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La., Miss. leaders called to account WASHINGTON -- Two Southern governors -- one being mentioned as a presidential candidate, the other battling a recall petition -- faced the post-Katrina storm of a Senate committee hearing Thursday. But it was mostly Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco of Louisiana who was called to account for her actions before and after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit about five months ago. "Our people deserve a stronger levee system coupled with a long-term plan for hurricane protection and coastal restoration," Blanco said amid sharp questioning by members of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. By contrast, Gov. Haley Barbour, the Republican governor of Mississippi who is being mentioned for higher office, told the panel, "Our people are strong, resilient, self-reliant. They're not whiners. They're not into victimhood." Blanco denied an assertion by New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin that she had delayed a decision on whether to "federalize" the state's National Guard by a crucial 24 hours as Katrina was roaring ashore. Blanco said she was "very clear" when she told President Bush that, as governor, she would keep command of the Guard. Questioned by Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the panel's chairman, Blanco said she was unaware before the storm that Johnny Bradberry, head of the Louisiana Transportation Department, did not think his agency should be responsible for emergency evacuation of patients in hospitals and nursing homes. "We certainly agree with you that the Department of Transportation should have planned the evacuation of the most needy citizens," Blanco said. "Let me say that that will never happen again." DEMOLITIONS SLATED: After being blocked by angry residents and a lawsuit, the city on Thursday began sending out demolition notices to the owners of homes wrecked by Hurricane Katrina that are blocking streets and sidewalks, The Associated Press reported. The demolitions are deemed essential in the city's rebuilding efforts, but they have become an emotional issue with some residents vowing to stand in the way of bulldozers. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be published, broadcast or redistributed in any manner.
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