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The article delves into the communications failures that compromised emergency response in the U.S. It mentions the failure of public safety communication systems during crises such as the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the reliance of public-safety agencies on radio systems that tend to be incompatible with one another and the proposed nationwide cellular network dedicated to public safety use.

The article discusses the implication of the efforts of private sector in responding to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina for the U.S. government. Wal-Mart Stores played a major role in the command post, the forecasting and the pre-positioning of supplies to disaster victims. Many private companies offered help into the Federal Emergency Management Agency through its Web site. The nonprofit organization BENS contributed to the disaster efforts in the country.

This article criticizes the unpreparedness of the U.S. federal government to cope with natural disasters despite the large amount spent on emergency preparedness programs. On paper, federal, state and local planners prescribe an all-hazards approach to preparing for disasters. In reality, though, federal agencies and their state and local counterparts organize their plans into disaster-specific programs of detection, prevention and response, while specific agencies remain focused on particular kinds of disasters.

Examines the implications of the decision of the U.S. Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP) to focus on terrorism preparedness instead of on natural disasters. Complaints of local officials against the application of ODP grants to terrorism preparedness programs; Approach adopted by Eric Holdeman, director of emergency management in King County, Washington to promote his concept of car kits in preparation for disasters; Rationale behind the proposal of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff to create the post of undersecretary for preparedness.

Focuses on the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the public's perception of the leadership qualities of U.S. President George W. Bush in times of crisis or disasters. Overall job-approval rating of Bush after Katrina's destruction based on the CNN/USA Today poll from September 8 to 11, 2005; Speculations on the influence of racial and income disparities on the government's response to the disaster in New Orleans, Louisiana; Impact on public opinion of Bush's public declaration of responsibility for the government's failure in their disaster response capability.

Criticizes the inaction of the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush to improve security at chemical plants across the country, despite public promises and alarms as of August 2003. Dangers posed by an intentional release of a toxic chemical; Responsibilities of the Environmental Protection Agency; Limitations of industry voluntary guidelines for chemical disaster prevention.

The article presents an interview with Michael Brown, former director of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, about the reasons behind the agency's slow response to aid Hurricane Katrina victims in New Orleans, Louisiana in September 2005. Brown says that he should have spoken about the organizational problems of FEMA before the disaster happened. He blames the U.S. government's obsession with counterterrorism efforts that led to the lack of preparedness of FEMA to respond to victims.

Focuses on the legislative status of the emergency spending proposal of U.S. President George W. Bush for Hurricane Katrina. Value of the proposed emergency spending; Claim of Democrats against Republicans concerning emergency management; Reason behind the interest of the U.S. House in the president's education initiative for hurricane evacuees.

The article presents quotes from notable people in current events in the U.S. David Paulison, director of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, comments on the rebuilding of New Orleans, Louisiana. U.S. Representative Christopher Shays (R-Conn.) remarks on the replacement of the U.S. troops by Iraqis. U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.) asserts that the administration is having a difficult time in understanding the severity of the disaster in the state.

The article presents an interview with U.S. Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen. Allen attributed the Coast Guard's high marks in the post-Katrina hurricane assessments to the principles of autonomy and accountability that pervade within the agency. He believes that the operational tactics of the Coast Guard is due to their practice of delegating a mission or responsibility to the field commanders. He explains the emergency response plans of the agency should another hurricane hit the state.

The article discusses the ineffectiveness of the National Grid, a unified mapping system endorsed by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help emergency responders navigate a city where street signs and other landmarks are destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. It is a system based on coordinates provided by satellite imagery. It is compatible with all military mapping systems, but is useless unless rescue workers know how to read it. FEMA Press Secretary Aaron Walker explained that they did not use the Grid during the hurricane because most state and local agencies depended on street addresses or on latitude and longitude coordinates.

