The Department of Defense's Role in Disaster Recovery

During a recent speech to the American public in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, President George W. Bush announced, It is now clear that a challenge on this scale requires greater federal authority and a broader role for the armed forces -- the institution of our government capable of massive logistical operations on a moments notice. This paper will examine the historical role of the armed forces in disaster management, the current response plans as well as existing legislation that employ the Department of Defense DoD, and what broader role, if any, is required by the DoD. The United States Government maintains a cabinet-level Department, the office of Homeland Security, created to provide the unifying core of the vast national network of organizations and institutions involved in efforts to secure the homeland. Incorporated into the office of Homeland Security is the Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA, which has a specific mission to lead, manage, and coordinate the national response for acts of terrorism, natural disasters, and other emergencies. This office maintains partnerships with state and local governments and the private sector. There are, and in the case of Katrina there were, plans in place to provide response to natural disasters that involve the military. So, what went wrong in the disaster management of Katrina, and does it require a broader role for the armed forces This paper will provide some of the answers to these questions.