Reflecting on Hurricane Katrina: The Trump Administration's Impact on NOAA and FEMA 20 Years Later

As the nation commemorates the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Damon T. Hewitt, the President and Executive Director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, released a poignant statement reflecting on the 2005 devastation:“Two decades have passed since this disastrous hurricane irrevocably altered New Orleans and considerable portions of the Gulf Coast in Mississippi and Alabama. For numerous frontline communities, recovery remains painfully out of reach. The grief from lost loved ones, property destruction, and persistent health and economic issues continues to burden many.“The heartache is exacerbated by the reality that most fatalities and losses could have been prevented. The events surrounding Hurricane Katrina were as much a man-made catastrophe as a natural disaster, with the roots of this failure extending back for years. “As a proud New Orleans native, I understand that the devastation transcended the storm, revealing deep-seated racial discrimination and disinvestment. “We must, therefore, consider how we arrived at this tragic juncture and remain attuned to the ongoing calamities impacting our communities while anticipating future risks.“Today, many residents ponder unsettling questions: If a natural disaster struck again, what man-made calamities would follow? Would there be sufficient preparations from local and federal authorities? Who would be...