S.C. governor Nikki Haley‘s emergency preparedness efforts are being criticized as an unprecedented deluge continues wreaking havoc on the Palmetto State.
Leaders in the Midlands, S.C. region of South Carolina have been especially harsh on Haley, urging her to free up additional emergency response resources while accusing her of being ill-prepared for the downpour.
“This is like Jim Hodges all over again,” one Republican lawmaker told FITS, referring to the botched evacuation of Charleston, S.C. during the 1999 Hurricane Floyd scare.
“Resources should have been prepositioned to deal with this,” another GOP lawmaker told us.
In Columbia, S.C., the fire chief said 2,000 homes were underwater and required immediate evacuation. Local authorities – stretched thin due to numerous road closings in the area – did not have the resources necessary to conduct such emergency operations.
House leadership was reportedly on the phone with the governor telling her to active additional resources from the (National) Guard.
Haley declared a state of emergency last Thursday and ordered the National Guard to coordinate its efforts with the S.C. Emergency Management Division (SCEMD). The guard was fully activated at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Sunday morning in response to the downpour, sources close to the agency told FITS. Unfortunately, it was too late for them to position themselves where they needed to be.
“People can’t get to their posts,” one source told us.
The SCEMD said it was doing everything in its power to address the flooding.
“State resources are fully deployed in rescue (and) life safety operations statewide,” the agency tweeted. “Emergency operations in full effect.”
“Floodmaggedon” is Haley’s first major natural disaster since becoming governor in January, 2011.
UPDATE: More on Haley’s response.
97 comments
Give it a fucking break, you idiot…
Rahm Emanuel would be proud.
Did Haley leave the Midlands to attend a football game last night? Really Gov Haley?
To be fair, not one SC government employee gives a shit unless it pertains to their wage increases, keeping their cadillac tax payer subsidized BC/BS healthcare plans, or funding their defined benefit pensions regardless of the futility.
I am no big fan of Haley’s. However, if the order was given on Thursday to activate the National Guard, what is the issue? We are in Chapin, SC and have had about 14″ of rain in 2 days with more to come. We are not in a high risk area. However, Columbia and the East Coast (Charleston, Myrtle Beach, etc.) are really in a mess. and, then you have the stupid people who were told to stay off the roads and they aren’t. So, what is the real story here???
Haley wasn’t even in town when she declared State of Emergency – she was too busy getting an Award for the stuff she didn’t do after Charleston shooting. And idiot Haley told everyone not to go to Clemson football game so what does Haley do – she goes to Clemson football game with her free tickets and suite where she is nice and warm and dry. Haley thinks she is too good to sit with the peons that elected her.
Kind of like Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize?
LMAO!
This is part of the letter I circulated around Washington to selected congressmen. I was damn well pissed when
I wrote it on September 6, 2013.
Imagine you facing the President and demanding
that he answer the following:
Mr. President: In 2009 you were given a Nobel Peace Prize with the statement that it was that “for your extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation
between peoples”.
Mr. President: How do you reconcile that 2009 statement with your current comments calling for a new war which will mire America in another eternal military conflict?
Mr. President: How do you reconcile that 2009 statement with your foolish attitude that murdering President Assad is more important to you than offering the humanitarian aid for the two million Syrian refugees, and for which you are silent?
Mr. President: How do you reconcile that 2009 statement with your actions and comments coming from your moral weaknesses and frailties which have lessened America’s standing in the international community?
·
Mr. President: Where can you show that there is clear and convincing evidence that the situation in Syria is a direct and urgent threat to the national security of America, and that Syria will not retaliate against American Citizens on American Soil?
President Obama, together with Secretary of State Kerry and Defense Secretary Hagel, in creating their Triumvirate of Folly, are prepared for this course of action solely because of their egomaniacal attitude for lies and deceptions, and feverishly dictated by selfish interests.
History will not be kind to those in power who support their misguided actions. Should this Triumvirate of Folly proceed with their reckless ambition then, without hesitation, their immediate resignations must be demanded.
Respectfully, and with the utmost sincerity,
For those attending Clemson – Notre Dame football game. If you choose to go, expect very slow traffic, possible detours due to flooding, and muddy conditions. Remember, the game will be on national television.” –Nikki Haley
To be honest, I would not want NIMRATA and her entourage piling up next to me at the dirt late model races in Gaffney!
GO JONATHAN DAVENPORT!
