Many communities around the world are recognizing the importance of community engagement in preparing citizens for disasters like the one New Orleans faced in 2005 with Hurricane Katrina.

When disaster strikes there is no room or time for blame. Reflecting on the situation in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, we’re left to wonder could better emergency preparedness using community engagement methodologies have made a difference? What can we learn?

This page provides a place to explore this issue more fully. Here, we’ll share questions we have about the New Orleans disaster and the ensuing community collapse. You will also find links to articles and stories we have found that explore the connection between community engagement and emergency preparedness.

On this page you`ll find:

Questions Raised by New Orleans

Immediately after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, our talk in the office was focused on the latest reports of the disaster and its aftermath. We shared the stories and the photos, mourned and empathized for the victims of the storm.

We also asked questions. They’re likely some of the same questions you asked yourself. The list below is a starting point – each question is a catalyst for conversation, some are calls to action.

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New Orleans & Emergency Preparedness
The Reality Versus the Plan

August 2005, New Orleans: A city utterly devastated by a hurricane; a community unprepared is caught in a spiral of human despair. Citizens out of control, chaos results in total community collapse. What went wrong? Could an engaged community have made a difference?

The physical damage and devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans has been compounded by the breakdown of community. Did all the "good people" leave before they had a chance to do good? What was the plan for the everyday citizen? Did it go beyond “everyone for themselves and get out as quickly as possible?"

Each day new heartbreaking stories emerge from the ravaged city. Those aren’t the stories we want to read. We want to read stories of good Samaritans helping those in need - stories of everyday heroes helping others, citizens bridging and working together to reach out and support each other. Where are those stories?

In preparing people for what was seemingly inevitable, did New Orleans develop a community preparedness plan using community engagement techniques? Would we have more good news stories if they had?

Brian Wolshon, a Louisiana State University civil engineering professor who served as a consultant on the state evacuation plan, is quoted in the New York Times as saying that the city’s planning relied almost entirely on a “Good Samaritan scenario,” that is, that residents would check on elderly and disabled neighbors and drive them out of the city if necessary.

That was the thinking,” he said. “Maybe even the cornerstone of that plan”.

And yet, within the City of New Orleans’ Comprehensive Emergency Management plan, there is little indication of how this strategy might have been implemented. Given the chaos that followed Katrina, it’s fair to ask if the strategy was implemented at all. Was it just assumed that people would help? Was there a coordinated effort before the crisis hit to involve citizens and to prepare them to help each other following the hurricane?

Many communities around the world are recognizing the importance of community engagement in preparing citizens for disasters like the one New Orleans is facing.

There is no room or time for blame, but we can begin to articulate unanswered questions. In this spirit, Tamarack is creating a web page dedicated to questions we have about the New Orleans disaster and the ensuing community collapse.

On this page you will find questions we have, links to articles and stories we have found of community engagement and emergency preparedness, a bulletin board in which you might pose your questions or thoughts about community breakdown and links to some agencies that are helping in this time of need.

New Orleans – What happened?

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Emergency Preparedness & Community Engagement

At first glance the cities of Seattle and Brisbane would seem to have little in common with the barangay of Talba, in Central Luzon, Philippines. However, the three communities are more alike than a cursory glance would deem – for they are all communities that are planning for disasters, and how to avoid them, using community engagement techniques.

Each has a community engagement strategy that involves citizens helping each other when disaster strikes. The premise of such strategies is that if neighbours and citizens are prepared to mutually help each during a disaster, lives can be saved and property damage will be minimized.

Below you will find a collection of resources and case studies that further outline the link between emergency preparedness and community engagement.

About Emergency Preparedness & Community Engagement

Charter for Community Engagement - This document, created by the Queensland Government Department of Emergency Services (Brisbane, Australia, describes the role community engagement principles play in emergency preparedness. It is one of the most comprehensive guides to community engagement and emergency preparedness that exists on the web. The document argues that better solutions result when communities and government are engaged in information sharing and discusses this theme in the context of the Queensland Government’s Department of Emergency Services Community Engagement Unit. Access the document here.

Philippines Community Based Disaster Management - This paper, written by Lorna P. Victoria, director of the Centre for Disaster Preparedness, describes various aspects of community based disaster management (CBDM) by highlighting best practices in the Philippine Disaster Management Forum. Access the paper here.

Community Based Disaster Management - This paper, written by Bishnu Pandey and Kenji Okazaki of the UN Centre for Regional Development, outlines various UNCRD programs designed to promote sustainable development and disaster reduction. The paper argues that both are essential preconditions for each other. Access the paper here.

Role of Local Institutions in Reducing Vulnerability - This paper, prepared by the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre, examines the role of local institutions in reducing vulnerability to recurrent natural disasters. Also discussed is the role of local institutions in promoting sustainable livelihoods development in high risk areas. Access the paper here.

The Case for People Centered Disaster Management - This  presentation produced by Duryog Nivaran – South Asian Network for Disaster Mitigation, outlines the case for a bottom-up approach to disaster management. It also highlights how creating a culture of disaster preparedness can save thousands of lives and billions of dollars in damages. Access the  presentation here.

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Case Studies

CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) - This case study describes the Community Corps – Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and how they assist communities in meeting their needs in times of emergency. Also contained is a training curriculum for the program as well as a brief section on how begin involvement in a local CERT program. Access the case study here.

Preparedness (SDART) - This case study describes the Seattle Disaster Aid & Response Teams (SDART) and how they can assist communities in preparing for emergencies. The team believes that effective cooperation and communication between a City and its inhabitants is the only sure way to prepare for a disaster. Access the case study here.

Citizens’ Participation Toward Safer Communities - This case study, by Zenaida G. Delica, describes how community planning and preparedness in the Philippines saved many lives when and overflow of volcanic debris and molten lava destroyed the village of Talba. Access the case study here.

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Coping with Disaster

Community Disaster Education - This American Red Cross article describes the benefits of community disaster education, including steps individuals can take to ensure they are prepared to meet the challenges of unforeseen disasters. Included is a plan entitled “Together We Prepare” containing steps like making a plan, building a kit, getting trained, volunteering, and giving blood. Access the article here.

Latinos Preparados: Helping Community Prepare for Disaster - This case study describes the concepts and activities of Latinos Preparados while they prepare Latin American individuals to cope with disasters. Also included is contact information and steps for becoming involved in Latinos Preparados. Access the case study here.

Ideas for Community-Based Disaster Planning - This paper, prepared by the Arlington County Civic Federation, describes some possible community planning ideas for dealing with emergencies and disasters. Some sections include educating yourself, educating you civic organization, developing a disaster response plan, and much more. Access the paper here.

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New Orleans & Emergency Preparedness

City’s Balance Undone in Many Ways - This New York Times article, describes the events in New Orleans immediately after the hurricane and what went wrong during emergency operations in a city of nearly 500,000 people. At one point in the article, Brian Wolshon, an LSU civil engineering professor, states that New Orleans relied almost exclusively on a “Good Samaritan” plan, where citizens check on elderly and disable neighbours and assist them in evacuation if necessary. Access the article here.

New Orleans Comprehensive Emergency Plan - This document contains the hurricane emergency management plans of New Orleans. It details four phases of action, including preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation, and the steps to take for each phase. It will be useful for contrasting the planned response with the actual response in New Orleans. Access the document here.

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Additional Resources