Low expectations for Bush’s disas ter response plan

ELIZABETH BRACHELLI ASST A&E EDITOR EAB722@CABRINI EDU

The Bush Administration is reshaping the nation’s homeland security agencies in response to the hard-hitting aftermath of Hurricane Katrina by releasing a new national disaster plan at the end of this month that has low expectations on Cabrini’s campus.

The new national disaster plan promised to be released by the Department of Homeland Security later this month contains more than 100 recommendations. To improve disaster response, the plans will include stronger mandatory evacuation policies, closer military involvement in homeland security and larger regional Federal Emer- gency Management Agency offices to work with governors and mayors of large cities.

Bush’s homeland security adviser, Frances Fragos Townsend, addressed 50 state emergency managers at a meeting previewing the results of the government-wide review according to the Washington Post.

Although the new plan is to improve disaster response, high expectations have been hard to find on Cabrini’s campus.

Bryan Shinehouse, a freshman history and political science major, voiced his opinion.

“Judging by the slow reaction of the government, I think it will improve conditions. It’s the right thing to do as long as people know they’re being heard by their government,” Shinehouse said.

The Bush Administration has received harsh criticism for their response to Hurricane Katrina. It was reported by the Washington Post that Homeland Security secretary Michael Chertoff acknowledged in his speech to the National Emergency Management Association that the government responded long after Katrina hit in mobilizing troops and vehicles to rescue and remove victims from New Orleans increasing the deaths and suffering.

He said that under his watch, the federal emergency plans and command of the crisis broke down killing more than 1,300 people.

It was also reported by the Washington Post that Chertoff

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