Rita gives governments a second chance to get it right
Ron Fournier
Issue date: 9/26/05 Section: Opinions
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As a powerful hurricane nears the coast, the mayor begs residents to evacuate, the governor deploys the National Guard and the president vows a rapid federal response. Politicians are reading from their pre-Katrina scripts as they brace for Rita, an unwelcome second chance to get it right.
The public has every reason to be skeptical as federal, state and city officials pledge not to repeat lethal errors made in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
That monster storm took days to make landfall, yet caught political leaders flat-footed.
Why would Rita be any different? Disaster-relief experts cite three reasons for hope: Stung by Katrina, the Bush administration is more deeply engaged in preparations for Rita than it was for the earlier storm; state officials in Texas have more assets than their Gulf Coast counterparts, and Katrina has taught every level of government lessons in disaster management.
"They had the good fortune to see New Orleans get whacked," said Michael K. Lindell, director of the Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center at Texas A&M University.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the federal government would be "better prepared and in better position to respond to Hurricane Rita."
Among the errors that government officials hope not to repeat:
Food and other supplies trickled into the Gulf Coast for Katrina. Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff says helicopters are standing by to ship in relief this time.
Lawlessness broke out in New Orleans. Texas Gov. Rick Perry says he has 5,000 National Guard troops and 1,000 Department of Safety troopers positioned. The Bush administration was reluctant to use its authority to deploy federal troops into the Gulf Coast. It may be quicker on the draw this time.
There was a leadership gap. While deep systemic problems contributed to the problem, the administration's disaster chief, Michael Brown, took the fall and resigned after Katrina.
Scores of people failed to heed evacuation warnings in New Orleans, either because they had no transportation or they didn't want to leave. Galveston, Texas, was evacuating Wednesday, three days before Rita was set to hit.
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The public has every reason to be skeptical as federal, state and city officials pledge not to repeat lethal errors made in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
That monster storm took days to make landfall, yet caught political leaders flat-footed.
Why would Rita be any different? Disaster-relief experts cite three reasons for hope: Stung by Katrina, the Bush administration is more deeply engaged in preparations for Rita than it was for the earlier storm; state officials in Texas have more assets than their Gulf Coast counterparts, and Katrina has taught every level of government lessons in disaster management.
"They had the good fortune to see New Orleans get whacked," said Michael K. Lindell, director of the Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center at Texas A&M University.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the federal government would be "better prepared and in better position to respond to Hurricane Rita."
Among the errors that government officials hope not to repeat:
Food and other supplies trickled into the Gulf Coast for Katrina. Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff says helicopters are standing by to ship in relief this time.
Lawlessness broke out in New Orleans. Texas Gov. Rick Perry says he has 5,000 National Guard troops and 1,000 Department of Safety troopers positioned. The Bush administration was reluctant to use its authority to deploy federal troops into the Gulf Coast. It may be quicker on the draw this time.
There was a leadership gap. While deep systemic problems contributed to the problem, the administration's disaster chief, Michael Brown, took the fall and resigned after Katrina.
Scores of people failed to heed evacuation warnings in New Orleans, either because they had no transportation or they didn't want to leave. Galveston, Texas, was evacuating Wednesday, three days before Rita was set to hit.