Russ Knocke
Russ Knocke
airport certain closely develop local officials orleans people plan receive rescued state taken waiting
There are certain evacuees who have been rescued from their nightmarish scenarios, and they have been taken to certain airports where they are waiting for airlifts and people are able to receive them, ... We are working more closely with state and local officials to develop a comprehensive plan while all the while airlifts from the New Orleans airport have continued.
believe demands federal government law meet mix personnel public
We believe we've got the right mix of personnel in law enforcement for the federal government to meet the demands of public safety.
national operating response
We were already operating under the National Response Plan.
consistent information intelligence process share sharing specific state threat type
The process for sharing this type of specific threat information with state and locals was consistent with protocols for how we share the information and for how that information is vetted by the intelligence community.
assign attention careful congress doubt government help placed seeing time victims
Our undivided attention is placed on the victims of this catastrophe and seeing that they get the help that they desperately need. There is going to be a time and a place for the government and no doubt for Congress and the administration to really take a careful look at where the missteps were and assign blame.
along areas criminal dangerous helpful human intended invite lead maps matter might personal produce road
It is not helpful for anyone, no matter how well intended they might be, to produce road maps that lead aliens into the desolate and dangerous areas along the border, and potentially invite criminal activity, human exploitation and personal risk.
based grants homeland instead risk security spreading
I think we have been very, very clear. The focus, without hesitation, is on risk management. Homeland Security grants are now based on risk instead of spreading a little out for everyone.
efforts federal response start taking talking
We are not talking about DOD taking over federal response efforts to a catastrophe from start to finish,
business department federal fulfilling great private sector unique urgency
This is a unique circumstance. This is not like a business in the private sector or even other departments in the federal government. It's a unique department with a great sense of urgency for fulfilling its responsibility.
apart aspects basic core corrected easily katrina obvious response
Apart from its obvious errors, it displays a significant misunderstanding of core aspects of the Katrina response that could have easily been corrected in the most basic conversations with DHS leaders.
background case certainly experience policy political positions relevant rewards senior whether
It's certainly not the case that the senior positions are rewards for political loyalty. There is experience in their background relevant for doing their jobs, whether in policy or management.
against beat clear clock racing
We were racing against the clock and now it's clear the clock beat us.
anyone focus priorities situation
While the situation in the Superdome was nightmarish and not satisfactory to anyone involved, it was not a life-and-death situation and we had to focus our priorities where we could,
capability clearly department dialogue discussed enhance hazards issues measures recovery regular since taken
We've had a regular dialogue with first responders and discussed some of these issues with them. We're clearly an all hazards department and have taken significant measures to enhance preparedness and recovery capability since Sept. 11.