Who was responsible for the organizational failures surrounding the response to Hurricane Katrina?
Whether Hurricane Katrina was a planned failure or a result of failing to plan has remained a matter of debate among the social and political circles. However, most scholars and researchers that focused keenly on the causes of the disaster say that the poor response to the disaster that hit the southern state of Louisiana was an organizational blunder. A mistake deeply rooted in the wrong priorities set by the government. According to Johnson et al (2008), the government, both national and local was responsible for the organizational failures surrounding the response to Hurricane Katrina. Johnson et al (2008) explain how the government ruined the otherwise effective FEMA through the initiation of the reorganization that saw the birth of the Department of Homeland Security – a body that brought together 22 agencies after the infamous 9/11.
Johnson et al (2008) sheds light on the fact that the government, through bringing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) under the umbrella of the department of homeland security, reduced the effectiveness of the body in responding to natural disasters. The main reason why Johnson et al (2008) believe the government, then under the administration of President George Bush, was responsible is because it approved of proposals that weakened FEMA. Among such propositions is the elimination of direct representation of FEMA in the presidential cabinet – something that had been a norm since 1993 (United States 2006). Tom Ridge, the then head of the department came up with policies that FEMA relegated to a mere internal function. Along with FEMA, the Coast Guard, another important agency was brought under DHS. Apparently, Tom Ridge, a Vietnam Veteran and former governor of Pennsylvania prioritized the war against terrorism, and forgot all about natural disasters – one thing Michael Brown, head of FEMA, warned against.
Though some scholars have laid blame on Tom Ridge for poor planning, the government as a whole is to bale for the plight that befell the people of New Orleans because it approved the squeezing of resources meant for FEMA, for instance, FEMAS’s operating budget was cut down from $550 million to $470 million. Similarly, the period between 2002 and 2005 saw the financial resources meant for the New Orleans Engineering Corps in charge of the levees reduced by 44% (Johnson et al 2008). During this same period, the fire service of Ohio obtained financial resources to fund the acquisition of bullet proof vests for anti-terrorism unit dogs. According to Leatherman and Williams 2008), there were many warning between 23rd and 27th days of august 2005. Still, the DHS did not respond in a timely manner. Levitt and Whitaker (2009) also observe that the DHS did not provide FEMA with the necessary resources required to evacuate people. For instance Johnson et al (2008) explain that on the Sunday before the fateful day, FEMA did not have a single bus in New Orleans – a city that needed 400 buses.
Michael Chertoff, the head of DHS as at the time of the hurricane did not concern himself with the impending danger. Cooper and Block (2007), note that, ironically, during the time of hurricane Katrina, Chertoff was busy dealing with issues regarding immigration. Johnson et al (2008) explain that Chertoff was quick to sweep the mess under the carpet by contradicting the media reports of what was happening in New Orleans. He went ahead to give a statement congratulating FEMA on exemplary performance in responding to the disaster. Summarily, the government’s failure to plan for disaster preparedness is the cause of the failure surrounding the response to Hurricane Katrina. Overconcentration on terrorism distorted the government’s view of disaster preparedness and management (United States 2007).
Reference List
Cooper, C., & Block, R. 2007. Disaster: Hurricane Katrina and the Failure of Homeland Security. New York, Times Books
Johnson, G., Scholes, K., & Whittington, R. 2008. Exploring corporate strategy: Text and cases. Harlow, Pearson Education Ltd.
Leatherman, S. P., & Williams, J. 2008. Hurricanes: causes, effects, and the future. Minneapolis, MN, MBI Pub. Co.
Levitt, J. I., & Whitaker, M. C. 2009. Hurricane Katrina America's unnatural disaster. Lincoln, University of Nebraska Press.
United States. 2006. The federal response to Hurricane Katrina: lessons learned. Washington, D.C., White House
United States. 2007. Hurricane Katrina: the roles of U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency leadership : hearing before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Ninth Congress, second session, February 10, 2006. Washington, U.S. G.P.O.
