,,The Local Role in Disaster Response: Lessons from Katrina and the California Wildfires

The Local Role in Disaster Response: Lessons from Katrina and the California Wildfires


 

Publication Date: June 2008

Publisher: Heritage Foundation (Washington, D.C.)

Author(s): Matt A. Mayer; Richard Weitz; Diem Nguyen

Research Area: Environment; Social conditions

Keywords: Homeland defense; Mayer; weitz; FEMA

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

The federalization of disaster responses continues to accelerate, further stretching FEMA's already strained resources and encouraging state and local governments to divert their disaster-response resources to more immediate needs like transportation, education, or health care. It is time to get back to our federalist tradition and empower state and local governments to take the lead in managing disasters.