Katrina revisited: The Brownie e-mails

I was just reading this CNN.com story about e-mail exchanges with Mike Brown during Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath that show just how overwhelmed and clueless he really was/is.

Here's an excerpt that I particularly enjoyed:

For instance, two days after Katrina, Marty Bahamonde, one of the only FEMA employees in New Orleans, wrote to Brown that "the situation is past critical."

"Here are some things you might not know. Hotels are kicking people out, thousands gathering in the streets with no food or water. Hundreds still being rescued from homes," Bahamonde said.

"The dying patients at the DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team) tent being medivac. Estimates are many will die within hours. Evacuation in process. Plans developing for [Superdome] evacuation but hotel situation adding to problem. We are out of food and running out of water at the dome, plans in works to address the critical need.

"FEMA staff is OK and holding own. DMAT staff working in deplorable conditions. The sooner we can get the medical patients out, the sooner we can get them out. Phone connectivity impossible."

Brown's entire response was: "Thanks for the update. Anything specific I need to do or tweak?"

Tweak?! TWEAK?! Holy incompetence, Batman!

Rep. Charles Melancon, D-Louisiana, has posted the e-mails in a PDF on his Web site.