Civics -- Green/Raby

1) Each form of government had their own roles for preventing, mitigating, and reacting to Hurricane Katrina. It was the local government's responsibility to warn all of the people and evacuate the city. It was also their responsibility to watch the levy and keep it in good condition. It was the local government's responsibility to ask for help after the storm hit and start the process of getting people out of their flooded homes. State government was responsible for helping out with the evacuation process and providing additional support to the local government. It was also their responsibility to use the money given to them by the federal government to set up a communications system so that the evacuation process after the storm ran smoother. They also had the responsibility of sending in the National Guard to help. The National Government was responsible for FEMA and sending in support.

2) In my opinion, each level of government failed horribly at performing their duties. Some made more of an attempt than the others, but still, each one failed. The local government failed to evacuate the city in time. They used the excuse, "we had the buses, but no drivers.", but that should never be an excuse. Just because they are low on drivers doesn't mean that multiple trips couldn't have been made. Or that they couldn't have asked other areas to help supply drivers. The state government never set up the communications systems they were given funding for. If the communications systems would have been up and running, more of the losses could have been prevented. The national government failed the most - they completely neglected the situation for nearly a week. They made excuses saying that they didn't know, especially FEMA, when in reality, there was no possible way they couldn't have known. Katrina was all over the news. The national government also took vital funding away from FEMA, causing them to be under supplied and unable to be as much help as they could have been.

3) The federal government should have a big role in the more major natural disasters. It is their job to "promote the general welfare". They should be the ones making sure that each city is putting the proper plan into action, and should even be sending FEMA in to help out. But, because the government has so many other responsibilities, they should only take part in major disasters. Ones where it is absolutely crucial for them to take part in. Smaller disasters should be left to local and state governments, since often times they are more than adequate.