Can history repeat itself? Two decades after Hurricane Katrina exposed glaring vulnerabilities, experts are sounding the alarm. They warn that administrative shifts and a turning away from climate science have left the federal government dangerously unprepared for the next major storm. Are we ready for what’s coming?
Today, two decades after the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans, experts widely express profound concerns regarding the federal government’s capacity to effectively manage a similar large-scale disaster. This sentiment is particularly acute given recent administrative shifts and a perceived decline in disaster preparedness.
Dr. Irwin Redlener, a respected authority and founding director of the Columbia Climate School’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness, warns that the nation is not only unprepared for another Katrina-level event but is becoming less so with each passing day. He specifically points to discussions around dismantling the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as a critical concern, highlighting its foundational role in post-disaster recovery efforts he witnessed firsthand in New Orleans.
These anxieties are echoed by current and former FEMA employees, who, marking the 20-year anniversary of the deadliest U.S. hurricane, issued a stark “Katrina Declaration.” Over 190 federal workers collectively warned Congress and the American public about the cascading negative effects stemming from the present administration’s policies and actions on disaster preparedness capabilities.
In response, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, whose department oversees FEMA, criticized what she termed “bureaucrats” resistant to reform. She suggested that many of these individuals had contributed to what she described as FEMA’s past inefficiencies, including during the Biden administration, a sentiment that starkly contrasts with the warnings from current agency staff.
Beyond administrative restructuring, a major factor exacerbating disaster risk is human-caused climate change, leading to more intense and rapidly strengthening storms. Experts lament that the Trump administration’s denial of climate science, coupled with significant layoffs at the National Weather Service, further undermines the nation’s ability to forecast, prepare for, and respond to increasingly severe weather events, especially during critical hurricane seasons.
Dr. Samantha Montano, an associate professor of emergency management and a firsthand witness to Katrina’s aftermath, posits that two decades of progress made by FEMA following the 2005 catastrophe have been systematically unraveled. She believes the agency is now in a weaker position than it was prior to Hurricane Katrina, despite the heightened risks posed by a changing climate.
A spokesperson for FEMA countered these criticisms, stating that current leadership aims to “turn the page on the old way of doing business.” They claim to be streamlining disaster preparedness and response, moving away from “red tape” and a “one-size-fits-all approach” that historically delayed aid. The agency emphasizes a commitment to empowering states with effective disaster recovery resources.
However, this commitment has been challenged by recent instances of slow federal responses to disaster aid requests, with some states, including Arkansas, Washington, West Virginia, and North Carolina, experiencing denials or significant delays in receiving approved funding. While state and local responses have often been swift in hazard-prone areas, federal bottlenecks remain a critical issue for overall disaster preparedness.
Despite federal concerns, some regions, particularly Louisiana, have made significant strides in local disaster preparedness. Dr. Montano points out that New Orleans, for example, has drastically improved its levee system, suggesting a much better outcome for the city itself if a Katrina-like event were to strike today, showcasing the impact of focused local investment.
