Hurricane Katrina

In discussing efficiency and preventative policy during hurricane Katrina, The focus will be policies that were in effect before the storm as well as policies that could have helped during and after. The United States national response framework (NRF) is part of the national strategy for Homeland security that presents the guiding principles enabling all levels of domestic response partners to prepare for or provide qualified national response to disasters and emergencies. (Wikipedia, 2012) During this time of emergency and disaster the response time was very slow, and communication was not effective. In an emergency support plan there are 15 functions transportation, communication, public works & engineering, firefighting, emerging management, mass care emergency assistance housing and human services, logistics and management & resources, public health & medical services, search and rescue, hazardous materials, agriculture and natural, energy, public safety & security, long term recovery, and external affairs. (Georgia Emergency Operations plan, 2013) Functions 2, 5 and 6 were the main things that hindered hurricane Katrina. These functions are what in need of improvement. The primary contact for these functions of the emergency support plan were homeland security, department of human services, and department of community affairs and Red Cross. There are many third party organizations that aid in the process of response to disasters and emergencies. Most of them are contacted after the first responders are called to action, which includes the local, state, and federal government. Red Cross made major changes after Katrina, cutting response delivery time down from 6 days to 72 hours. They also made changes with more trained staff, established resource venues, and building lasting partnerships with local, state, and federal governments as well as FEMA. A Disaster coalition should be implemented, during emergencies, decisions made by one organization will impact