No matter where an individual resides, no matter how ideal the setting, how depressed the surroundings, natural disasters may strike. Whether it is earthquakes in California, tornados in Oklahoma, or hurricanes along the Gulf Coast, certain areas are synonymous with specific natural phenomena. Natural disasters are a key component in crisis communications because even though organizations cannot be blamed for starting them, organizations are blamed if a state of normalcy is not achieved swiftly. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina made landfall and caused death and destruction in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida. The stories are tragic in all the states, but New Orleans stands out. 1 million people were made
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These protect it from the Mississippi River and Lake Ponchartrain. The levee defenses were unable to cope with the strength of Katrina, and water flooded into the city. New Orleans' Mayor Nagin announced on the morning of the day Katrina would make landfall, that levees would be breached, and that an evacuation was being ordered: ‘‘we are facing a storm that most of us have feared ... this is very serious.... This is a once in probably a lifetime event.'' Also, Nagin ordered a 6 p.m. curfew and said that emergency services would be provided until winds exceeded 45 mph. He dispatched firefighters and police to use sirens and bullhorns to urge people to leave. the evacuation was ordered by the Governor and Mayor on the 28th, less than24 hours before landfall, and again on the 31st after the levees had failed, the populace was advised to meet at specified locations where buses would transport them to either the Superdome or Convention …show more content…
The crisis planning went awry in the first stage. Meffert told the Wall Street Journal that the city was unable to spend more on emergency communications because of its budget crisis and also because of cuts in federal assistance. Coordination of rescue efforts was made difficult by disruption of the communications infrastructure. Planners did not make plans for worst case scenarios. Greg Meffert, the mayor's right-hand man, and chief technology officer said the emergency communications plan basically depended on phone service— at least cell phone service— being
These protect it from the Mississippi River and Lake Ponchartrain. The levee defenses were unable to cope with the strength of Katrina, and water flooded into the city. New Orleans' Mayor Nagin announced on the morning of the day Katrina would make landfall, that levees would be breached, and that an evacuation was being ordered: ‘‘we are facing a storm that most of us have feared ... this is very serious.... This is a once in probably a lifetime event.'' Also, Nagin ordered a 6 p.m. curfew and said that emergency services would be provided until winds exceeded 45 mph. He dispatched firefighters and police to use sirens and bullhorns to urge people to leave. the evacuation was ordered by the Governor and Mayor on the 28th, less than24 hours before landfall, and again on the 31st after the levees had failed, the populace was advised to meet at specified locations where buses would transport them to either the Superdome or Convention …show more content…
The crisis planning went awry in the first stage. Meffert told the Wall Street Journal that the city was unable to spend more on emergency communications because of its budget crisis and also because of cuts in federal assistance. Coordination of rescue efforts was made difficult by disruption of the communications infrastructure. Planners did not make plans for worst case scenarios. Greg Meffert, the mayor's right-hand man, and chief technology officer said the emergency communications plan basically depended on phone service— at least cell phone service— being