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The Katrina report Well, Now They KnowBy Rick Horowitz
"Lessons Learned"
-- an early draft: "In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the office of the White House homeland security adviser has overseen a thorough review of the federal government's emergency-response capabilities and procedures. Our findings, and the resulting recommendations, will enable us to better serve the American people in times of crisis. As we look ahead, we intend to act expeditiously on each of these 'Lessons Learned.' "Lesson No. 1: Improved communication systems are vital in formulating an effective government response to emergencies. Efforts to achieve 'situational awareness' and 'interoperability' among various government agencies, and among different levels of government tasked to provide emergency response, must be given the highest priority. "Lesson No. 2: Establishing a single, clear chain of command is essential to providing the most efficient government response to emergencies. Confusion among government agencies, or between civilian and military authorities, cannot be permitted to interfere with a rapid and dynamic response. "Lesson No. 3: Hurricanes can be dangerous. "Lesson No. 4: Really big hurricanes can be really dangerous. "Lesson No. 5: Emergency evacuation plans for high-risk areas must include provisions for helping those who lack the means or the physical capacity to evacuate themselves. "Lesson No. 6: Emergency supplies such as food, ice and medicine should be pre-positioned in high-risk areas to permit faster distribution should the need arise. "Lesson No. 7: When the experts say 'The city will flood,' it may be worth considering the possibility that the city will flood. "Lesson No. 8: The National Guard should receive additional training and equipment to better enable Guard units to assist in emergency-response efforts. "Lesson No. 9: Levees are more useful when they don't collapse. Constructing levees so they don't collapse is a worthwhile goal. "Lesson No. 10: Establishing a centralized data base for evacuees and their families will limit confusion in times of emergency. Such a data base will make it easier for family members to stay apprised of one another's status, and to reunite from widely scattered locations once the emergency has passed. "Lesson No. 11: A 20-foot-high storm surge will move a lot of water in a very short time. It's generally preferable not to be in the path of such a storm surge. "Lesson No. 12: The Federal Emergency Management Agency should be empowered to work more closely with state and local officials to better coordinate emergency response. "Lesson No. 13: In considering the appointment of future directors of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, some weight should be given to actual prior experience in emergency management. (Running horse shows, by contrast, may be less relevant experience than originally believed.) "Lesson No. 14: A photograph taken in the early hours of a storm that clearly shows a significant breach in a levee is something more than an 'unconfirmed report,' and can be treated accordingly. "Lesson No. 15: 'Rising' water and 'standing' water can be nearly as destructive as 'rushing' water. "Lesson No. 16: Drowning in one's attic is an unfortunate way to go. "Lesson No. 17: From the point of view of residents of affected areas, dramatic mood lighting for a presidential speech seems less important than restoring electricity to homes and streets. "Lesson No. 18: Trailers providing emergency housing to flood victims are more useful when they're not rotting in some parking lot in Arkansas. "Lesson No. 19: The people of Louisiana and Mississippi are, at last report, still part of the United States. "Lesson No. 20: To the extent possible, hurricanes and other emergencies should not occur while the president is on vacation." Posted 2/24/06. Look
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Rick Horowitz
