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What Katrina Means for Emergency Management
Title: What Katrina Means for Emergency Management
Date: 2005
Author: Patrick S. Roberts
Institution:
Bibliographic Entry: Roberts, Patrick S. What Katrina Means for Emergency Management. The Forum. 2005. 3(3): 12pp. accessed from http://www.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1094&context=forum.
Electronic Link: http://www.bepress.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1094&context=forum
Key Words: Disaster, homeland security, federal emergency management agency, Katrina, risk homeostasis
Summary of Key Points, Issues, Conclusions:
In “What Katrina Means for Emergency Management,” Roberts argues that Katrina revealed the government’s limitations in handling catastrophes and offers solutions to improve disaster management. He states that efforts to reduce damage may fail due to the theory of risk homeostasis which posits that both the degree of risk taking and the magnitude of loss remain the same overtime. He argues that emergency preparation plans should not seek the elimination of the worst case scenario because doing so would result in a misallocation of resources that would be detrimental in less severe disaster situations.
Roberts suggests that the impact of Katrina was especially severe for 3 reasons:
• The hurricane struck an economically depressed area
• The state and local government response was weak and slowed preparation and response
• The hurricane was more severe than previous natural disasters.
Roberts recommends several changes within DHS:
• Development of an office within DHS that assists state and local officials in the construction of preparation plans and training exercises
• Development of an overall strategy and formation of strong relationships with states and localities by Office for Domestic Preparedness
• Continued evolution by DHS in order to fulfill its mission
• Increased training and simulation exercises instead of adhering to strict hierarchy.
Roberts believes two issues faced with Katrina should be addressed as they will likely arise in future disaster situations: moving evacuees and restoring law and order. He also argues for an “all hazards, all phases” approach to disaster preparation. Finally, Roberts presents 4 issues that he recommends policymakers rethink. These issues are:
• Federal subsidies for risk management
• Dispersed public action
• Preparation for rare events
• Strengthening of the Disaster Management Profession.
Name of Researcher: Lauren Obermeier
Institution: Integrative Center for Homeland Security, Texas A&M University
Date Posted: October 10, 2006