Another Republican Senator is criticizing FEMA’s performance in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, CNN reports:

Sen. Trent Lott berated both the Federal Emergency Management Agency and his own state’s emergency management, MEMA, for being mired in red tape at a time of urgent need given the devastation left by Hurricane Katrina.

Lott said he has been trying to get FEMA to send 20,000 trailers “sitting in Atlanta” to the Mississippi coast, and he urged President Bush during a meeting Monday to intervene. He said FEMA has refused to ship the trailers until contracts are secured.

Sen. David Vitter (R-Lousiana) has expressed similar sentiments.

Update:

Ben Morris, mayor of Slidell, La.:

We are still hampered by some of the most stupid, idiotic regulations by FEMA. They have turned away generators, we’ve heard that they’ve gone around seizing equipment from our contractors. If they do so, they’d better be armed because I’ll be damned if I’m going to let them deprive our citizens. I’m pissed off, and tired of this horse$#@@.

San Diego Union-Tribune:

Authorities say they are speeding up relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina, but 80 San Diego firefighters and paramedics sent to the Gulf Coast are languishing in Houston, a fire official said Sunday.

“We’re there, we’re ready, it’s up to (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) to decide where we’re needed,” said Maurice Luque, a spokesman for the San Diego Fire Department.

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