Mixed Methods Approach

[Date of Submission]Mixed Methods Approach

Introduction

After the Hurricane Katrina, there were floods throughout, and the levies were broken in the New Orleans, LA. In sites designed by the leadership of the city, many people were evacuated there, but currently they are experiencing the effects of limited supplies and horrendous heat. Posts throughout the city were abandoned by the police officers who reported concerns regarding the welfare of their families. Creating a force protection requirement of unprecedented proportions, the territories and the community from all fifty four states are inundated by National Guard personnel.

With federal agencies and leaders, the political leadership of Louisiana and New Orleans are seemingly at odds. Rescue is awaited by thousands of people who are on portions of highways, porches and rooftops. Attempts are made to congest limited routes and rescues by neighboring states and thousands of small watercraft for the city. As the water lingers pathogens and diseases carried by mosquitoes are feared to be multiplying. Critical issues are faced by the survivors who lost their loved one and seem deeply saddened, dazed and shocked.

Discussion

The Problem Statement

To better reassure, guide and inform the American public after, during and before a catastrophe, an integrated public communications plan must be developed by the Department of Homeland Security. During a crisis to deploy coordinated public affairs, with operational capabilities, this plan must be enabled by the Department of Homeland Security.

The Merits of Examining this Problem

One of the positive lessons learned is the dissemination of essential public information by the Federal government prior to Gulf landfall of Hurricane Katrina. In hurricane track predictions and disseminating weather reports, the many professionals at the National Hurricane Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration worked with determination and diligence (Wise, 2006). This includes disseminating forecasts and warnings through the internet and the NOAA Radio, and it operated associated with the Emergency Alert System (EAS). It can be certain that lives were saved by their efforts.

The Importance of the Problem

The public communications were the critical challenge which was faced and required to be addressed effectively. The public and the media were not provided with the updates by the public affairs officers at all levels due to the ability to communicate or the accurate and timely information. Contradictory messages were given to the public by local, State and Federal officials who created the perception of credibility being lacked by the government sources. Ineffective and inadequate response was proved by the Federal public affairs and public communications.

The Scope of this Problem

Prior to landfall of Katrina, the disaster instructions and information communicated by the EAS, which is the mechanism for local, State and Federal officials was not utilized by local and State officials in Alabama, Mississippi or Louisiana. However, at all levels of government, more could have been done by officials (Schneider, 2005). Several weeks were taken by public affairs structures, like, Joint Information Centers to operate at full capacity and to be adequately resources. In the street, a more desperate picture was painted by ...