evidence area, they're virtually is no communication of people outside of york 911. in terms of where you can get a shel

we are blessed in louisianan that there was donors that gave after katrina that enables us to have a voice over ip and then gives the opportunity with flapping of a switch to move it around and that is an absolutely incredible opportunity. but that is rare in our country and so the capacity for technology is critical. >> if you could take that down if you would just a moment and leave the state issue. >> the map. >> nicoe and the new york has gaps at the highly urbanized area blacks were shaking your head, new york, new jersey. is it pennsylvania? >> that is correct. >> and is that kentucky, west virginia? >> kentucky, south dakota, wyoming, the western states but on the eastern seaboard and the reason i raise this issue at this hearing in the beginning of the season is the production site seen or the feeling about the season because the storms have been so intense in the gulf coast there is some sense that this is the east coast time and i just need to reinforce i know people in the northeast haven't had a storm for a long time but there are some significant studies that show what w

us be more successful. but we also have to be there for their needs when disaster strikes. as you know the post katrina emergency format established positions of the administrator and provide for the authority additional functions we now have at fema, more tools as you pointed out last year began showing the improvement but again, we still have a way to go. and it allows us to further strengthen the relationship with our state partners, tribal and local governments as part of that community. it's contributed to our increased operational capacity to all types of emergencies. as you remember one of the challenges of of katrina was not being able to move and release audits until there was declaration and the challenge of prepositioning assistance that clarity has been brought because the work you are kennedy did that said we need to enable the administrator and the team to submit more productively. we continue that work in powering fema to do that and you point out we face a lot of hazards and we instituted starting this morning exercises to begin testing the team. we simulated a major earthquake in calif

janet durden joining us of a community of northeast louisiana. my husband's home town and with katrina they did the good job as the office is dropped off, north louisiana picked up as i am sure what happened in texas, alabama, mississippi, f lorida the northern part of the state picks up a great amount of help and we want to hear about the increased activity of the 211 operation which is they go to operation when people need help and assistance they do not call 911 come with a call 211 and we want americans to understand that. the like to ask mr. fugate good to see you, senator. out by to ask mr. fugate to begin the may ask senator burr i know you were just coming in, welcome, do want to make and a brief opening statement or should we go right to the panel? thank you. we're happy to have craig 85 with us the new administrator from fema and man who i gave my whole hearted support they give for the work to have done but we look forward to hearing from your administrator 35 because we have made progress there is a tremendous amount of work that has to be done we're looking to you for lead

but i am very impressive with what several of our universities have done on the heels of katrina and rita and using technology that was there and building some strategic partners so let's explore the opportunity because there may be some expertise out there, mr. fugate, i know at the university of lafayette 'cause i've seen it perhaps senator burris has a suggestion as well. i'd like to get to my line of questioning, if i could, senator, and we'll come back. i wanted to ask first, mr. fugate, what are your top three priorities? i know you have many. but if you could for this committee because we'd like to work with you, we're going to push. we're going to work with you but push to get the very best systems we can. so what are your top three priorities as you're stepping in to an agency that has, you know, really been at the front line in many ways these last few years? how do you see your top three priorities and i'm certain that you've discussed this with the secretary and with the highest levels of believe administration. so would you outline that for us now? >> yes, ma'am. they're rather broad.

but i am very impressed with what several of our universities have done on the heels of katrina and rita then using technology that was there and build a strategic partner so let's explore the opportunity because there may be real expertise now they're mr. fugate, i've seen in at the university of lafayette and perhaps senator paris has a suggestion as well. i like to get to my line of questioning mr. fugate, what are your top three priorities. if you could for this committee because we like to work with and we are going to push, we're going to work with you but push to get the very best systems we can, so what are your top three priorities as you are stepping in to an agency with that has really been of the front-line in many ways these last few years? had to use you're top three priorities and i am certain that you discussed this with the secretary and the highest levels of this administration, so would you outline that for us now? >> yes, ma'am, they are rather broad and easy to communicate and require a lot of moving pieces and their simple -- my first and greatest priority is to increase and t

>> in mississippi, again, using that that i'm most familiar, i will tell you that when katrina came, for example, and that infusion of capital construction personnel and equipment and companies, contractors all, you know, made that rush. now because of the balanced program that we're doing with our regular program letting a couple with our stimulus funds and having it balanced statewide we're not seeing that migration, but what we are seeing is a better employment picture in every region of our state. and i think from what i've heard from my colleagues, i think that probably throughout america, you've seen a distribution, a balanced distribution of stimulus funds which cuts down on the migration of the work force. it keeps it more regionalized and localized for the use of those people as they work for those contractors. >> that's very interesting. it's very useful. very important to know that. now, as you work through these projects that are committed and mr. keating, you'll see, you know, members responding to bids and the work of contractors, you will have worked off some proportio

katrina. funding for this amendment seeks to strike -- would be used by san jose university to complete the development of a field experience curriculum to supplement the existing bachelor of science meteorological program. this allows the university to better train the next generation and helping to ensure that government can plan and respond properly. this is a one-time shot that will be used over and over again as instruction goes on. the field expense will improve the quality of the graduates by exposing them to a wider array of weather fen no, ma'am none. this will enhance their ability to recognize and forecast the wide array of weather that is likely to be experienced across california and the nation in the next 30 years as we experience climate change. i know the gentleman often asks, why is this project and others are not worthy projects. well, the department of meteorology at san jose university is the only meteorological department in the public university system in the state of california. it has a strong focus on undergraduate programs. there are very few bachelor of science in meteorology

