*This is my submission of the class case study of Hurricane Katrina from the perspective of multi-level and multi-actor theory in course “Security and Safety Challenges in a Globalized World” with Leiden University on Coursera.
Brief description of Hurricane Katrina:
Hurricane Katrina made landfall off the
coast of Louisiana on August 29, 2005. An estimated 1,200 people died as
a direct result of the storm, which also cost an estimated $108 billion
in property damage, making it the costliest storm on record.
A brief timeline of the storm shows how davastating it was.
Aug 23, Tropical depression That Will Later Become Hurricane Katrina
Begins To Form over the Bahamas.
Aug 24, Tropical depression Is Upgraded To Tropical storm status and
Given The Name Katrina.
Aug 25, Hurricane Katrina makes landfall Florida between Hallandale
Beach and Aventura.
Aug 26, The United States Coast Guard activates more than 400
reservists.
Aug 27, President George W. Bush declared a state of emergency in
selected regions of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi; The Department
of Homeland Security Department the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts.
Aug 28, Voluntary and mandatory evacuation orders were issued for large
areas of southeast Louisiana as well as coastal Mississippi and Alabama;
New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin ordered the mandatory evacuation of the
city Of New Orleans.
Aug 29, 80% of the city of New Orleans Flooded.
Aug 30, Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco ordered the complete
evacuation of Louisiana Superdome evacuees are transported to the
Astrodome in Houston, Texas.
Aug 31, Curfew Imposed On City Of New Orleans.
Sep 1, 6,500 National Guard troops arrive in New Orleans.
Sep 2, Food, water and medical supplies begin arriving in New Orleans
for many survivors who have been without for 5 days.
Sep 3, 3,600 paratroopers from 82nd Airborne Division arrived in New
Orleans.
Sep 4, 1,000 firefighters responding to calls for help from around the
country undergo 1 days community relations training prior to beginning
work in New Orleans.
Sep 5, Teams begin the gruesome task recovering those killed in the
hurricane.
Sep 7, Floodwater in the city of New Orleans is found to hold dangerous
levels of bacteria and lead which could cause serious problems for those
coming in contact with floodwater.
…
The aftermath continued into October, causing more than 770,000 people
were displaced due to the hurricane.
Overview of the various levels of governance involved in this case.
In response to the storm, nearly all governance factors across the nation were involved, ranging from the President to the local scholars and resarchers.
Two days after the strom made the landfall, President George W. Bushi declared a state of emergency in the affected areas.
Mayoer of New Orleans ordered mandatory evacuation of the city. Curfew was later imposed.
Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco ordered the complete evacuation of Louisiana Superdome evacuees are transported to the Astrodome in Houston, Texas.
Multi-actor
Local university scholars and researchers began study of the cause to the incident.
FEMA took the lead in response to the disaster.
Mayoer of New Orleans ordered mandatory evacuation of the city.
Coast guards began rescue operation.
The U.S military sent in ships and helicopters to the region for rescue.
The American Red Cross launched the disaster mobilization plan.
Local police forced focused on prevention of looting and violence.
Reference
Lessons Learned, as published on the White House official website
https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/reports/katrina-lessons-learned/chapter5.html
This government will learn the lessons of Hurricane Katrina. We are going to review every action and make necessary changes so that we are better prepared for any challenge of nature, or act of evil men, that could threaten our people.
— President George W. Bush, September 15, 2005
