Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned& Implications for Crisis Management

Kathleen TierneyProfessor, Department of Sociology & Institute of Behavioral ScienceDirector, Natural Hazards CenterUniversity of Colorado, Boulder, CO

Graduate School Advisory CouncilUniversity of Colorado at Boulder April 28,2006

Presentation ThemesPresentation Themes

Hurricane ImpactsHurricane Impacts

Broad Issues of Broad Issues of National Concern and National Concern and Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Implications for Implications for Future Disasters & Future Disasters & Catastrophic EventsCatastrophic Events

Portrait of a Catastrophic StormPortrait of a Catastrophic Storm

Third Major Hurricane, First Category 5 of 2005 Third Major Hurricane, First Category 5 of 2005 SeasonSeason

Among Strongest Hurricanes to Ever Make Among Strongest Hurricanes to Ever Make Landfall in the U. S.Landfall in the U. S.

Two Landfalls: Florida (Aug. 25), Gulf Coast Two Landfalls: Florida (Aug. 25), Gulf Coast (Aug. 29)(Aug. 29)

200 Miles of Coastline Affected by Storm Surge200 Miles of Coastline Affected by Storm Surge

Portrait of a Catastrophic StormPortrait of a Catastrophic Storm

Estimated 1,319 Killed—But Many Still Missing Estimated 1,319 Killed—But Many Still Missing

Bodies Continue to be Found, and Katrina Bodies Continue to be Found, and Katrina Continues to KillContinues to Kill

At Least 7,500 Injuries, Illnesses in First MonthAt Least 7,500 Injuries, Illnesses in First Month

Failure of Levee System and Inadequate Failure of Levee System and Inadequate Emergency Procedures in New Orleans Largest Emergency Procedures in New Orleans Largest Contributors to Life LossContributors to Life Loss

Portrait of a Catastrophic StormPortrait of a Catastrophic Storm

416,000 Housing Units Destroyed416,000 Housing Units Destroyed

85,000 Units with Major Damage85,000 Units with Major Damage

About Half of Those Destroyed were Rental UnitsAbout Half of Those Destroyed were Rental Units—as High as 55% in New Orleans—as High as 55% in New Orleans

71% of Lost Units Were in the Low Income or 71% of Lost Units Were in the Low Income or “Affordable Housing” Range“Affordable Housing” Range

Portrait of a Catastrophic StormPortrait of a Catastrophic Storm

Estimated Insured Losses: $40-60 BillionEstimated Insured Losses: $40-60 Billion

Total Estimated Losses: Over $125 BillionTotal Estimated Losses: Over $125 Billion

163,000 Businesses in Area Affected by Katrina 163,000 Businesses in Area Affected by Katrina and Ritaand Rita

2.7 Million Jobs Initially Affected2.7 Million Jobs Initially Affected

Better Statistics on Katrina’s Impacts on Better Statistics on Katrina’s Impacts on Businesses, Employment, Wages NeededBusinesses, Employment, Wages Needed

Lessons Learned—and Re-LearnedLessons Learned—and Re-Learned

Emergencies, Disasters, and Catastrophes Are Emergencies, Disasters, and Catastrophes Are Qualitatively DifferentQualitatively Different

Social Inequality, Vulnerability Structure Disaster LossesSocial Inequality, Vulnerability Structure Disaster Losses—Relevance of Vulnerability Science—Relevance of Vulnerability Science

The Nation Has No Effective Plan for Responding to The Nation Has No Effective Plan for Responding to CatastrophesCatastrophes

““Elite Panic”—Rather than Public Panic—Is a Major Elite Panic”—Rather than Public Panic—Is a Major Problem in Large-Scale DisastersProblem in Large-Scale Disasters

Emergencies, Disasters, and CatastrophesEmergencies, Disasters, and Catastrophes

EmergenciesEmergencies Disasters Disasters CatastrophesCatastrophes

Impacts LocalizedImpacts Localized Impacts Widespread, SevereImpacts Widespread, Severe Extremely Large Physical Extremely Large Physical and Social Impactsand Social Impacts

Response Mainly LocalResponse Mainly Local Response Multi-Response Multi-Jurisdictional, Jurisdictional, Intergovernmental,Intergovernmental,

But Bottom-UpBut Bottom-Up

Response Requires Federal Response Requires Federal Initiative, Pro-Active Initiative, Pro-Active ResponseResponse

Standard Operating Standard Operating Procedures UsedProcedures Used

Disaster Plans Put Into Disaster Plans Put Into Effect—But Challenges Effect—But Challenges RemainRemain

Massive Challenges Exceed Massive Challenges Exceed Those Envisioned in Those Envisioned in Standard PlansStandard Plans

Vast Majority of Response Vast Majority of Response Resources Are UnaffectedResources Are Unaffected

Extensive Damage to, Extensive Damage to, Disruption of, Key Disruption of, Key Emergency ServicesEmergency Services

Emergency Response Emergency Response System Paralyzed at Local System Paralyzed at Local and Even State Levelsand Even State Levels

