The Shock Doctrine
Disaster Capitalism in Action: hurricanes
FEMA Under Fire for Slow Hurricane Ike Response
Carolyn Feibel and Bradley Olson, Houston Chronicle, September 15, 2008
"It didn't take long for the finger-pointing to begin. The Federal Emergency Management Agency came under fire Sunday as emergency workers were left undernourished and dozens of trucks of water and food had yet to be set up at distribution centers around Houston and surrounding communities....
"U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Houston, said he was told before the storm by FEMA officials that there was food and water already staged at the Ellington Air National Guard base. 'Now it's on the way? That doesn't make any sense to me,' he said. 'I don't know what happened ... The storm's been over for 30 hours. 'I hope some heads will roll in this,' he said later."
Blackwater on Hiring Blitz Ahead of Hurricane Gustav
R. J. Hillhouse, The Spy Who Billed Me, August 29, 2008
"Blackwater Worldwide is currently seeking qualified law enforcement officers and security personnel to potentially deploy to provide security in the possible aftermath of Hurricane Gustav. This is the first time Blackwater has mobilized under its controversial Homeland Security contracts. Blackwater did deploy security personnel to assist New Orleans in wake of Hurricane Katrina and this resulted in great controversy since it was the first time a private military corporation had deployed on US soil."
See also:
Jeremy Scahill discusses Blackwater's work in New Orleans
