Disaster response

ch. 1: What are the challenges involved in disaster response? Chapter preface

Providing water and sanitation are the immediate challenges following a disaster / Pan American Health Organization

Post-disaster temporary housing is often an unmet need / Matt Fink, Ilyssa Plumer, Kit Radosevich, Erin Ward, and Rebekah Green

Natural disasters present the challenge of dealing with emotional trauma, especially for children / Philip J. Lazarus, Shane R. Jimerson, and Stephen E. Brock

Disaster response challenges are mounting as global warming increases climatic disasters around the world / Oxfam International

Building a disaster-resilient nation and world is the grand challenge / David Applegate

ch. 2: Has the U.S. disaster response improved since Hurricane Katrina? Chapter preface

Yes, the U.S. disaster response has improved since Hurricane Katrina. A new and enhanced FEMA was created in 2007 / R. David Paulison

The federal government has improved disaster preparedness and response / Gregg Carlstrom

Coordination between the federal government and states was better for Hurricane Gustav than for Hurricane Katrina / Associated Press

Hurricanes Gustav and Ike showed that FEMA reforms have worked / Jeff Greene

No, the U.S. disaster response has not improved since Hurricane Katrina. FEMA reforms did not address the root causes of the Katrina response disaster / Peter Grier

FEMA is not ready for another Katrina disaster / Stewart M. Powell

FEMA failed to develop a housing plan for Hurricane Ike evacuees / Dahleen Glanton

ch. 3: Should citizens rely on the government to respond to disasters? Chapter preface

Yes, citizens should rely on the government to respond to disasters. FEMA is ready to respond to major disasters / John Solomon

The private sector cannot take the place of government in disaster response / Dante Chinni

No, citizens should not rely on the government to respond to disasters. Citizens cannot rely on FEMA during catastrophic events / Dorothy A. Seese

Most Texans in hurricane country do not rely on the government / Gina McCauley

Reliance on the federal government gives a false sense of security to state and local governments / Matt A. Mayer, Richard Weitz, and Diem Nguyen

ch. 4: How can U.S. disaster response be improved? Chapter preface

FEMA should give states and localities more responsibility for disaster response / Patrick Roberts

FEMA must coordinate better with voluntary agencies in providing mass care after disasters / U.S. Government Accountability Office

A good communications network is still needed for first responders / Sascha Meinrath

FEMA is still in need of reform / Mitchell L. Moss

FEMA should not be given more power / Michael Hampton

Greater government investments are needed to provide effective disaster response / Donald Cohen

The government should create a national disaster insurance fund / Frank McEnulty

The government-funded disaster safety net should be replaced with free-market policies / Thomas A. Bowden

Organizations to contact.