Federalism and the Planning for the Response to Emergencies Chapter

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Planning Across Levels of Government: Federalism and the Planning for the Response to Emergencies

This paper will be in the form of a governmental response plan to the natural disaster: Hurricane Katrina.

Early morning, on the 29th of August, 2005, USA's Gulf Coast was hit by the Hurricane Katrina. When it reached land, it was identified as having "Category 3" intensity, on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, bringing continuous winds of speeds between 100 and 140 miles/hour and stretching across for about 400 miles (Hurricane Katrina - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com, n.d). While the storm was damaging enough by itself, the aftermath was utterly devastating. Firstly, massive flooding resulted from levee breaches. Furthermore, a large number of individuals claimed that the government didn't respond in a timely manner to take care of victims' needs. Several thousands of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi inhabitants suffered displacement from home. It has been estimated by experts that the hurricane cost over 100 billion dollars in damage.

Several individuals and groups committed heroic deeds in their rescue and relief operations following the hurricane. For instance, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued about 34,000 New Orleans residents alone; numerous civilians provided shelter and food to victims, commandeered boats, and did their utmost to aid their neighbors. Still, the government -- especially on the federal level - appeared to be unready to deal with the catastrophe. FEMA or Federal Emergency Management Agency wasted days in their attempt to set up their New Orleans operations; even after all that time, they appeared to have a weak action plan (Hurricane Katrina - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com, n.d). Governmental officials, including the then-President, Bush, appeared to have no knowledge of the exact extent of damage and devastation plaguing New Orleans as well as other Katrina-struck regions: they appeared to have no information regarding the number of missing or stranded individuals; the number of organizations and homes that suffered losses due to the hurricane; and the amount of water, food, and other supplies required. Katrina wreaked total disaster, according to one reporter, who also stated that suffering individuals were becoming totally desperate. The disaster, which covered about 90000 sq. miles of America, had an overall death toll of about two thousand, with several hundred thousand survivors scattered all over the place. At present, after more than a decade of efforts into recovery and reconstruction, the Gulf Coast residents have made enormous strides in reverting to routine life, even while continuing their rebuilding efforts.

How Issue Affects Organization

Floodwaters and the storm surge linked to the hurricane got through floodwalls and levees, costing several billion dollars of damage to property, and over 1,300 casualties. Under the authority of the U.S. Comptroller General, to appraise his own program, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) assessed the following aspects of the USACE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers): (1) its progress in mending the damage to initiatives for protection from hurricanes by the 1st of June, 2006; (2) strategies and projected costs of other repair works and the completion of 5 current hurricane protection ventures; and (3) strategies and projected cost of enhancing and strengthening regional hurricane protection (U.S. GAO - Hurricane Katrina: Strategic Planning Needed to Guide Future Enhancements Beyond Interim Levee Repairs, n.d). The government accountability office evaluated relevant policies and rules, USACE plans and repair works tracking reports; organized meetings with stakeholders, including important agency officers; and supervised ongoing repair efforts.

In the disaster's aftermath, the USACE was quick in its repair and restoration efforts, covering damaged flood control infrastructure (including floodwalls and levees) up to nearly 169 miles, and bringing them to pre-Hurricane Katrina protection levels. It built temporary gates on 3 canals for saving New Orleans from being flooded by storm surges. When the completion of one of the canal gates didn't go according to schedule (i.e., before 1st of June, 2006), the USACE formulated an emergency approach of driving sheet piling and closing off the canal for protecting against hurricanes until the gate's completion. More notably, as these early repair works were only done on floodwalls and levees that showed apparent visual ruin, it is still not known how reliable the others are (U.S. GAO - Hurricane Katrina: Strategic Planning Needed to Guide Future Enhancements Beyond Interim Levee Repairs, n.d). Initially, the USACE allotted 801 million dollars for preliminary repair works, but subsequently, this figure rose to more than a billion dollars. Following the first phase of repairs, the USACE intends to engage in additional construction and repair works on the current system of hurricane protection, including (1) fixing every damaged pumping station, pump, and motor by somewhere around March of 2007; (2) completing incomplete parts of % earlier-sanctioned flood control and hurricane protection ventured by September of 2007; and (3) renovating parts of ongoing ventures for hurricane protection, which have, over the years, returned to their pre-disaster design elevations.

