Military Says US Needs National Search-And-Rescue Plan, page 1

In a conference with President Bush, a number of military leaders encouraged the formation of a coordinated search-and-rescue plan that would incorporate federal, state, and local operations. Leaders cited situations where multiple helicopters would show up for a single rescue and expressed concern in the event of a sudden disaster or terrorist attack.

www.msnbc.msn.com
BATON ROUGE, La. - President Bush on Sunday wrapped up a three-day trip designed to convey hands-on leadership during the Gulf Coast hurricanes, promising to act on military leaders’ request for a national search-and-rescue strategy.

“It’s precisely the kind of information that I’ll take back to Washington to help all of us understand how we can do a better job in coordinating federal, state and local response,” Bush told commanders.

Bush heard military leaders plead for a national plan to coordinate search-and-rescue efforts. Maj. Gen. John White, a member of the military’s joint task force on Rita, said that the current plans were so scattered that five helicopters might show up at once to rescue the same person.

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I can definitely see the organizational merit to creating such a plan, however, there is also the issue of how and with whom to centralize such authority. I know many on this board might be worried about the Department of Defense having such power as was suggested by the President. I wonder what direction these plans will take.

[edit on 2-10-2005 by DJDOHBOY]