janet durden joins us on behalf a community in northeast louisiana which i'm very proud my husband's home town and in katrina they did a phenomenal job as the offices dropped off of their ability in south louisiana, north laws f louisiana picked up as i'm sure the same thing happened in texas and in alabama and mississippi and florida as these storms come in, the northern part of the state picks up a great amount of help and we want to hear about the increased affect tivity of the 2-1-1 operation, which is sort of the go to operation. they don't call 9-11, they call 2-1-1 and we want to help americans understand that. so i'd like to ask mr. few gate, good to see you senator. i would like to ask mr. fugate to begin. let me ask senator burriss, i know you're just coming in and welcome. do you want to make any brief opening statement or should we go right to the panel? thank you. thank you, senator. we are happy to have craig fugate with us who is the new administrator from fema who i supported and many members of the senate, you are greatly experienced. we thank you for the work you've already done. but we're

janet durden joins us on behalf of a committee in northeast louisiana which i am very proud. my husband's hometown and in katrina, they did a phenomenal job through their 211 as the office is dropped off of their ability in south louisiana, north louisiana picked up as i am sure the same thing happened in texas and in alabama and mississippi and florida is the storms come in, the northern part of the state picks up the great amount of help. we want to hear about the increased activity of the 211 operation, which is sort of the go-to the operation when people need help and assistance. they don't call 911, they call 211 and we want to help americans understand that. with that opening statement i would like ask mr. fugate-mag good to see a senator. i would like to ask mr. fugate, if you can let me ask senator burris, i know you are just coming in and welcome. do you want to make any brief opening statements or should we go right to the panel? thank you, thank you senator. we are happy to have craig fugate with us who is the new administrative from the muck, and man that i supported and keep my wholehearted support

katrina. >> i promise you i will lead america in the twenty-first century and make you proud, i will restore your trust and confidence in government. >> that is what folks are saying, help uso believe in the american future again. >> 47! >> 49! >> in iowa, citizens going to the polls. it is odd, in a country obsessed with the news, the epic history is treated as a living, breathing thing. >> we are not recollection of this state's, we are the united states of america! we are running to believe again! >> it has never been more apparent than now. is there anyone america who doesn't call this collection historic? a candidate who doesn't reach out to history? i want to explore this haunting of the president by the past, i want to follow america deep into the conflicts of its history to understand what is at stake right now. ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome simon schama. [applause] >> hello. what a pleasure to be at the library of philadelphia. it is sort of redundant. and enslaved library is an oxymoron. tremble before the dewey decimal system. everything that succeeded it. in america, it is fantastic how libraries light the flame of insurrection. i remember being ver

the use of volunteers and when possible also have a cadre of people trained and available to go to disasters. the number is now 90,000, an increase from the 23,000 we had available for hurricane katrina. these workers are trained for specific jobs, and we are now in the process of evaluating their availability for disasters and the next several months. her career and katrina it is a result of several reports -- hurricane katrina is a result of several reports. we have to focus more resources on cornish with state and local governments. with support from team up, -- fema, we got full-time representatives for offices and also have two additional staff working at the national headquarters. we also have passed a staff member to work with the housing task force. we have been working with governments, state governments, in improving planning. for example, the red cross in louisiana is working toward a single, unified sheltering plan. discussions continue with the state department of social services and the governor's office of homeland security emergency preparedness about mutual logistics' for people with transportation needs. the major disaster exercise emerges, with category 4 hurricane

use of local volunteers and we also have people trained and available to leave their communities to go to the disasters. the number is now 90,000, compared to the 23,000 that we had during hurricane katrina. we are in the process of a evaluating the availability for disasters in the next several months. hurricane katrina had several after action reports, red cross has been focusing more resources on coordination. we currently have brought representatives in 10 of the offices and we have staff working at the national headquarters. we also have a staff member working with the housing task force. we have been working with state governments, in improving planning. the red cross and the state of louisiana are working to a unified plan, with the state department of social services and the governor's office of homeland security about mutual legit -- logistics', and we recently participated in the state of florida, and the major disaster exercise. with a category 4 hurricane affecting savannah georgia. -- savannah, georgia. we're also looking at a store making landfall near new york city. identifying the existing partnerships continues to be a strong priority of my organization. we partner with

katrina. >> i promise you i will lead america to the 21st century and make you proud. i will restore your trust and confidence in government. >> that is what the votes are saying. help uso believe in the american future of again. [cheering] >> 46, 47, 48, 49. [applause] >> i saw all citizens going to the polls in doubles the members of the last election. it is odd in a country obsessed that history, the epic figure is treated as a living and breathing thing. >> we are not a collection of red states and blue states. we are the united states of america and in this moment, in this election we are ready to believe i again. thank you, iowa. [cheering] >> it has never ridden more alive than now. is their anyone in america who doesn't call this the election historic? a candidate that doesn't reach out to history? ♪ i want to explore this haunting by the past. i want to follow america deepak to the conflicts of its history to understand what is at stake right now. ♪ ♪ >> ladies and gentlemen, please welcome sieminski 12. [applause] >> -- schama. [applause] >> hello. what a pleasure to be at the free library of philadelphia love that -- it's sort of redundant because and enslav