Katrina Broke Down

I. This disaster appears to have been made far far worse than it could have been by a number of factors:

A. The Hurricane was a Category 4/5.

1. We are in a bad hurricane cycle that will last another 20 years.

2. Global warming might contribute to hurricane intensity, but this is most likely political dogma in the case of Katrina.

3. Levee system (see C) was designed for Category 3 max.

B. The precarious location of New Orleans.

1. Surrounded by water on three sides.

2. 70% below sea level and slowly sinking.

C. A river levee system, along with overzealous oil exploration.

1. causes the marshes protecting New Orleans from storm surge to disappear at a rate of two acres per hour (yeah I know thats pretty stunning - I got it from National Geographic).

D. A lack of funding for the levee system and for marshland protection.

1. Has never been fully funded. Bush's cuts have made it worse.

2. Several hundred million required to expland and maintain levee system. Bush cut funding to about 1/4 to 1/2 what was needed.

3. $14 Billion requested over 30 years for marshland restoration. Bush cut back to $2 Billion over 10 years.

E. Failure in FEMA planning.

1. Partly due to incompetence.

2. Partly due to reorganization woes after 9/11. Focus shifted to terrorist attacks, natural disaster releif de-emphasised.

3. FEMA incorporated into DHS, adding to beareaucratic red tape.

F. Louisiana National Guard in Iraq fighting war - unavailable for Katrina Disaster.

G. New Orleans population one of poorest in country.

1. 68% Black.