Public Generally Not Public Generally Not Involved in ResponseInvolved in Response

Public Extensively Involved Public Extensively Involved in Responsein Response

Public Extensively Involved Public Extensively Involved in Responsein Response

No Significant Recovery No Significant Recovery ChallengesChallenges

Major Recovery ChallengesMajor Recovery Challenges Cascading Long-Term Cascading Long-Term Effects, With Massive Effects, With Massive Recovery ChallengesRecovery Challenges

Importance of the Vulnerability Importance of the Vulnerability Science PerspectiveScience Perspective

Victimization, Damage Victimization, Damage Result from the Intersection Result from the Intersection of Three Sets of Factors:of Three Sets of Factors:

Vulnerability of PlaceVulnerability of Place

Vulnerable Built Vulnerable Built EnvironmentEnvironment

Vulnerable Populations—a Vulnerable Populations—a Construct that Includes Construct that Includes Social Class, Race, Health Social Class, Race, Health Status, Integration into Status, Integration into “Mainstream” Society, “Mainstream” Society, Social and Cultural CapitalSocial and Cultural Capital

The Nation Has No Effective Procedures for The Nation Has No Effective Procedures for Responding to CatastrophesResponding to Catastrophes

Planning Process for Current Federal Plans Was Planning Process for Current Federal Plans Was Inadequate, Hasty, Lacking Expert InputInadequate, Hasty, Lacking Expert Input

All Planning Scenarios Assume that Key Officials All Planning Scenarios Assume that Key Officials Will Recognize a Catastrophe When They See One!Will Recognize a Catastrophe When They See One!

Federal Planning Highly Myopic With Respect to Federal Planning Highly Myopic With Respect to TerrorismTerrorism

Plans as “Fantasy DocumentsPlans as “Fantasy Documents” ” (Clarke, 1999)(Clarke, 1999)

Disasters and “Elite Panic”Disasters and “Elite Panic”

Elites Fear Disruption of the Social Order, Elites Fear Disruption of the Social Order, Challenges to Their LegitimacyChallenges to Their Legitimacy

Forms of Elite Panic in Major Crises:Forms of Elite Panic in Major Crises:

Fear of Social DisorderFear of Social DisorderFear of Poor, Minorities, ImmigrantsFear of Poor, Minorities, ImmigrantsObsession With Looting, Property CrimeObsession With Looting, Property CrimeWillingness to Resort to Deadly ForceWillingness to Resort to Deadly ForceActions Taken on the Basis of Rumor, Urban Actions Taken on the Basis of Rumor, Urban Legends, Racial/Ethnic PrejudiceLegends, Racial/Ethnic Prejudice

After Katrina: Elite Panic ContinuesAfter Katrina: Elite Panic Continues

Scapegoating, “Blame Game”Scapegoating, “Blame Game”

““Search for Answers”: Congress and White House Search for Answers”: Congress and White House Investigate KatrinaInvestigate Katrina

Numerous “Lessons Learned” Reports—But Will Numerous “Lessons Learned” Reports—But Will Responsible Agencies Actually LearnResponsible Agencies Actually Learn

Question:Question:

If the U. S. Intergovernmental System Could Not If the U. S. Intergovernmental System Could Not Respond Effectively to a Catastrophic Natural Respond Effectively to a Catastrophic Natural Disaster for Which it Had Many Days of Warning, Disaster for Which it Had Many Days of Warning, How Well Will it Respond to Suddenly-Occurring How Well Will it Respond to Suddenly-Occurring

Events, Unfamiliar Hazards?Events, Unfamiliar Hazards?

Question:Question:

To What Extent Will the Poor and People of Color Trust and Heed Government Instructions, Guidance in Future Crises—e.g., Avian Flu. Bioterrorism?

Question:Question:

What Are the Likely Consequences of Elite What Are the Likely Consequences of Elite Panic in Future Large-Scale Disasters, Panic in Future Large-Scale Disasters, Other Extreme Events, e.g., Disease Other Extreme Events, e.g., Disease Outbreaks, Pandemics?Outbreaks, Pandemics?

Questions:Questions:

How Will Institutions Respond to the How Will Institutions Respond to the “Lessons” of Hurricane Katrina? What “Lessons” of Hurricane Katrina? What New Initiatives are on the Way, and Whose New Initiatives are on the Way, and Whose Interests Will They Serve? Will They Help Interests Will They Serve? Will They Help or Make Matters Worse?or Make Matters Worse?

What New Pain & Suffering Will the 2006 Hurricane Season Bring?

Question:

Natural Hazards CenterNatural Hazards Center

Institute of Behavioral ScienceInstitute of Behavioral ScienceProgram on Environment &Program on Environment &SocietySocietyUniversity of Colorado University of Colorado 482 UCB482 UCBBoulder, CO 80309-0482Boulder, CO 80309-0482

Phone: (303) 492-6818Phone: (303) 492-6818

Web: www.colorado.edu/hazardsWeb: www.colorado.edu/hazards