Lessons Learned From Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (Sandy)

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1 Lessons Learned From Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (Sandy) Gregg Ramirez EMT P CCEMT P Emergency Manager Captain US Army (503) gregg.ramirez@ccfd1.com

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4 Lessons Learned From Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (Sandy) Anatomy of hurricane Katrina. Federal response. Changes made based on lessons learned. Hurricane Sandy snapshot of current events. Discussions with Sandy survivors. How prepared is New Orleans today? Discussions with Katrina survivors. What went right with the response to Katrina/Rita? Lessons learned

5 Anatomy of a Disaster Katrina was the costliest natural disaster and one of the five most deadly hurricanes in US history. At least 1,833 people died Total property damage $81 billion

6 Anatomy of a Disaster Katrina first hit Florida August 25th as a Category 1 storm, strengthened to a Category 5 from a Category 3 in just 12 hours over the Gulf of Mexico, then hit the Gulf coast August 29 as a weaker but dangerous Category 3.

7 Anatomy of a Disaster

8 80% of New Orleans Flooded

9 Anatomy of a Disaster Superdome Designed as an emergency shelter for ,000 sought shelter there Convention Center Never intended to be an emergency shelter thousands showed up there

10 The Convention Center Today

11 Blame Game An ABC News poll conducted on September 2, 2005: Local governments 75% Federal government 67% President Bush 44% CNN/USAToday/Gallup poll showed that respondents disagreed widely on who was to blame for the problems in the city following the hurricane: President Bush 13% Federal agencies 18% State and local officials 25% No one was to blame 38% Brown Blanco Bush Nagin

12 Some Blamed The Victims

13 Preparing a Nation Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the country went through one of the most sweeping reorganizations of federal government in history. The reorganization was designed to strengthen our nation s ability to address the consequences of both natural and man-made disasters. In its first major test, this reorganized system failed. Katrina revealed that much remains to be done. HURRICANE KATRINA: A NATION STILL UNPREPARED EXECUTIVE SUMMARY REPORT OF THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS MAY 2006

14 Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst natural disasters in our Nation s history and has caused unimaginable devastation and heartbreak throughout the Gulf Coast Region. A vast coastline of towns and communities has been decimated. President George W. Bush, September 8, 2005

15 President Bush Ordered A Comprehensive Review Of The Federal Response To Hurricane Katrina. In his September 15, 2005, address to the Nation from Jackson Square in New Orleans, the President made clear that the Federal government would learn the lessons of Hurricane Katrina so we as a Nation can make the necessary changes to be "better prepared for any challenge of nature, or act of evil men, that could threaten our people."

16 Date Who Searched Hazards # of Bodies Found

17 Supporting Role of the Federal Government Disaster response in America traditionally has been handled by State and local governments, with the Federal government playing a supporting role. Limits on the Federal government s role in disaster response are deeply rooted in American tradition. We must accept that events such as Hurricane Katrina and the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, require us to tailor the application of these principles to the threats we confront in the 21st Century.

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19 Government failed because it did not learn from past experiences, or because lessons thought to be learned were somehow not implemented. If 9/11 was a failure of imagination, then Katrina was a failure of initiative. It was a failure of leadership. Final Report of the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina February 2006

20 A Failure of Initiative Tardy and ineffective execution of the National Response Plan. An under-trained and under-staffed Federal Emergency Management Agency. A Catastrophic Incident Annex that was never invoked, and doubt that it would have done the job anyway. A perplexing inability to learn from Hurricane Pam and other exercises. Levees not built to withstand the most severe hurricanes.

21 A Failure of Initiative An incomplete evacuation that led to deaths and tremendous suffering. A complete breakdown in communications that paralyzed command and control and made situational awareness murky at best. (forward observers, intelligence sharing, partner with civilian media) The failure of state and local officials to maintain law and order. Haphazard and incomplete emergency shelter and housing plans. An overwhelmed FEMA logistics and contracting system that could not support the effective provision of urgently needed supplies.

22 National Strategy for Homeland Security In July 2002, President Bush called for a major initiative to build a national system for incident management and to integrate separate Federal response plans into a single, all-discipline incident management plan. The President proposed that the initiative be led by the yet-to-be created Department of Homeland Security.

23 National Incident Management System (NIMS) In February 2003, the President Bush issued Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5). National Incident Management System (NIMS) National Response Plan (NRP)

24 So are we better prepared as a nation??? Problems identified and addressed New people New programs What is Sandy teaching us about our ability to prepare, respond and recover from a disaster?

25 Sandy Nearly 100 Dead 8 million without power 6,100 people in NYC shelters 3.6 billion in federal aid

26 Sandy Even in the highly charged political environment FEMA is being praised by governors of both parties New Jersey's Chris Christie, "cooperation has been great with FEMA here on the ground." Delaware's Jack Markell "really, really impressed by the response of FEMA."

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28 What are the Survivors of Sandy Saying? How would you rate the response of your: Local government? Great State government? Great Federal government? Good

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30 What are the Survivors of Sandy are Saying? How prepared were you and your family? Very Well Somewhat Poorly Very Poorly Do you have a family communication plan? Most did not. Many did not know the phone numbers of their family members. Do you and your family have a 72 hour kit? Most did not. Most were aware of preparedness campaigns. Many said they understand the importance of being prepared but had not gotten around to it.

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32 What are the Survivors of Sandy are Saying? Do you have a vehicle and the economic resources to evacuate should you have to? Most said they had a vehicle and could afford a hotel or had relatives they could stay with. If the government officials fell short of ordering an evacuation would you choose to ride the storm out at home? Many said they would hunker down at home unless ordered to leave.

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34 Lt. Col. Jerry Sneed (USMC retired) Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Director for the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness City of New Orleans, LA Flexible application of the Stafford Act Exploit social media Conduct annual full-scale exercises AMTRAK Get buy in constant selling Pay attention to and manage the details Alert system for citizens and First Responders Engage and include media (EOC) to facilitate the dissemination of accurate and important information Reassure citizens you will come home Manage expectations Good internal and external communication is vital

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36 City Assisted Evacuation Plan Intended for those without Transportation and for Individuals with special needs Expect 30,000 CAEP 17 evacuation sites

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38 Reentry Plan Harder not an evacuation plan in reverse! Reentry into the City of New Orleans and surrounding Parishes. 3 tier system placards issued Tier #1 Public works First Responders Medical personnel Port Authority Tier #2 Gas stations Large grocery stores Tier #3 Small business

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40 Conversations With Katrina Survivors and Current NOLA Residents

41 Conversations With Katrina Survivors and Current NOLA Residents 32 current residents interviewed. 28 lived in NOLA prior to Katrina. Of these 28 all had evacuated themselves All personally knew someone who chose not to evacuate. 2 knew people who lost their lives as a result of the storms.

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43 Conversations With Katrina Survivors and Current NOLA Residents What steps have you taken to prepare for a disaster? Do you have a 72 hour kit? Do you know about the cities CAEP? Will you evacuate if the recommendation is made in the future? Who is responsible for your security and well being before, during and after a disaster?

44 Why Do You Think Some People Decided to Stay?

45 What Went Right

46 Eric Pickering Commander CERT New Orleans Office of Emergency Preparedness

47 One of the lessons of this storm is the decency of people, the decency of men and women who care a lot about their fellow citizens, whether they be elected officials or just folks on the ground trying to make somebody else s life even better than it was before. So we learned some lessons about how to respond, and we re going to change. But some of the lessons shouldn t change, and that is the decency and character of the American people. President George Bush

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