Summary
Hurricane Katrina, which hit Louisiana and caused extensive damage in 2005, led to significant changes in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to improve its disaster response. The Trump administration is reversing some of these changes, including cutting funds and giving more disaster response responsibility to individual states. Former and current FEMA employees express concern over the possible impact on future disaster readiness.
Key Facts
- Hurricane Katrina occurred 20 years ago, resulting in over 1,300 deaths and significant displacement.
- Levees in New Orleans collapsed during the storm, leading to massive flooding and the need for urgent evacuation.
- The federal government and FEMA faced criticism for their slow response to the disaster.
- Congress decided to strengthen FEMA after Katrina and increased its budget and power for disaster responses.
- The Trump administration is cutting funding from FEMA's disaster preparedness programs.
- The administration aims to reduce federal spending and give more disaster management responsibility to states.
- Current and former FEMA employees warn that reversing these changes could impact FEMA's effectiveness in future disasters.
- The administration defends its actions by stating that the reforms are necessary to improve efficiency and response times.
