discussion of STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Lack of Communication and Interoperability Problems in New Orleans

The communications sector in New Orleans was one of the critical infrastructure that was severely damaged and destroyed during the Hurricane Katrina. According to the Assistant Secretary of the Homeland Security and Defense, the local system of communication was not only degraded but the systems was destroyed and lasted for a lengthy time.  Due to the effects of the Hurricane, sources of commercial power were destroyed too. The failure of the sources of power that were for commercial purposes resulted to major offices depended on generators for their power sources. Most radio stations in New Orleans were forcefully terminated from airing with a majority of the cell towers of the cities being knocked out. There was degradation of the Land Mobile Radio Responder communications which resulted to the damage of the 911 emergency services. Those stations that survived were overwhelmed by the spiking calls volumes and desperate people who wanted to access help and to know those at risk. 

The biggest problem nevertheless to the response to Katrina was the Massive inoperability, failed and destroyed incompatible systems of communication. Most people were caught unprepared despite the fact that it was prepared for by others. Power losses and the multiple government levels failure in taking initiatives in adequate preparation of the effect of Katrina on communication hindered the response efforts. The failure compromised the situational awareness and the command operations control. The FEMA failed to pre-position mobile communications and waited to be signaled by the local authorities. The poor command control led to unsubstantiated and inaccurate media reports since the public official lacked the facts of addressing the media reports. All these resulted from poor positional awareness and the its negative effects. 

When allocating resources and responsibilities towards the needy citizens after disasters like the Hurricane Katarina has happened, federalism has been the major principle to guide the activity. The Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath with its consequent devastation was an unsteady condition in deciding either to leave major future catastrophic occurrences to the federal government in meeting emergency needs. Federalism was meant to turn everything to Washington DC which was a terrible idea. The right actions of the domestic emergencies require both the local and the state governments and for this, Homeland security and the disaster management were national and not federal. Therefore, the best way of meeting a shared responsibility was not putting the big government in charge. 

Response Two

2 days ago

Cianna Walker 

The Storm