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Damage After Hurricane Katrina

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After Hurricane Katrina brought destruction across the Gulf Coast States, emergency response teams immediately conducted rapid needs assessments to evaluate the damage. However, infrastructure was greatly affected, including roads and bridges, phone lines and radio towers. Therefore, air and water transportation was the only way for responders to travel and communication was limited. With these limitations, information was slow moving and the extent of the damage and the resources needed was unknown for several days (DHS, 2006).
Moreover, the Louisiana EOC had inexperienced staff and inadequate space to house FEMA personnel. As a result, confusion was widespread as FEMA employees were situated at a separate facility and cooperation between

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