Homeland Security

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses homeland security in the United States. It particularly discusses the impact of the signing of the Homeland Security Act in 2002, especially focusing on its role following Hurricane Katrina. The paper criticizes the slow response from homeland security and especially FEMA with regards to Hurricane Katrina. It then suggests possible solutions for avoiding such future tragedies.

From the Paper:

"Finally, the most important aspect of the post Katrina analysis is the role FEMA was supposed to play in organizing and coordinating the relief operations. Generally speaking, people tend to search for the guilt inside the authority chain and to consider them responsible for every major negative event. However, in this particular case, FEMA had been especially designed for emergency cases such as Katrina; it may be that no one could have been aware of the magnitude of the disaster to come, but the slow response from this specialized agency is yet to find an excuse. The 2006 report analyzing its activities during the hurricane pointed out that the agency had "lacked clear leadership between FEMA headquarters and the disaster sites, had operated under outdated or inadequate response plans, had needed better-trained or more experienced employees, and was unable to get a clear picture of emergencies as they unfolded." (Associated Press, 2006) Therefore, the blame fell on the authorities, but, even so, little can be done today to bring back what was destroyed in the floods."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Anderson, W. (2005) Katrina and the Never-Ending Scandal of State Management. Retrieved 17 January 2007, from http://www.mises.org/story/1909
• Associated Press. (2006). Post Katrina analysis shows persistent FEMA flaws. FoxNews.com. Retrieved 18 January 2007, from http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,190338,00.html
• Brown, D. M. (2005). Hurricane Katrina: The First Seven Days of America's Worst Natural Disaster. New York: Lulu Press.
• CNN. (2005). Katrina hits Florida: 3 dead; 1 million in dark. CNN website. Retrieved 17 January 2007, from http://www.cnn.com/2005/WEATHER/08/25/tropical.storm/index.html
• Howitt, A, Leonard, H. (2005) Katrina and the Core Challenges of Disaster Response. Retrieved 17 January 2007, from http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/taubmancenter/emergencyprep/downloads/beyond_katrina.pdf

More papers on Homeland Security:

• Persuasive Essay # 98252 : "Protecting America and Homeland Security"
• Term Paper # 142291 : "Homeland Security Memorandum Meta Data"
• Descriptive Essay # 131417 : "Department of Homeland Security and Such"
• Analytical Essay # 123645 : "Crisis and Department of Homeland Security"

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