Recovering From Hurricane Katrina
Two weeks after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which I chair, held its first hearing investigating issues surrounding Hurricane Katrina. Our immediate focus is on how to best assist the victims of Katrina: the 450,000 families that require long-term housing, the newly unemployed, the shuttered small businesses, the overwhelmed school systems, and the obliterated communities. We heard from expert witnesses, such as former Californian Governor Pete Wilson, who led with distinction when faced with the challenges of past natural disasters, on what we can do now -- right now -- to assist and comfort the victims of Katrina, to stabilize the economy of the Gulf Coast, and to plan for the reconstruction.
In the months ahead, the Committee will conduct a thorough, deliberate, and fair review of the preparation for and response to this devastating hurricane – at all levels of government. We will ask the hard questions about the adequacy of planning efforts for this long-predicted natural disaster. We will explore the coordination among local, state, and federal emergency management officials before and after the hurricane=s landfall. And we will critically examine the legal structures and authorities that define who is in charge of assets that must be brought to bear in such a catastrophic event.
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001, America has worked hard and invested billions of dollars to create an emergency preparation and response structure that would bring local, state, and federal authorities together into one cohesive and effective unit. In its first major test since 9/11, however, this structure failed to meet our expectations.
At this point, we would have expected a sharp, crisp response to this terrible tragedy. Instead, we witnessed what appeared to be a sluggish initial response that was characterized by a confusing lack of unity of command, a lack of coordination among different levels of government, and a lack of communication – sometimes even an inability to communicate at all – among government entities, first responders, utilities, health care providers, and other emergency workers. Some have said that these problems have been caused by the federal government's post-9/11 focus on terrorism. My committee will look at that issue, but I doubt that is the case since much of our preparations for a terrorist attack are equally applicable whether the cause of the incident is a natural disaster, fire, or accident. For example, if the levees in New Orleans had been breached by a terrorist attack instead of a hurricane, we still would have faced very similar evacuation, rescue, and recovery challenges.
Another question that is being debated is whether an outside commission should be formed to investigate Katrina. Regardless of whether an outside commission is established, it is essential that Congress conduct an aggressive inquiry. We would be remiss if we ignored our clear responsibility to conduct oversight to identify why the preparation and initial response were so woefully inadequate. We must identify problems so that we can change the laws and institute the reforms that only Congress has the power to implement.
The purpose of this investigation is not simply to place blame. Such an inquiry would be unproductive and misguided. Without a single human error, Katrina still would have been a natural disaster on an order of magnitude rarely seen. But our inquiry must lay bare the painful evidence of human errors that added to the suffering. We must learn the lessons from Katrina, so that we can better protect our people the next time a disaster strikes.
In conducting this inquiry, I am determined not to divert resources from the recovery efforts that are still at a critical stage. Ensuring that federal, state, local, and private emergency efforts have the resources and leadership needed must remain our first priority and our highest obligation.
Despite the failures and shortfalls of the response, there have been many more acts of courage and compassion. Many first responders and medical providers, the Coast Guard, National Guard, active duty troops, private citizens and, yes, FEMA employees, have worked heroically and tirelessly.
When the Coast Guard briefed my committee, I learned that seventy percent of the Coast Guard employees based in the Gulf Coast, who were heroically rescuing tens of thousands of people over the past two weeks, had lost their own homes in Hurricane Katrina. In a time of personal loss, they carried on and did their job helping others.
And throughout our nation, Americans have done what they always do in times of crisis: they have opened their hearts, their wallets, and, even their homes. Katrina has raised serious questions about how our governments respond to catastrophic events – questions we will answer over the course of this investigation. But Katrina has also shown, once again, the spirit and character of the American people that give our nation a resiliency to recover from any catastrophe.
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