Winner of THE DREAM and THE WORLD 100 this year1
Brought that Yankee money back to Williamston!!!!!!!!!!!
Gov. Haley….you will fix the roads now.
right after she begs the Feds for some money. Guess the federal money is OK, unless it is to be used to provide healthcare fro the poor.
This is the perfect time to cut taxes for the wealthy.
“Conservative value” you understand.
According to a Public Policy Polling survey, 60 percent of South Carolina voters are against Haley pursuing the second-in-command job if asked by the eventual Republican presidential nominee.
Only 22 percent of voters said they would like to see her as the Republican Vice Presidential candidate.
Newsmax.com
_______________
This is ANOTHER reason why!
I would hope she would tapped for the VP slot.
Sarah Palin complex all over again.
The US military forward deploys to be in position for emergency action and Folks decries it. Haley doesn’t forward deploy and he criticizes her. Oh I forgot. Haley closed her legs to Folks and he is scorned.
Winner winner chicken dinner. The founding editor and only employee doth protest a bit much about all things Haley.
Haley Blasted?
This story doesn’t name or identify a single individual critical of Haley’s response to the storm. I can’t find anyone else critical in a quick Web search. Even Will Folk’s did not criticize Haley.
Just more proof of how these well paid people are all fucked up and worthless. People must be fired. Heads must roll. And the felons among them must be thrown in prison.
Wait just a minute now. Haley declared a state of emergency and activated the guard on Thursday. So it takes until Sunday to send out the mobilization order? Think what you want about Nikki Haley but she gave the order on Thursday. Someone dropped the ball and it wasn’t Haley. Either SCEMD dropped the ball or the National Guard dropped the ball. If Nikki Haley has any thing to answer for it for not checking back to make sure the order went out. Sometimes you just have to rely on the professionals to do their job.
Talk about dropping the ball, how about them chickens huh? Go Tigers!
Haley’s balls dropped when she had the confederate flag taken down. Good job for her.
This is a 500 year flood. Four people have died. All in traffic accidents. One by going arround a barrier. It’s not over. There will be an assessment of the damages which I expect will be extensive.
For those critical of Haley, the state does not keep resources available to respond to statewide event that occurs once every five hundred years. You are always overwhelmed by such rare events. There is no way of preventing the flood damage.
The deaths, as unfortunate as they are, are less than a typical Labor Day weekend. I think we have been fortunate in that reguard. Ultimately, it is up to individuals and families to take precautions for their own safety. I think the vast majority of South Carolinians have done that.
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/east-coast-flooding-once-200-years-downpour-threatens-south-carolina-n438216
The head Haley apologist speaks!
Weak rebuttal. Thanks for the compliment.
I have never voted for Nikki but she is getting a raw deal here.
As has been pointed out NO one could have predicted this.
Actually, I believe it was predicted.
Sorry, didn’t read far enough………….
Funny, the weather guys did.
I am with you on this.
I think the weather people were screaming about the 1000 year rain before the first drop fell.
Weather Channel said the flooding in SC is a 1 in a 1000 years event.
On the other hand, where is Nikki? When disasters of this magnitude happen in other states, the governors are constantly on TV giving pressers.
NIMRATA would do well to emulate the utility companies. When the bad weather is forecast , they pre-stage in the area of forecasted trouble.
And no one’s house is flooded, everyone stays dry and has pizza tonight. The utilities companies have regional agreements to bring in out state people to help, but even then people often go without power for weeks.
Didn’t claim there proximity prevented the event. Simply meant that the first responders were in the immediate area, already deployed, and ready to begin operation.
You do know the terms “sycophant and toadie” I hope.
Often, if the “first responders” are staged in the immediate area, they become just another group needing rescue. You NEVER stage your disaster recovery assets in the area adjacent to the disaster.
Did I say adjacent?
Worked more than one storm break all up and down the east coast, gulf coast, and Ohio Valley.
Wouldn’t be my first rodeo.
Sandy was my last, and those Yankees sure were glad to see us.
No you said “immediate area” which is even closer according to my lexicon. You don’t know what you’re talking about.
KISS MY ASS>
Now you just TELL people what to do
You can’t ORDER me around.
I’m sorry, where did I order anyone to do anything? I’ve got more than thirty years experience dealing with these types of issues, I’ll trade CVs with you any time.
First you have to tell me what a “CV’ is.
Then I will decide if I wanna swap.
“COLONEL”‘
BTW, I “dealt” with “these type issues from ’71 til last year.
So what?
