Citizen: Hurricane Katrina

When Hurricane Katrina tore through New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, hundreds of thousands were left behind to suffer the ravages of destruction, disease, and even death. The majority of these people were black; nearly all were poor. The Federal government’s slow response to local appeals for help is by now notorious. Yet despite the cries of outrage that have mounted since the levees broke, we have failed to confront the disaster’s true lesson: to be poor, or black, in today’s ownership society, is to be left behind. Displaying the intellectual rigor, political passion, and personal empathy that have won him acclaim and fans all across the color line, Michael Eric Dyson offers a searing assessment of the meaning of Hurricane Katrina. Combining interviews with survivors of the disaster with his deep knowledge of black migrations and government policy over decades, Dyson provides the historical context that has been sorely missing from public conversation. He explores the legacy of black suffering in America since slavery and ties its psychic scars to today’s crisis. And, finally, his critique of the way black people are framed in the national consciousness will shock and surprise even the most politically savvy reader. With this clarion call Dyson warns us that we can only find redemption as a society if we acknowledge that Katrina was more than an engineering or emergency response failure. From the TV newsroom to the Capitol Building to the backyard, we must change the way we relate to the black and the poor among us. What’s at stake is no less than the future of democracy.

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall near New Orleans leaving death and destruction across the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama Gulf Coast counties. The lethargic and inept emergency response that followed exposed institutional flaws, poor planning, and false assumptions that are built into the emergency response and homeland security plans and programs. Questions linger: What went wrong? Can it happen again? Is our government equipped to plan for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from natural and manmade disasters? Can the public trust government response to be fair? Does race matter? Racial disparities exist in disaster response, cleanup, rebuilding, reconstruction, and recovery. Race plays out in natural disaster survivors' ability to rebuild, replace infrastructure, obtain loans, and locate temporary and permanent housing. Generally, low-income and people of color disaster victims spend more time in temporary housing, shelters, trailers, mobile homes, and hotels - and are more vulnerable to permanent displacement. Some 'temporary' homes have not proved to be that temporary. In exploring the geography of vulnerability, this book asks why some communities get left behind economically, spatially, and physically before and after disasters strike.

This important Report looks at what went right and what went wrong in the Federal government's response to the worst natural disaster in modern times in the U.S. It also lays the groundwork for transforming how the Nation--from every level of government, to the private sector, to individuals and communities--pursues a vision of emergency preparedness and response.

NOTE: NO FURTHER DISCOUNT FOR THIS PRINT PRODUCT--OVERSTOCK SALE -- Significantly reduced list price while supplies last Do you remember the impact of Hurricane Katrina to the U.S. Gulf Coast?  The televised aftermath of Hurrricane Katrina to the U.S. Gulf Coast seemed to change American citizen's views of hurricane strength, evacuations' importance, and flooding possibilities for many years after it stiked Mississippi and Louisiana.  This resource tells the story of inadequate preparation and response in evacuations, medical care, communications, and contracting. It concludes that the government's best efforts, at all levels of government, were not good enough. The writers hope that their findings will prompt the changes needed to make all levels of government better prepared and better able to respond the next time.  In rthis final report of the Select Biparisan Committee, they identified failures at all levels of government that significantly undermined and detracted from the heroic efforts of first responders, private individuals and organizations, faith-based groups, and others.    First reponders, Federal, State, and municpal coordination, and operational planners, national and local weather forecasters may be interested in these conclusions and points of action in efforts to plan for future natural disaster response to community human life.  Students pursuing coursework in emergency management services, and disaster operational planning may be interested in this text for historical issues. Related products: Natural & Emvironmental Disasters resources collection can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/environment-nature/natural-environmental-disasters