Writers' Community!
Home Page Two Columnists Q&A Submit an Article FAQs Contact Author Login
Article Submission
We Need YOUR Articles!
We'll Promote Them for FREE!

Author Login

New Authors
Register Here


Now Serving 7,787 Authors
70,502 Quality Articles
& 4,167 Current Users Online!
Featured Authors
Mogama (16,433)
Bruce Horst (138)
Joel Hendon (17,877)
Michael Ramzy (633)
E. Raymond Rock (3,064)
Ira Coffin (7,406)
Connor Davidson (5,137)
Ben Morrish (8,401)
Steve Kovacs (4,388)
Sandra E. Graham (8,072)
Fran Larson (2,158)
Shari Vaudo (418)
David Tanguay (9,593)
Missing Link (708)

View All Featured Authors
Most Recent
Flash Floods Nature's Vengeance

Urban Risks Flash Floods

Are Tents Adequate Shelters For Disaster Recovery?

Leveraging Hurricanes

Tracking Hurricanes From Your Cell Phone

Effective Methods of Emergency Water Treatment

Keeping an Emergency Water Supply

Hey, It's Tornado Season, Know These Three Simple Things!

Hurricane Ike, Two Months Later

Prediction: October To Bring More Hurricanes

Home » Categories » Society » Disaster Planning & Relief » Hurricane Katrina: A Historical Analysis » Printer Friendly

Joseph Collins

Hurricane Katrina: A Historical Analysis

Rated 4.5 out of 5
No Reader Ratings Available ?
Rate It  /  View Comments  /  View All Articles submitted by Joseph Collins
Submitted Thursday, August 31, 2006
Joseph Collins (362)
Joseph Collins

Publisher / Columnist for Double Impact magazine
Log in to become a member of Joseph Collins's Fan Club!


As we watched the televised evacuation of New Orleans and other areas along the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast, most of us didn’t realize were watching the direct descendants of slaves, freedmen and other Civil War refugees who were forced out of the very same locations by war and chaos 140 years ago. As Union troops moved ever Southward in the 1860s, plantations, farms and small towns were virtually abandoned by slaves and slave owners alike. Each of these emergency migrations had different causes, occurred in different centuries but produced the same results. Two distant generations of people, walking, stumbling, and wading through dangerous waters, tears streaming down their faces. The present-day descendants made journeys to hundreds of unknown places, some retracing the very steps of their forefathers and mothers who were also forced on horrendously dangerous treks in search of safety and solace.

Unlike their ancestors, modern hurricane evacuees rode buses, cars, flew in planes and found refuge in warm, welcoming places like Houston, Austin, Phoenix and Minneapolis. Too much like their ancestors, all suffered and some died making the trip. Some were too old, too infirm or too injured, while others just gave up the will to live any longer. In both cases, families got separated, parents lost children, and some simply disappeared forever… While the causes of these national emergencies are vastly different, the governmental failures, military interventions and social successes are surprisingly similar. The parallels are both interesting and instructive.

The federal government’s response in both the Civil War and Katrina revealed a failure to anticipate the two greatest emergency migrations this nation has ever experienced. In 1864, Federal troops rolled through the South with surprising speed in some cases. Confederate units gave up ground, abandoned their posts and battle-weary men in gray laid down arms and many headed for home. In the wake of the blue flood, the pillars and porches of Dixie’s “peculiar institution" known as slavery began to crumble. Union troops began reporting thousands of unattached African-Americans within their lines. Men, women and children, thrust into the open countryside with nowhere to go and little in hand. They were free from oppression, but also separated from the only foundations of society they had ever known. A well-enforced social structure, a master’s cruel leadership, and meager but guaranteed food and housing – all were gone.

Overnight, citizens who were held hostage for nearly 200 years became the responsibility of the only functioning government officials for hundreds of miles: Union officers. Liberated but lost, the newly freed Americans were greeted with three distinctly different responses based on the heart, soul and talent of the man before them: Compassion, indifference or in some cases, incompetence. No federal agency existed at this time to handle national emergencies. President Lincoln and Secretary of War Stanton knew they had to solve this problem and solve it quick. In order to avoid mass starvation, riots and the unraveling of the region, selected generals were placed in charge of vast refugee centers with even larger budgets. Every functional need of these people was supplied and administered by talented men hardened by battle, but proven in managing people, resources and outcomes under chaotic circumstances.