Curricula Vita – your resume. In South Carolina, it’s a list of what jobs ya had.
You have any idea how much is adapted to “on the fly” because the “PLANNER” had no conception of the conditions and environs?
Or how often you were told,”Just get it on, and we will do an as-built ,later.
Absolutely, during the Yellowstone and Hell’s Creek fires in in 1988 I was the air ops officer for the Army. In 1992 I commanded an engineer unit during the Andrew cleanup. Same unit different response in the Storm of the Century in ’93. Louisiana in ’95, back to the northeast in 98. Volunteer coordinator during Francis, Ivan, Katrina and Sandy. Had to take a little time off in the last six years to play in the sand box but that gig is just about over for good and you’ll find me out with my little band of yellow shirted and hatted curmudgeons. I’m leaving our a long list of odd storms and tornados.
“Walked on water during Hugo back in ’89; killed shitloads of ragheads and became an ace (6 confirmed kills) using a improvised slingshot during those six years in the sandbox”===”The Colonel”
There we were; it was 3000 to 3. Up to our ass in expended brass. Up to our chins in hand grenade pins.
We finally got those 3 little fuckers
And never got any dust on his boots.
But–if it is true–didn’t activate until Sunday morning? And if memory serves from watching press conference yesterday, only 300?
Once again, the SCARNG has very limited capabilities in these situations. Traffic, some haul capability, some road and structure clearance, security and should the water situation get bad enough, water purification. They don’t come equipped with giant sponges and they are forbidden by law to work infrastructure issues beyond preventing further damage.
And the number was 600 and according to my buddies in EMD, will likely climb.
Thanks. Saw that # from another post. But still, 600 out of what, 9000? Could they not help keep rubberneckers out of dangerous areas? And come on, I know they have a Sponge Bn and that it is housed and maintained in underground bunkers.They use black sponges with no markings, and like some intel and SOCOM folks, they don’t have a unit patch on the sleeve but have an unofficial insignia that has a little sponge guy with arms and legs–whose name can’t be mentioned outside the group. And, if we engage all those guys and need more sponges, it wouldn’t take Obama any time at all to bring in some ISIS sponge units. Too bad the Jade Helm sponge units are all tied up taking guns away in TX. They have Wet Vac units we could use
Yeah, those ROPUR units put out approximately 20 gallons per minute……………….that’s 28,800 gallons per day…IF they don’t have to stop to recharge, change prefilters or break down (as they do from time to time)
Columbia Water utilities probably produces about 3-5 MILLION gallons per day……….
New term for you. It’s a technical term.
armchair quarterback;
noun
a person who offers advice or an opinion on something
in which they have no expertise or involvement
More storm breaks than you imagine. Admittedly, I always preferred the ‘winter’ over warm weather outages. Things get ripe really quick in the hot weather.
That’s bullshit. The state’s system for response to hurricane damage includes floods, submerged and washed out roads, bridges and dams falling apart, etc. You can’t show how there should be such total paralysis as we saw in the days when this was building up, and when it had been predicted to be a disaster of epic, historical proportions. It seems you bend way the hell over backwards to make Haley right about everything she does. You bucking for Godfrey’s job?
So Haley skipped out to go to a ball game!
Sanford skipped out to travel the Argentinian slime trail!
Obama skipped out to hit the golf greens!
Probably wanted to hob knob with her infamous Lexington reprobates and sycophant Trustee Peeler.
Yeah big buddies. Both cheaters and adulterers.
This is like a 500 year event. Maybe next time they will get it right. LOL Until then blame it on Bush. Everyone else dose. LOL LOL LOL
He is the traitor of the USA, glad you know that. So it’s Obama’s fault ?
Obummer is the traitor dumbass. Bush is a hero.
But, if Nikki and the Republicans actually spend public funds helping people then they don’t get to spend it on GOP sub-contractors for nothing. Who do you think she works for?!? Us?! Try the Koch Brothers, you poor wet dummies.
She has finally made an appearance somewhere.
Rob Godfrey ?@RobGodfrey 6m6 minutes ago
.@nikkihaley has arrived at @scemd. mtg w state officials & agency directors who work together on disaster response.
Only because they gave that blue jacket.
I am getting sick of that “curtain rod” dress and the hooker boots.
We are getting sic of your gay and rabid transgender ‘war of queer aggression’ against decent folks. Go to hell homo.
You drunk Boz? I am.
And now it’s time – for Haley to beg the black man in DC to come to the rescue.
