Is the Coast Guard saving the drowning FEMA by taking over its duties?

James Smith, Contributor
Activist Post

In light of recent news articles, such as “Ineptitude in FEMA food purchasing continues” and “FEMA: A Disaster Relief Agency That’s Completely Unprepared for Disasters“, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is performing an end-run on government contract procedures by shifting the responsibility from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the United States Coast Guard (USCG).

A review of the USCG Newsroom at www.uscg.mil failed to find reports of any relief efforts by Coast Guard personnel actually being “boots on the ground” in the affected areas.

The USCG has in the past few days have performed a Justification and Approval (J&A) on many basic items, such as fuel, generators, food, and shelter to be used in support of Hurricane Sandy.

The justification has been redacted to hide sensitive information, and has been copied and pasted to each of the J&A requests, without any variation.

The J&A’s provide contract award authority from 30 October 2012 until 30 November 2012, and shall not exceed 150 days unless extraordinary circumstances require another J&A to be issued by the Head of the Contracting Activity. The maximum amount of taxpayer money that is allowed shall not exceed 10 million dollars.

Here is a list of what is being requested:

• Water, Blackwater, and Garbage Services in support of Hurricane Sandy for US CGC SPENCER
• Food Services in support of Hurricane Sandy for USCG Station Bayonne
• Food Catering Service, Refrigerated Trailer, and Equipment for USCG Station Sandy Hook
• Shelter in support of Hurricane Sandy for USCG Station Bayonne
• Sewage Offload Service at NAT New York
• Fuel for Sector New York ISO Hurricane Sandy Operations  As a side note: Gas rationing now in effect for NYC
• Generator Services Even though FEMA has solicited to rent 300, 9 1/2 KW 120V generators
• Ground Support Equipment/Crew for Road Cleanup
• Fuel Tanks and Diesel in support of Hurricane Sandy for USCG Bayonne

Any form of recovery that the Coast Guard may do in any other situation would never cover road repair, food catering, or garbage collecting. These contracts are clearly outside the purview of the Coast Guard and should be handled strictly by FEMA, and no other federal agency.

The questions that must be asked are:

• Is the Coast Guard taking over relief efforts from FEMA?
• If so, why?
• Did FEMA’s credit card get denied due to excessive disasters, and now needs a loan from Big Sis via the USCG’s bank account?
• Once the Coast Guard’s budget has been expended, will the US Navy have to step in an perform interdictions and sea rescues?

Regardless of finances, Big Sis and FEMA have been poorly managed and Janet Napolitano has shown that she couldn’t lead a one-man marching band. And once again, the Boys in Blue have to pull someone out of trouble who is clearly in WAY over their heads.

This article first appeared at Prepper Podcast Radio Network.

Read other articles by James Smith HERE.

James is a father of four and grandfather to four. He and his wife of almost 30 years have been prepping since 2003. They live in a small town, with neighbors as close as 10 feet away and have raised chickens for 2 years covertly on less than 1/5 of an acre. He is a former corrections officer, insurance fraud investigator, and he served in the Navy for 6 years. He currently works for a corporation dealing with the disabled population and their benefits. He is the host of The Covert Prepper show and the Prepper Podcast Radio Network News, both heard on Blogtalk Radio.