They were also put in charge of administering tens of thousands of farm acres, abandoned plantations and crops. According to the tallies of W.E.B. DuBois, Major General Nathaniel P. Banks, assigned to Louisiana, was responsible for 90,000 African-American refugees, 50,000 of which were placed in organized labor, and handled an annual budget of $100,000. He and his officers…"made out 4,000 payrolls, registered all freedmen, inquired into grievances and redressed them, laid and collected taxes, and established a system of public schools." Eventually, Stanton’s War Department appointed Major General Oliver O. Howard to lead a civilian organization titled the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands, better known as the Freedmen’s Bureau. This would not be the last time a nation in crisis would call upon senior leaders in uniform to carry out unique missions in uncertain times.

Fast forward - modern-day refugees from the Gulf Coast also found themselves dependent on local officials tasked to assist them. This time, the officials included politicians, police officers, firemen, para-rescue personnel, bus drivers, and evacuation center managers. The range of responses was the same: Compassion, indifference and incompetence. While a federal agency tasked with emergency management does exist in these modern times, a comprehensive government response was delayed by leadership paralysis and FEMA officials waiting for approval codes to land on the right desks. Once again, America turned to her generals. Army Lt. General Russel Honore, a native of Louisiana and Coast Guard Vice Admiral Thad Allen filled the leadership void on the ground, marshaled National Guard and FEMA efforts, and quickly got a region in crisis under control.

It has been shown time and again that when we face severe crises in this country, civilian government at the local, state and even federal level can and will fail, hesitate or act indecisively. In some instances, the very people responsible for implementing government solutions are themselves victims and may be dead, incapacitated, caring for their own families or as was the case with some in New Orleans, overwhelmed by the tragedy and refuse to respond. The US military (including the National Guard) is the only arm of the federal government uniquely qualified to meet objectives in the midst of chaos and to do so on a massive scale. Our ability to rely on military leadership when civilian government breaks down will remain a constant in future crises.

From a social perspective, the Civil War created a mass exodus out of the deep South and into the arms of a civilian nation unprepared for their arrival. Nevertheless, good news came at the hands of ordinary people – average citizens of average means who quickly determined that the situation was “too appalling for belief". Clothes, money, dry goods and bare hands willing to help began to show up all over America and from all over America. Teachers, craftsmen and businessmen left homes and families to do what they could. Suddenly, grassroots organizations such as the National Freedmen’s Relief Association, the Freedmen’s Aid Societies and the Port Royal Experiment sprouted, making heroic attempts to relieve suffering and establish a foundation for a lost people.

Like the Civil War, Hurricane Katrina also sent southerners reeling into the arms of a nation, producing a refreshingly similar result. Common people reached out to common people with helping hands and overwhelming donations. This time, America did not have to create her aid organizations. The American Red Cross, United Way, thousands of ministries and other smaller organizations all joined together to raise money, coordinate deliveries and summon volunteers in the largest emergency management effort in the history of this country.

In great relief, we see the parallel experiences of two generations faced with historic disasters, one man-made, the other spun at the hand of nature. It reveals a pattern that will likely remain consistent in future, inevitable disasters. Regardless if the next scenario is a flu pandemic, a major terrorist act or another natural disaster, we can expect civilian government to react slowly and bureaucratically, the military to prove itself disciplined and ready, and the average American citizen to show herself compassionate, quick to share and an advocate for devastated souls in harm’s way.






Reprint Rights

Log in to become a member of Joseph Collins's Fan Club!

Comments on this article:


» left by Ronyae (4,990)
Ronyae
(3 years 44 days ago.)

Reader Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Well Put, Joe! I'm glad to see so much of our nation's buried tales/realities uprooted like the lives and graves in the Bayou! I was there for the actual upheavement: I lived in Southwest Alabama and lost two homes and three cars throughout Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina!
Respond to this comment
» left by Joseph Collins (366)
Joseph Collins
(3 years 44 days ago.)