Actually, Steve Benjamin is thanking Gov. Nikki Haley for her assistance to Columbia.
Home Run!
He is busy helping ISIS and Iran.We better call Putin.
I wonder why SCANNA waited till the very worst time to let water out of the lake?
Seems Thursday and Friday would have been the right time. I know they lowered the lake some by running the hydro plant, but still, shouldn’t the spillways have been opened sooner?
What the hell has Nikki been doing? I am watching her press release and she does not know more than I do…sitting at home watching TV!
And you say more will suffer? Must be God’s will.
You Liberals NEVER let up, do you?…Most of you have never had any real hardship in your life, or you’d know better.
But you are likely too fucking stupid to get it…but it’s really bad form to push your ignorant Bullshit now…
And I suppose you have lived through BOTH world wars ,the Great Depression, and the War of Northern Aggression.
That dude in the blue bibs is still waiting for you to “suck the shit out of him”!
You are a dumb ass liberal pussy and your shit ain’t even a bit funny!
Well Big T, you are hanging on my every word, wanna hang on my left nut??????????????
Yeah. Like the Liberal “Takers”–stealing your hard earned money in gubmint handouts. They sure as shit have never seen any hardship, buying those steaks and shrimp with EBT cards (you know, those young “bucks” Reagan talked about) then selling it for money for liquor and drugs. And those cars they drive. Sheeeeit
The Governor and her cronies, even the rest of large county and city governments, never seen things handled so poorly in my many decades of living in SC. Its all turned into a circus act. All it needs is the balloons to make it complete..
These clowns in government had plenty of warning as to what was coming. But they ignored it.
Lov Gov Jr has been too busy pushing her nose up the asses of all the Presidential candidates and their pack of whores.
You looked at that “honker” in profile.
It would have to hurt!
“honker” your ass queer boy.
Each state agency used to have several employees who were volunteers trained to assist during state wide emergencies. Training was provided ONCE and then the whole program just went away. I bet those extra hands would have been beneficial this weekend.
She has totally fucked this up as far as putting resources in place.
What a load of horseshit. There’s very little that can be done during the rising stages of a flood. Utility services have their plans as do the police and emergency services. What should she have been doing, an anti-rain dance? EMD was fully manned and coordinating the response throughout the event. What could the national guard do during the rising stage beyond what they did which was provide air ops capability?
Kirkman Finley made an ass of himself on the news this morning calling for the national guard as if they had a giant sponge that could have soaked up the gigantic flood that Holds Creek has become as more hardscape contributed to the runoff throughout the run of the creek.
Stand down sir!She took the confederate flag down.Why couldn’t she help the local folks?
Was she at that damn football game last night while people are suffering?
What would you like her to do, come over to your trailer with a shop vac and suck up the flood waters?
That would actually be more productive than taking a flag down so liberal professors like YOU can get a pat on the back from the students you are brain washing to become mini Obama’s.
You got it backwards. Professors de-program kids from the horseshit their parents and tribe shove down their throats since early childhood. They actually try to get people to think about issues and not just parrot the talking points they hear. But, I know that thinking part is the part that troubles–and threatens you
Let it go, man.
Kirkman Finley has ” Conservative values.”
I know this because he said he does.
Finley is normally a stable influence on the Senate but I was expecting some “Boehner tears” during his interview this morning.
Changing your posts after others reply? Weak.Finley wasn’t in your original rant.
I reserve the right to revise and extend my comments, however his rant was part of my original post.
I promote you to brigadier general.
The absolute only thing that interests me about being a general is the cool belt and buckle they get to wear, oh and the pay…
Just get one from the U.S. Cavalry store and wear it when you play “dress up”. Best not to wear it on post or over at Dorn though. The pay? You’ve got your VA disability locked and loaded, right? Sure you don’t have sleep apnea? Best hurry. They’re tightening up the criteria.
Seems like an awful lot of time and effort was spent on shouting down the chain of command and supervision, “stand by for the order”–kinda like the episode of MASH of when the COL yells “stand by for the blessing” and the order goes down and up a mile-long parked convoy. Then they had to yell back, “standing by for the blessing” back up the convoy. About a hour later there was a blessing delivered by the Chaplain, echoed phrase by phrase down and back up the convoy. A lot of activity (of some/any kind) doesn’t substitute for effective action. The bird can flap it’s wings like hell but you gotta ask “does the bird fly”
who had notre dame and 21/2. how sweet it is.