With rebuilding under way, assessing government responses to Irma and Harvey

The Christian Science Monitor ^ | September 14, 2017 | Peter Grier

[Jagermonster]

PROGRESS WATCH   For FEMA and state and local responders and planners the point is to learn from Harvey and Irma – as they learned from hurricane Katrina and superstorm Sandy – about better methods of prevention and revival.

The southeastern United States is struggling back onto its feet following this month’s battering from two huge storms. Thankfully, the human toll from hurricanes Harvey and Irma was not as great as feared. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other government first responders have so far won plaudits for the speed and organization of initial aid deliveries.

But as can be said about the aftermath of so many important events, now the hard part begins. Rebuilding of some of the most damaged areas will take months, possibly years, as President Trump saw first-hand on Thursday during an inspection tour of Naples and other Florida cities. Lack of basic services creates continuing dangers, as the tragic, heat-related deaths at a Hollywood, Fla., nursing home showed.

America will face more of these crises as extreme weather appears to be on the increase and the built environment in harm’s way continues to expand. For FEMA, state and local responders, and planners the point is to learn from Harvey and Irma – as they learned from hurricane Katrina and superstorm Sandy – about better methods of prevention and revival.

“What we’re learning is that responding to disasters, as tragic as they are when they happen, is kind of the easy part,” says Gary Webb, professor and chair of emergency management and disaster science at the University of North Texas in Denton.

[Jagermonster]

Excerpted per rules.

[DoughtyOne]

America will face more of these crises as extreme weather appears to be on the increase...

Two storms in 12 years. Wow, what a trend...

[Jagermonster]

I know... I know... It's a reflex action for modern journalists: mention weather, and automatically categorically state, as a matter of faith, that weather is getting worse. Tosh. I've been on Earth for 35 years, much of it in the same area, and weather has stayed about the same.

I don't think he actually thought about it when he wrote it.

[DoughtyOne]

I know what you mean. I agree.

[KosmicKitty]

Two storms in 12 years. Wow, what a trend...

Exactly!