National Preparedness Month

As irony spins like a dynamo in it's grave, the Department of Homeland Security sent out their press release yesterday announcing National Preparedness Month, in case you didn't know. Yesindeed, the organization tasked with preventing wholesale destruction of our cities (At home, of course. Remember, we destroy cities abroad, so they don't have to be destroyed here.) and taking control of the situation when disasters do happen, went ahead with it's formal announcement of National Preparedness Month.

From the press release, we are told:"National Preparedness Month is a nationwide coordinated effort held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools."

Huh! There's a novel idea. Pity the DHS doesn't follow it's own advice.

As an added bonus, I decided to take a look at the DHS's Six Point Agenda which was announced on 7/13/2005:

The six-point agenda will guide the department in the near term and result in changes that will:

1. Increase overall preparedness, particularly for catastrophic events

2. Create better transportation security systems to move people and cargo more securely and efficiently

3. Strengthen border security and interior enforcement and reform immigration processes;

4. Enhance information sharing with our partners

5. Improve DHS financial management, human resource development, procurement and information technology

6. Realign the DHS organization to maximize mission performance.

Looking at the performance we're seeing in Katrina's wake, I think it's safe to say that they're failing on points 1, 2, 4 and 6.