Table of Contents
Foreword 13
Introduction 16
Chapter 1 What Are the Challenges Involved in Disaster Response?
Chapter Preface 21
Providing Water and Sanitation Are the Immediate Challenges Following a Disaster Pan American Health Organization 25
Post-disaster Temporary Housing Is Often an Unmet Need Matt Fink Ilyssa Plumer Kit Radosevich Erin Ward Rebekah Green 30
Natural Disasters Present the Challenge of Dealing with Emotional Trauma, Especially for Children Philip J. Lazarus Shane R. Jimerson Stephen E. Brock 41
Disaster Response Challenges Are Mounting as Global Warming Increases Climatic Disasters Around the World Oxfam International 51
Building a Disaster-Resilient Nation and World Is the Grand Challenge David Applegate 56
Chapter 2 Has the U.S. Disaster Response Improved Since Hurricane Katrina?
Chapter Preface 61
Yes: The U.S. Disaster Response Has Improved Since Hurricane Katrina 61
A New and Enhanced FEMA Was Created in 2007 R. David Paulison 64
The Federal Government Has Improved Disaster Preparedness and Response Gregg Carlstrom 71
Coordination Between the Federal Government and States Was Better for Hurricane Gustav than for Hurricane Katrina Associated Press 76
Hurricanes Gustav and Ike Showed That FEMA Reforms Have Worked Jeff Greene 80
No: The U.S. Disaster Response Has Not Improved Since Hurricane Katrina
FEMA Reforms Did Not Address the Root Causes of the Katrina Response Disaster Peter Grier 84
FEMA Is Not Ready for Another Katrina Disaster Stewart M. Powell 88
FEMA Failed to Develop a Housing Plan for Hurricane Ike Evacuees Dahleen Glanton 92
Chapter 3 Should Citizens Rely on the Government to Respond to Disasters?
Chapter Preface97
Yes: Citizens Should Rely on the Government to Respond to Disasters
FEMA Is Ready to Respond to Major Disasters John Solomon 100
The Private Sector Cannot Take the Place of Government in Disaster Response Dante Chinni 103
No: Citizens Should Not Rely on the Government to Respond to Disasters
Citizens Cannot Rely on FEMA During Catastrophic Events Dorothy A. Seese 107
Most Texans in Hurricane Country Do Not Rely on the Government Gina McCauley 112
Reliance on the Federal Government Gives a False Sense of Security to State and Local Governments Matt A. Mayer Richard Weitz Diem Nguyen 116
Chapter 4 How Can U.S. Disaster Response Be Improved?
Chapter Preface 125
FEMA Should Give States and Localities More Responsibility for Disaster Response Patrick Roberts 128
FEMA Must Coordinate Better with Voluntary Agencies in Providing Mass Care After Disasters U.S. Government Accountability Office 139
A Good Communications Network Is Still Needed for First Responders Sascha Meinrath 146
FEMA Is Still in Need of Reform Mitchell L. Moss 157
FEMA Should Not Be Given More Power Michael Hampton 160
Greater Government Investments Are Needed to Provide Effective Disaster Response Donald Cohen 165
The Government Should Create a National Disaster Insurance Fund Frank McEnulty 170
The Government-Funded Disaster Safety Net Should Be Replaced with Free-Market Policies Thomas A. Bowden 173
Organizations to Contact 178
Bibliography 182
Index 187