Anonymous, I sincerely hope life is getting back to normal for you and your family. As we all look back a year ago, I am reminded that past history informs the present. If we forget our history, we are doomed to repeat it. If we learn from it, we can move past it. God bless!
Respond to this comment

» left by Jean Horst (1,200)
Jean Horst
(3 years 42 days ago.)

Reader Rating: 5 out of 5
What a very interesting & unique perspective. I love the historical context of this article. History does indeed repeat itself. Thanks so much.
Respond to this comment
» left by Joseph Collins (366)
Joseph Collins
(3 years 40 days ago.)

Anonymous,
Thanks for commenting on this article. It is very apparent to me that history not only reflects on past wrongs, but it also highlights the good in our society and our country. Have a great week!
Respond to this comment

» left by Avis Ward from SC (3 years 38 days ago.)
Reader Rating: 5 out of 5
You are an amazing writer and scholar! A gentleman too, I'm sure. I anticipated another article from you and you did not disappoint. I love and respect your talent. A superb article! Thank you! If you had taught my history class I would have enjoyed it more. It's been quite a challenge playing catch up! All the best to you!
Respond to this comment
» left by Joseph Collins (366)
Joseph Collins
(3 years 37 days ago.)

Avis, thanks for the comments and the kudos! History and its' application to today's issues has always been of interest to me. It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to combine my love for history, passion for writing and to have others enjoy the result. Prayfully, my first full-length book will be out and published in the Spring of 2007. I look forward to your comments on the book, as well as future articles. Have a great week!
Respond to this comment

» left by William M. Everett from Cary, NC (3 years 36 days ago.)
Reader Rating: 4 out of 5
he article is well thought-out and presented. I have been struck by the seeming absence of any participation by the state of Louisiana in the Katrina evacuation effort. Evacuees are described as going to various locations out-of-state but why didn't the likes of Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lake Charles, Alexandria and Monroe furnish transportation and temporary shelter to those survivors at the Superdome and elsewhere in New Orleans? This is standard procedure in other states.
Respond to this comment
» left by Joseph Collins (366)
Joseph Collins
(3 years 36 days ago.)

William, that is a great question! I wouldn't presume to try to answer it. I will say that relocating to new parts of the country was for some, a Godsend (people trapped in pathological, violent neighborhoods who saw no viable way out for them and their children). For others, particularly middle-class homeowners, being sent to some far-flung American city and unable to effectively manage the rebuilding of property, it was an added burden. Did we as a nation learn anything from this?
Respond to this comment

» left by Rosetta from Austin (3 years 11 days ago.)
Reader Rating: 4.5 out of 5
Joseph, your writing is amazing, please keep up the good work! This is a very well written article that provides a vast amount of historical background on the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe and our U.S. goverment. I am very impressed with the history that surrounds this article.
Respond to this comment
» left by Joseph Collins (366)
Joseph Collins
(2 years 361 days ago.)

Rosetta, Thanks for commenting!
Respond to this comment

Was this article helpful to you? Leave a Public Comment or Question:

This Article has been viewed 437 times.
Article added to SearchWarp.com on 8/31/2006 6:53:45 AM.
View other articles written by Joseph Collins (362)
Joseph Collins


If you found this article interesting, you may want to check out:

Disclaimer:  All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional or organization.


Today's Most Popular
I Survived Ike: Thoughts in the Aftermath of a Hurricane

Remembering September 11th-Activities and Crafts For The Classroom

Just-In-Time Life – Riding the Edge of Disaster

Wildfires—From Alabama to Alaska Find Out What You Can Do to Help Yourself

Katrina Survivors and PTSD - The Pain Continues

The Casualties of Hurricane Ike

Hurricane Katrina: A Historical Analysis

Unison Smile and the whole world smiles with you

Five Steps to Take to Protect Your Business System from a Disaster

Hurricane vs Greek Meltemi

Viewed from Cache. Load Time: 0.047.

Home  |  Page Two  |  FAQ's  |  Contact  |  Terms of Service  |  Article Submission Guidelines  |  Questions & Answers  |  Privacy  |  Mission / About
Copyright © 1999-2009 SearchWarp.com, All Rights Reserved - SearchWarp.com is an IcoLogic, Inc. Company