Analyzes the priorities of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency in managing natural disasters. Objective of the agency's disaster-preparedness program known as Project Impact launched in 1997; Possible factors attributed to the demise of the program; Information on the possibility of a congressional debate reinstating Project Impact in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Analyzes the long-term political implications of Hurricane Katrina's destruction in the Gulf Coast and examines whether it generates substantive changes in federal disaster mitigation like other hurricanes in the past. Decision of the U.S. Congress to approve two emergency spending bills after Hurricane Katrina; Initiative of lawmakers to pass the 1928 Flood Control Act after the massive flooding of the Mississippi River in 1927; Reenactment of the 1965 Southeast Hurricane Disaster Relief Act after the destruction of Hurricane Betsy.

Assesses an emergency-preparedness exercise in response to bioterrorism under the congressionally mandated TOPOFF series in Seattle, Washington on May 12, 2003. Remarks from U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge; Objective of establishing TOPOFF; Limitations of exercises under TOPOFF; Reasons for choosing a potential bioterrorism agent for the exercise.

Focuses on several groups which have contributed to homeland security in the U.S. American Association of Port Authorities; American Federation of Government Employees; National Emergency Management Association.

Discusses the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) in the United States. Factor that would make EMAC a national standard; Outcome of EMAC; Lesson from the compact.

Focuses on the disaster planning made by the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 1998 to prevent and prepare a state for a disaster. Estimated damage cost of a fire in Florida in 1998; Natural disasters that are mostly experience by people; How disaster planning started; Overview of the proposition made by the US President Bill Clinton for the disaster fund.

The article discusses the benefits of unmanned aircraft whose applications could make drones invaluable in spite of worries about privacy issues. It says that some manufacturers have discussed using drones as a first-responder system for emergency calls and that the technology presents potential economic benefits. It adds that the U.S. Government Accountability Office is moving for public involvement in drawing up proper regulations in the use of drones to protect individual rights.

The article discusses how weather disasters have affected the budget of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). It indicates that an estimated 13 billion U.S. dollars will have to be allocated by FEMA to assist people who were affected by the crises in 2011. FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate claimed that it can no longer afford to continue to respond to disasters and the U.S. must change its disaster-management model to one of prevention.

The article talks about disaster costs and the U.S. relief fund. A number of natural disasters were experienced by Americans in recent months and accompanying such events were the need for federal funds. Unfortunately, disaster costs are rising, cutting money from prevention programs that could reduce severity of calamities and making the disaster relief fund face a potential 3 billion U.S. dollar shortfall by 2012. The primary reasons for the deficit are the lingering expenses from Hurricane Katrina and other previous disasters.

An interview with the U.S. Northern Command's Joint Force Headquarters commander and Military District of Washington commander Major General Karl Horst about disaster preparedness is presented. When asked how he ended up in Washington, he says that his experience allows him to understand the nuances of the National Capital Region. His prime mission is to support federal agencies at times of emergencies. He adds that the secretary of Defense ended the joint exercises in 2003 because of the improved interconnection between command posts.

The article asserts that it is impossible for the U.S. to anticipate and prevent political violence, assassination attempts and terrorist attacks at all times. According to the author, every time a political assassination attempt or a politics-related shooting happens, lawmakers in the country propose ways of improving the security system of the U.S. Security experts assert that every single threat cannot be prevented, so lawmakers and the public should focus more on emergency responses and dealing with the effects.

The author looks at some of the issues facing Arizona Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano if she is confirmed as secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He highlights the department's statutory role to work with state and local governments on counter-terrorism and natural disaster planning. It also describes the position of Napolitano on Operation Jump Start of the administration of President George W. Bush.

The article focuses on the criticisms being raised against the U.S. Federal Executive Boards (FEBs) which was formed to provide a forum for federal employees who work outside of the Washington area to coordinate their efforts. Some agencies are confused about the boards' roles because FEBs are not included in formal emergency-management plans. The Office of Personnel and Management (OPM) is working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to clarify the boards' role in disasters.

