Hurricane Katrina as a Global Case of Grand Failure: Lessons for Future Crisis and Emergency Management

Author(s):  
Ali Farazmand
Author(s):  
Michael R. Mabe

According to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned (2006), emergency management professionals realized first-hand that preplanning and coordination is essential when mounting an effective reaction to natural disasters. This chapter describes how leaders in Chesterfield County, VA learned similar lessons in 2001 during Hurricane Irene. In comparison to Katrina the amount of damage caused by Irene was minimal but the impact on county leaders was severe. Based on lessons learned during Irene and an unexpected wind storm nine months later, Chesterfield County leaders now include the Chesterfield County Public (CCPL) in their official disaster relief plans. When activated, CCPL will serve as an information hub, double as a daytime relief shelter and participate in mass feeding if necessary. Selected library branches are available to be used as overnight relief shelters for mass care when the activation of a standard sized shelter facility is not warranted. These changes have made a notable difference.


2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 159-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucien G. Canton

Despite a distance of 100 years the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire still has much to teach the emergency managers of 2006. The response to the 1906 disaster foreshadows many modern emergency management techniques and sounds a cautionary note about areas where work still needs to be done. By comparing the city's response in 1906 with modern emergency plans, this paper examines how San Francisco might deal with a similar event in 2006. While many issues that marred the 1906 response have been resolved and much has been done to build resiliency, San Francisco in 2006 is in many ways still very similar in attitude to the San Francisco of 1906. Further, the recent example of Hurricane Katrina suggests that some of the more critical issues that arose in 1906 have still not been fully resolved.


2019 ◽  
pp. 1513-1535
Author(s):  
Michael R. Mabe

According to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned (2006), emergency management professionals realized first-hand that preplanning and coordination is essential when mounting an effective reaction to natural disasters. This chapter describes how leaders in Chesterfield County, VA learned similar lessons in 2001 during Hurricane Irene. In comparison to Katrina the amount of damage caused by Irene was minimal but the impact on county leaders was severe. Based on lessons learned during Irene and an unexpected wind storm nine months later, Chesterfield County leaders now include the Chesterfield County Public (CCPL) in their official disaster relief plans. When activated, CCPL will serve as an information hub, double as a daytime relief shelter and participate in mass feeding if necessary. Selected library branches are available to be used as overnight relief shelters for mass care when the activation of a standard sized shelter facility is not warranted. These changes have made a notable difference.


Author(s):  
Brianna Terese Hertzler ◽  
Eric Frost ◽  
George H. Bressler ◽  
Charles Goehring

The events of September 11, 2001, the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 awakened American policymakers to the importance of the need for emergency management. This paper explains how a cloud computing environment can support social networks and logistical coordination on a global scale during crises. Basic cloud computing functionality is covered to show how social networks can connect seamlessly to work together with profound interoperability. Lastly, the benefits of a cloud computing solution is presented as the most cost-effective, efficient, and secure method of communication during a disaster response, with the unique capability of being able to support a global community through its massive scalability.


2007 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Fielding Smith, PhD, PE, Captain USNR (Ret.), MASCE ◽  
Sandra Sue Waggoner, BA, EMT-P, EMSI ◽  
Arthur Rabjohn, DipEP ◽  
Avi Bachar, BGen (Ret.)

Airports are important assets during disaster response. Traditional roles as command posts, shelters, temporary hospitals, and alternative communication hubs were filled by airports after Hurricane Katrina and for 9/11 flight diversions. The basic thesis of this article is that airports need special measures to preserve functionality (continuity of business) during response and recovery. The second thesis is that sound emergency management measures should be built into airports as a type of mitigation. This article applies qualitative analysis to historical case studies, plans, documents, and scenarios for use of airports during disasters. It focuses on policy, procedural, organizational, and operational measures to protect the functionality during responses.


2007 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan Patrick Gill

During the onslaught of hurricane Katrina on the gulf coast of the United States in August 2005, local emergency planning officials, state agencies, and federal entities came together to impress upon those still left in the danger zone to evacuate. Unfortunately, more than 100,000 people remained in the danger area because of various reasons. In this piece, the author will examine Protective Action Recommendations, proper and poor risk communications, and the need for emergency management officials to keep the pulse of those that they serve.


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