2.4
The Department of Homeland Security's management of natural disasters
Shali Mohleji, Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Protection from natural disasters falls under the responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) however the manner with which the department deals with natural disasters has been misguided with low prioritization in the beginning followed later by mainly response and recovery preparedness.
Originally during the inception of the department, the focus of the greatest threat to national security fell upon terrorist attacks. Terrorism countermeasures received the majority of homeland security funding and natural disasters merely appeared as a rhetorical concern for the department.
For decades scientists had predicted a catastrophic hurricane making landfall upon New Orleans yet homeland security policy never followed suit with hurricane preparedness. Hurricane Katrina forced emergency funding and new disaster preparedness policies to emerge from DHS.
Currently the question is in what manner DHS now manages natural disaster protection. Two hurricane seasons have passed since Hurricane Katrina, in addition to a newsworthy tornado season of 2007. Has DHS's approach to natural disaster protection changed from the pre-Hurricane Katrina period?
Natural disaster protection has risen as a major priority for DHS but mainly for hurricanes; not tornados or earthquakes. More funding has been appropriated to natural disaster protection, yet not for decreasing vulnerabilities. Rather, the increased DHS funds have largely been allocated to emergency response and recovery efforts.
Session 2, Societal Dimensions of Hazards II
Wednesday, 23 January 2008, 4:00 PM-5:30 PM, 228-229
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