Handling Hurricanes
Hurricane Harvey, Irma, and Jose have caused massive amounts of destruction across the southeastern United States, ruining homes, forests, and even taking lives. Yet, despite the devastation, there is a glimmer of hope. Throughout the storms, the US government demonstrated its previously unseen ability to work together as the natural disasters have united the forces of local, state, and federal government. It is typical that greediness for the spotlight by each level of government decreases its efficiency. But in light of the hurricanes, our elected officials have proven that they can put their egos aside and work with each other toward a common goal.
"Throughout the storms, the US government demonstrated its previously unseen ability to work together as the natural disasters have united the forces of local, state, and federal government."
Before the hurricanes struck the United States, the nation was in a state of worry. This stress was largely due to FEMA’s (Federal Emergency Management Agency) epic failure during Hurricane Katrina. FEMA’s response to Katrina in 2005 was feeble at best as they displayed their inability to evacuate and control damage caused by the storm. Many feared that Harvey would be handled just as poorly as Katrina, which would have led to ruin in multiple states. Yet when Harvey arrived, FEMA surprised us by being cooperative and effective. Instead of rushing in to help, the federal government allowed local government to take control over the natural disaster themselves. If towns needed assistance that goes beyond the grasp of what local officials can do, state and federal forces were ready to give help.
Even President Trump is making an effort to have more communication with local and state officials, meeting with Texas Governor Greg Abbot. After their discussion, Abbot gave Trump and FEMA an “A+” for the way they handled Harvey in the state of Texas. The remarkable collaboration between Trump, FEMA, and state and local governments has saved lives and reduced damage caused by the hurricanes.
Although the government’s effort to work together toward a common goal should be praised, it seems as if this is one of the first times they have displayed good teamwork. When Hurricane Sandy struck in 2012, the government’s response was merely an argument about who was best equipped to manage the catastrophe. It has taken 12 years and multiple natural disasters for FEMA and the US government to understand that being well prepared and combining forces is necessary when dealing with a crisis.
As a nation, we have been able to stifle political greed enough so that our government can adequately deal with emergency situations. When planes hit the Twin Towers and the Pentagon on 9/11, local fire and police departments did not worry about jurisdiction. Whoever was closest to the scene assisted anybody who was in danger. The National Guard, Marines, and Navy also offered support to local level departments, ensuring that the search and rescue mission would be successful. 9/11 and the recent hurricanes show that we can work efficiently in times of destress. Yet it appears that this level of functionality between local, state, and federal government cannot be repeated outside of matters of life or death.
In sum, our government's reaction to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Jose are examples that we should look to in the future when other disasters strike. But our elected officials still need to work on widening their scope on what issues require collaboration. Coming together to tackle a natural disaster or terrorist attack should not be something we need practice to achieve. But now that we have finally gained an understanding of how to grapple with a crisis, our government needs to move toward working as a team when attempting to solve everyday issues. If the leadership exhibited during the hurricanes can be reciprocated, our government will be able to provide better solutions to problems both large and small.