The article discusses the findings of a public opinion poll conducted by Gallup and the periodical "USA Today" on the preparedness of the government for a natural disaster. According to the results, citizens are distinctly confident that local officials are prepared for such disasters. It states that two-thirds of those surveyed said that the federal authorities are not ready. Also noted is that community first responders, including local police, garnered the highest marks for readiness.

The article reports on the results of surveys on the recovery efforts of the U.S. government in response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Two-thirds of respondents to an ABC News/Washington Post poll expressed their disappointment with the hurricane recovery program of the federal government. According to an Associated Press/Ipsos Public Affairs poll, 58% criticized President George W. Bush's handling of the storm and its aftermath. The ANN/Opinion Research poll highlighted the negative view of the local governments response to Katrina.

The article presents quotes from notable people on current events in the U.S. U.S. President George W. Bush remarks on his appointment of Don Powell to be in charge of coordinating the federal response for local rebuilding. Paul Singer writes that the expiration of an executive order that created the Gulf Coast reconstruction office of Powell is on November 1, 2008.

The article focuses on the disaster preparedness of the U.S. government. According to Peter Leeson, an economist at West Virginia University in Morgantown, the only solution to bureaucracy problem is to manage bureaucratic decision making by privatizing numerous disaster-recovery tasks. The pre-positioning of alternative regulations for extreme disasters has been suggested by Emily Chamlee-Wright, an economist at Beloit College in Wisconsin.

The article reports on John Phelps, the new chief of staff to the U.S. General Services Administration, who brings an emergency-management perspective to his new job. He used to work as deputy director for homeland security in Arizona. Phelps has formed a friendship with GSA head Lurita Doan through her husband who is a former Army second lieutenant.

Reports on the resignation of Michael Brown from his position as of director of the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) after Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced his plan to improve the agency. Criticism received by FEMA on its response to Hurricane Katrina; Advice being sought for by the secretary on updating the agency's distribution network.

This article calls for the U.S. federal government to enhance its preparedness to deal with storm surge or flood. To enable the federal government to warn of impending floods, the U.S. Geological Survey of the Interior Department, in cooperation with other federal, state and local partners, manages a network of stream gauges. The funding setup for stream gauges spreads the maintenance cost to $110 million each year. However, it also exposes the network to the vagaries of local, state and federal budgeting.

This article argues in favor of the proposal to increase the budget for the volcano monitoring program of the U.S. federal government. The Washington State volcano, Mount St. Helens, has been building a small lava dome in the mountain surface that it pulverized in 1980. Subsequent study of Mount St. Helens has significantly advanced scientists' ability to predict volcanic activity, according to volcanologists. Officials are putting together a proposal for a $15 million upgrade per year to their volcano program.

This article emphasizes the importance of a tsunami-preparedness upgrade in the U.S. as of 2005. Because the last significant tsunami in the country occurred in 1964, the preparedness of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's tsunami program was left to decline. Jeff LaDouce, director of the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program of the agency, said that state and local governments take the primary role in preparing their communities.

Presents the results of a survey on the views of U.S. citizens on the response of President George W. Bush to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast region, conducted by "Time" in 2005. Percentage of respondents who were not satisfied with Bush's explanation on the delayed government aid; Criticisms on the failure of federal agencies to evacuate the affected civilians; Factors that the government need to consider in rebuilding the infrastructure of affected states.

Expresses views on the decline of U.S. President George W. Bush's overall job approval rating stemmed from his lack of response to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina based on the results of the Gallup Poll conducted by CNN and the periodical "USA Today" in September 2005. Significance of Bush's disaster management plans to the Republican's proposed additional tax policy; Comparison of Bush's rating with former presidents.

Reports on the decision of the U.S. House Republicans to start the investigations into the government's response to Hurricane Katrina despite the calls of Democrats for an independent probe. Potential effects of the investigation on the two parties; Reaction of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to the investigations; Legislators appointed to lead the investigation.

Reports on the construction of a state-of-the-art bioterrorism command center by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson in 2003. Cost of the construction of the command center; Purpose of the facility; Fuctionality of the bioterrorism tracking technology.