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Moreover, the USACE intends to carry out additional work for enhancing and strengthening southeastern Louisiana's hurricane protection (U.S. GAO - Hurricane Katrina: Strategic Planning Needed to Guide Future Enhancements Beyond Interim Levee Repairs, n.d). The above ventures are projected to take several years until they attain completion and require an investment of several billion dollars. Since September of 2005, the American Congress has taken over 7 billion dollars for certain aspects of these projects; further appropriations may ensue. As per an external USACE-instituted review agency, systems for hurricane protection need to be planned and constructed with care, as integrated structures for enhancing reliability and offering consistent protection levels.

Current Policy

Setting up an emergency evacuation plan for ensuring people reach a safe spot in the event of potential hurricanes is imperative. A comprehensive evacuation plan must include (Hurricane Preparedness and Response -- Preparedness, n.d):

1. Command chain

1. Conditions which activate the evacuation plan

1. Emergency functions, together with who will carry them out

1. Equipment for emergency workers

1. Specific procedures for evacuation, including exits and routes

1. Accounting procedures for visitors, personnel, and customers

Apart from instituting evacuation plans, it is pivotal to be aware of warning terms utilized for hurricanes, local shelters, emergency plans, and warning signs. Tropical storm/hurricane watches imply that a tropical storm/hurricane can occur in a given area. Tropical storm/hurricane warnings imply that a tropical storm/hurricane is forecasted to hit the area, usually within a day. Be ready to follow local authorities' instructions and evacuate to safety when ordered to do so. The 5-point Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is based on the sustained speed of hurricane winds. It is employed for estimating potential damage to property ((Hurricane Preparedness and Response -- Preparedness, n.d). Those hurricanes that reach or surpass Category 3 are regarded as major hurricanes, owing to their capacity to wreck significant damage to life and property. However, even those tropical storms coming under Categories 1 & 2 are dangerous, and preparatory measures are necessary. Tropical cyclones of the North Pacific's western regions, having sustained winds of over 150 miles/hour are called "super typhoons." They impact at least one U.S. territory (i.e. Mariana Islands and Guam). Some organizations need Emergency Action Plans that meet the conditions stipulated by 29 CFR 1910.38.

According to Executive Order 13653, climatic change's impacts -- including the growth of prolonged seasons of extremely hot/cold temperatures, severe famine, heavy downpours, increased wildfires, permafrost thawing, rise in sea level, and ocean acidification -- are already impacting America's public health, communities, and economies. Frequently, those communities already faced with health-related or economic challenges are considerably impacted ((Hurricane Preparedness and Response -- Preparedness, n.d). Addressing and handling these risks needs preparedness, close collaboration, and coordination by both stakeholders and the government at the federal level, for facilitating tribal, local, state, federal, not-for-profit sector, and private sector efforts for improving climate change preparation and resilience. Such activities aid in safeguarding the environment, natural resources, economy, and infrastructure, and providing for uninterrupted services, programs and operations by agencies and the executive department. The labor department is actively involved in coordinated efforts by the government at the federal level for enhancing climate change readiness and resistance.

The National Response Framework is meant to be utilized by first responders, public safety organizations, private sector, non-government organizations (e.g. Red Cross) and governmental organizations. The Framework follows the novel concept of "all-hazard preparedness," that is, preparation for all likely disasters, including the hurricanes, terror attacks, or large storms (The National Response Framework, n.d). The first page of the NRF states that the Framework represents a guidebook to how America carries out all-hazard emergency response. The framework brings everyday terms, such as the ICS (Incident Command System) into office life. In this way, the nation is progressing towards consistent procedures and policies understood by one and all across the country.

Recommended Course of Action

The National Response Center didn't agree with the USACE's preference for functioning within current congressionally-sanctioned coastal restoration initiatives. It recommended a push for novel legislation that targeted restoration activities in Louisiana, in particular; this is similar to Florida Everglades restoration laws. The report states that….....

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