I'm sure the National Headquarters of the Red Cross feels like Propublica is on a witch-hunt, with the Red Cross looking to be the one tied to the stake and burned. I've done my own "informal" investigation by talking to Red Cross workers I know in the disaster field. They are generally supportive of the work being done and think that some of the Propublica reporting has been taken out of context.
However, there is no denying the emails and the comments made in them that are quoted in the linked above Propublica article.
I can tell you it is never good for a spokesperson to (Red Cross) to try to do a "mind meld" and disregard what people have said or written by reinterpreting their words and intentions.
My gut tells me that where there is smoke, there is fire. Mississippi is not the first place that the Red Cross has had issues in relationships with the state and local emergency managers.
And, interestingly I was just reading a section of Ted Koppel's book, Lights Out, and there was a section on the Red Cross. I was thinking I had my digital connections mixed up since he was quoting the troubles at the Red Cross detailed by Propublica. But, there it was. I am hoping as a journalist he did some checking on his own, and he does detail one conversation with a local emergency manager who did not get the right answer when trying to coordinate with the ARC – until he threatened to write them out of his plan.
This whole debate on the status of the Red Cross and their current capabilities reminds me of trying to settle an argument between two kids about who did what to whom and when, when you were not there to observe their actions in the first place.
"Now both of you go to your room and don't come out until you are ready to play nice!"
