The Roles of Homeland Security
RUNNING HEAD: Research and Analysis Paper
CJ355-01 Homeland Security: Research and Analysis Paper
Dion Thompson
Kaplan University
Professor Tina Mainwaring
CJ355-01 Homeland Security
June 11, 2013
Hurricane Katrina was the largest and third strongest hurricane ever to be recorded to make landfall in the United States (dosomething.org). The final death toll of Hurricane Katrina was a staggering 1,836, mainly from the state of Louisiana and 238 people killed in Mississippi (dosomething.org). Hurricane Katrina caused $81 billion in property damages, but is estimated that the total economic impact in Louisiana and Mississippi may have exceeded $150 billion (dosomething.org). An estimated 80 percent of New Orleans was under water, up to 20 feet deep in some places (dosomething.org). Hurricane Katrina affected 15 million people in different factors such as economy, evacuations, gas prices, drinking water, and the ability to communicate with law enforcement, emergency personnel, and finding loved ones. Many survivors of Hurricane Katrina who tried to call for help or medical assistance had found out that their cell phones where dead, due in part because of commercial cellular systems were not designed to be highly reliable (“Communication challenges after”, 2005). During Hurricane Katrina the lack of good communication greatly impeded the disaster response of government and rescue organizations (“Communication challenges after”, 2005). In New Orleans and the surrounding areas, land-line telephones were out, most cell phone towers were disabled and electric power had failed (“Communication challenges after”, 2005). This is not a surprising situation, before Hurricane Katrina, cellular companies making cell phones more reliable would boost the cost of cellular service with increasing profits for the cellular providers (“Communication challenges after”, 2005). “Communications was one of the critical infrastructures sectors that were most severely affected
CJ355-01 Homeland Security: Research and Analysis Paper
Dion Thompson
Kaplan University
Professor Tina Mainwaring
CJ355-01 Homeland Security
June 11, 2013
Hurricane Katrina was the largest and third strongest hurricane ever to be recorded to make landfall in the United States (dosomething.org). The final death toll of Hurricane Katrina was a staggering 1,836, mainly from the state of Louisiana and 238 people killed in Mississippi (dosomething.org). Hurricane Katrina caused $81 billion in property damages, but is estimated that the total economic impact in Louisiana and Mississippi may have exceeded $150 billion (dosomething.org). An estimated 80 percent of New Orleans was under water, up to 20 feet deep in some places (dosomething.org). Hurricane Katrina affected 15 million people in different factors such as economy, evacuations, gas prices, drinking water, and the ability to communicate with law enforcement, emergency personnel, and finding loved ones. Many survivors of Hurricane Katrina who tried to call for help or medical assistance had found out that their cell phones where dead, due in part because of commercial cellular systems were not designed to be highly reliable (“Communication challenges after”, 2005). During Hurricane Katrina the lack of good communication greatly impeded the disaster response of government and rescue organizations (“Communication challenges after”, 2005). In New Orleans and the surrounding areas, land-line telephones were out, most cell phone towers were disabled and electric power had failed (“Communication challenges after”, 2005). This is not a surprising situation, before Hurricane Katrina, cellular companies making cell phones more reliable would boost the cost of cellular service with increasing profits for the cellular providers (“Communication challenges after”, 2005). “Communications was one of the critical infrastructures sectors that were most severely affected
References: Brunner, B. (n.d.). Hurricane Katrina a disaster and its catastrophic aftermath. Retrieved from http://www.infoplease.com/spot/hurricanekatrina.html President Bush, G. W. (2007). Chapter five: lessons learned. Retrieved from http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/reports/katrina-lessons-learned/chapter5.html Martin, D. (2005, August 30). Looters take advantage of New Orleans mess. Associated Press. Retrieved from http://www.nbcnews.com/id/9131493/ns/us_news-katrina_the_long_road_back/t/looters-take-advantage-new-orleans-mess/ Piper, P. (2006, June). A failure to communicate. Searcher, 14(6), Retrieved from http://www.infotoday.com/searcher/jun06/piper_ramos.shtml Communication challenges after the hurricane. (2005, September 15). The Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/14/AR2005091402262.html 11 facts about Hurricane Katrina. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.dosomething.org/actnow/tipsandtools/11-facts-about-hurricane-katrina