On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana's Gulf Coast, prompting officials to hastily create a plan of action. The disastrous aftermath exposed the inadequacies of Natural Disaster Preparedness leaders, serving as a valuable lesson for future crises.
Unfortunately, the deadliest storm to hit the United States in 75 years was Hurricane Katrina, which caused the loss of 1200 lives. Experts had warned Louisiana about its susceptibility as it is located below sea level, and this devastating hurricane served as a brutal reminder of their vulnerability. After reviewing the Katrina Breakdown report, it's clear that Mayor C. Ray Nagin demonstrated exceptional leadership skills.
Mayor Nagin appeared to be more empathetic, but lacked the power to effectively execute an emergency disaster plan. At 7pm, he directed the police to switch from rescue
...efforts to deal with the ongoing looting. Consequently, Martial Law was imposed. Governor Kathleen Blanco appeared less worried and believed that the disaster was not as grave.
Despite the occurrence of a Category 4 hurricane and massive flooding just two hours later, Governor Blanco decided to inform the President that evacuation of Louisiana or the order of National Guard was not necessary (Starling, 2010). However, it would have been wise to evacuate people since water levels had risen in many areas by 10-15 feet. To save her city, all Governor Blanco needed to do was sign a fax from President Bush which would give federal control over rescues and make them more organized. Regrettably, she refused as she did not want government control over her city. It appeared as though there were too many chiefs and not enough Indians. It wasn't until September 1st, 2005 tha
Governor Blanco realized it was prudent to ask for help.
Starling (2010, p.153) notes that Governor Blanco failed to provide specifics when she requested 40,000 troops during a national catastrophe. Her statement of "We Need Everything You've Got" did not account for necessary personnel and supplies, leaving both the city and local officials without adequate aid earlier when it was requested by the Mayor. Collaboration between federal government officials and local authorities with more knowledge of the region is imperative in such situations. Therefore, if a state of emergency is declared by a city, it should be mandatory for the federal government to have greater power in devising and implementing a plan as well as accessing funds for support.
Local officials need to view the federal government as a valuable resource, instead of a powerless or intimidating one, especially given the unpredictability of natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, which was the largest since 1975 and caused substantial loss of life and economic damage over the past decade. Utilizing technology can assist local officials in creating more precise plans to safeguard their communities. Simultaneously sharing these plans with and teaming up with the federal government can offer greater understanding into the situation at hand. If effective collaboration and clear boundaries are established, it could save time and lives during this catastrophic nightmare.
In order to prioritize saving lives and learning from future disasters, both the Federal Government and Local State Governments should refrain from using emergency situations as a display of power. As noted by Starling (2010), Hurricane Katrina is a prime example of one of the most expensive natural disasters in US history.
Regrettably, it required a significant loss
of life for our country to acquire knowledge and develop plans for forthcoming catastrophes. Nevertheless, despite the apparent difficulty, collaborating as a united nation with mutually accepted tactics will not only rescue lives but also preserve national solidarity amid arduous times.
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