NEW ORLEANS - Carol Forsloff - According to a
new report, neither the Bush or Obama administrations seriously examined
disaster response from Katrina to learn from it and that this leaves
people at risk.
new report, neither the Bush or Obama administrations seriously examined
disaster response from Katrina to learn from it and that this leaves
people at risk.
from the non-profit Institute for Southern Studies describes how the
botched federal response and the mismanaged efforts at every level to
meet human and community needs should have been, and still needs to be,
carefully examined for its lessons. These lessons could help ensure
proper delivery of services could be made in another disaster.
botched federal response and the mismanaged efforts at every level to
meet human and community needs should have been, and still needs to be,
carefully examined for its lessons. These lessons could help ensure
proper delivery of services could be made in another disaster.
"Now, more than
ever, it's critical for our nation to remember and honor its commitment
to the people and future of the Gulf Coast," says Chris Kromm, report
co-author and director, Institute for Southern Studies.
That is especially important because climatologists anticipate worst storms in the future and areas of the United States that remain unprepared for them.
Not
just the Gulf Coast is vulnerable. Many areas of the country are
protected by levees, some poised for failure. Other issues concerning
coordination and disaster planning communications have not been properly
addressed.
This new report
entitled "Learning from Katrina: Lessons from Five Years of Recovery
and Renewal in the Gulf Coast" maintains that the flaws in federal
policy will continue to stall the rebuilding efforts. Furthermore lives
will be put at risk in future disasters unless the government takes
action.
entitled "Learning from Katrina: Lessons from Five Years of Recovery
and Renewal in the Gulf Coast" maintains that the flaws in federal
policy will continue to stall the rebuilding efforts. Furthermore lives
will be put at risk in future disasters unless the government takes
action.
Who does what,
when and how are the specifics that need to be addressed. At the
present time, agencies like FEMA are just beginning to outline disaster
response frameworks. On the other hand, omissions remain in providing
what are considered international standards of protection for those
facing disasters.
when and how are the specifics that need to be addressed. At the
present time, agencies like FEMA are just beginning to outline disaster
response frameworks. On the other hand, omissions remain in providing
what are considered international standards of protection for those
facing disasters.
Not only has
the lack of assessment of what happened and why not been done in a
fashion that can help the Gulf Coast move forward, the waste and abuses
have made many people cynical about providing relief. Investigations of
this fraud and abuse need to be stepped up, according to this new
report.
the lack of assessment of what happened and why not been done in a
fashion that can help the Gulf Coast move forward, the waste and abuses
have made many people cynical about providing relief. Investigations of
this fraud and abuse need to be stepped up, according to this new
report.
Communities
along the Gulf Coast have made great progress in their rebuilding
efforts, but recovery has been, for the most part, done in a haphazard,
uncoordinated fashion. There also remains the problems of health care,
education and affordable housing along the Gulf Coast, with clearly
visible signs of neglect.
along the Gulf Coast have made great progress in their rebuilding
efforts, but recovery has been, for the most part, done in a haphazard,
uncoordinated fashion. There also remains the problems of health care,
education and affordable housing along the Gulf Coast, with clearly
visible signs of neglect.
Putting the
pieces together to understand the whole puzzle and dilemma would be
helpful in ensuring the appropriate response occurs in future disasters,
experts say.
pieces together to understand the whole puzzle and dilemma would be
helpful in ensuring the appropriate response occurs in future disasters,
experts say.
Without that
consequential preparation people will be doomed again in another time
and place because of the lack of proper investigation, planning and the
coordination left undone.
consequential preparation people will be doomed again in another time
and place because of the lack of proper investigation, planning and the
coordination left undone.
The report goes on to say how economic growth and stimulus is a key issue for government focus.
While the
higher levels of government at both city, state and federal levels
revealed a lack of understanding, coordination and follow-up with events
for future planning, the report praises the local, grassroots community
and individual activist groups.
higher levels of government at both city, state and federal levels
revealed a lack of understanding, coordination and follow-up with events
for future planning, the report praises the local, grassroots community
and individual activist groups.
Levees.org
was one of those groups born out of the miserable relating of the cause
of the flooding as fault of citizens not leaving a city built on
dangerous ground or that the storm was so bad that the waters simply
over-topped the levees, flooding New Orleans.
was one of those groups born out of the miserable relating of the cause
of the flooding as fault of citizens not leaving a city built on
dangerous ground or that the storm was so bad that the waters simply
over-topped the levees, flooding New Orleans.
It took one
woman's commitment to the truth, Sandy Rosenthal, and the building of an
organization over more than four years to get a proper investigation of
the levee failures. These are the kinds of things this new report
relates citizens did on their own behalf who should have had support
from government officials at the federal level and state levels.
woman's commitment to the truth, Sandy Rosenthal, and the building of an
organization over more than four years to get a proper investigation of
the levee failures. These are the kinds of things this new report
relates citizens did on their own behalf who should have had support
from government officials at the federal level and state levels.
"These disasters
brought communities together like never before, and it was a tremendous
opportunity to challenge the long-term problems in the region. The
grassroots infrastructure is in place, and what we need now is greater
investment in these community groups and leaders," states LaTosha Brown,
Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Fund, a community-led philanthropy
that helped fund the report.
brought communities together like never before, and it was a tremendous
opportunity to challenge the long-term problems in the region. The
grassroots infrastructure is in place, and what we need now is greater
investment in these community groups and leaders," states LaTosha Brown,
Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Fund, a community-led philanthropy
that helped fund the report.
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