Vocabulary 1.

Intergovernmental- where things are conducted between two or more branches of government For Hurricane Katrina intergovernmental coordinates had to complot together in order to attempt to create the best solution to a detrimental problem

2. Competitive Federalism- where different sectors of the government compete Competitive federalism ruined the attempt to help the state of Louisiana because the federal and state government wasnt working in unison. 3. Opportunistic Federalism- where individuals focus in on their preferred interests versus what is good for the collective group Part of the corruption in American politics can be blamed on opportunistic federalism because people care more about themselves then the good of the people

Summary Is Federalism the Reason for Policy Failure in Hurricane Katrina? focus in on if the federal government is truly to blame for the poor outcome and unpreparedness of the government. Thomas Birkland and Sarah Waterman point fingers at the local, state, and federal government. Prior to Hurricane Katrina nobody could guess just how powerful Katrinas strike would be. Only after did America realize that the disaster response is a shared intergovernmental responsibility. What the article is saying is that the states didnt ask for any help because they thought they had the tools and supplies to handle themselves and the federal government chimed in too late. Also the article touches on the role the Department of Homeland Security played. The article believes there response was prolonged and that reflected the readiness of America. They make parallels between post 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina because both tragic events happened in states but the Federal government had to get involved to make any progress. Birkland and Waterman think all levels of the government are to blame.

Analysis America is built on the concept of the division of power between state and federal government. With this being said that doesnt mean the different branches shouldnt correlate things, certain events require intergovernmental decisions. Louisiana felt as though they could handle the wrath of Katrina when in reality they should have asked for government assistance. Since the federal government came to the rescue too late due to Louisianas lack of communication that made the federal government look unprepared. Also, its not so much the federal government as it is the little people within the federal

organizations like FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and DHS (Department of Homeland Security). The people the government hires to fill these vital positions which affect millions of Americans arent well qualified. Julius Becton, FEMA director from 1985 to 1989, ranked national disaster at the bottom of their priorities. Only until the Stafford Act was in effect did FEMA take the job seriously, and even then their reaction time was slow and deficient. DHS didnt take the proper measures they should have on Katrina. Once federal agencies were warned about the hurricane they should have gotten together and collaborated and thought out a well-developed plan. Its almost as if they had no plan a or b, they just kind of went with the flow. The DHS needed stronger directions and better clarity on their role in the solution. Nobody could for see the brutality of Katrina however, with the combination of the state not asking for help and the federal agencies not working as hard as they should have post-Katrina was worse than it should have been.