Ya Heard Me?The Failure of Emergency Communication Systems During Hurricane Katrina: Impacts, Effects, and Interpretations

Introduction:

Outline:

Emergency Systems Failures During Katrina

Impacts on Citizens, N.O.P.D., Federal Response  "The Danziger Bridge Effect": Police Misconduct During Katrina

Applying The Theories

Conclusion: Post-Katrina Improvements

This study examines the failures of New Orleans' emergency communication systems and the

impacts these failures had on the city during and after Hurricane Katrina.

“We could not communicate with federal authorities or any adjacent law enforcement agencies. So [communication] was in fact the primary cause of all of the dysfunctions

throughout this entire event.” -NOPD Superintendent Warren Riley

"It got to the point that people were literally writing messages on paper, putting them in bottles and dropping

them from helicopters to other people on the ground.” -Washington Post

Pre-Storm Emergency Communication Systems

Primitive and Out-Dated System Radio, Telephone, Internet etc. Lessons from 9/11

Misused Federal Funding “Project Safecom”

There was NO Emergency Radio Frequency in place prior to storm

Incompatible Emergency Systems Local and Federal

Emergency Systems Failures:Communication Breakdowns

City and Region-wide power failures

Internet, Radio, Cell Phone, Landline Even backup gear failed Government issued Satellite Phones also failed

“The storm knocked out 3 million phone lines, numerous 911 call centers and nearly half of the areas television and radio stations. Many first responders, including police officers, could not communicate.”-David Paulison (FEMA)

Resulted in the use of more primitive forms of comm.

The Impacts: Effects on N.O.P.D., Citizens, and Federal Response

N.O.P.D Limited/No contact within Police Districts "Thousands of 911 calls came in but they went to a voicemail. Very little was done… We addressed most weeks after they came in.” –Officer Richardson

Citizens Limited/No contact with family Search and Rescue

Oral Histories

Federal Response Inhibited/Prevented Federal Resources “As a matter of fact, we didn’t – get back with FEMA until the end of week two. And that’s – again, that’s a coordination problem that we really shouldn’t have had.”-Officer Jeffery Winn

The “Orders”

Mayor Nagin’s “Proclamation of Force” Law/Military compel citizens to evacuate city

Governor Blanco’s “Martial Law” Legally, Martial Law cannot be declared in LA.

“Shoot Looters” “Order” given by Warren Riley http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfvDbzpr8ec&playnext=1&list=QL

“Take Back the Streets” Order given to police to “Do what you have to do!”-Warren Riley

“If you can sleep with it, I’m ordering it done.”-Warren Riley

The Rumors

Word of mouth became only form of communication

Rumors = Fact Rumors assumed to be legitimate due to lack of formal communication

“Raping Babies” “Helicopters are being shot at.” -Eddie Compass

Children’s Hospital

Lack of communication allows for Personal Interpretation Personal Elaboration “I guess I heightened people’s fears...I erred on the side of caution.” –Eddie Compass

Communication Failures:The Resulting Problems

Fear Citizens and Police in constant state of fear ”When the telephone lines and the cell towers went down, and the power went out, the ability of agencies to mount an effective and coordinated response was lost, and the public was plunged into even greater uncertainty and fear.”

Individuals responsible for restoring “order” “Reasonable” vs. “Unnecessary Force”

Anxiety and Uncertainty Citizens and cops alike unaware of magnitude of devastation

Anxious about status of family members Anxious about status of city and its future

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6ph5f5LbM0&feature=related

The Danziger Bridge Effect:Police Misconduct During Katrina

At least 10 people shot by Police during Katrina

Danziger Bridge Shootings Seven Police involved in two murders Cover-up and Conspiracy

Henry Glover Tragedy Shot, Beaten, and Burned Cover-up and Conspiracy

McCann Shooting Shot unarmed man in the back Police Officer’s Dilemma

Communication Failures and Police Misconduct Police Accountability

Accountable to who?

Ambiguous Orders Open to individual interpretation How do I “Take back the Streets?” “If you can sleep with it…?”

Every cop can “sleep” with a different level of violence

Unverified Rumors Psychologically increased the magnitude of situation Creates heightened stress, fear, and anxiety in Police Fearful for their safety and the safety of others

Anxiety and Uncertainty “Itchy trigger finger”

“The Lone Wolf” or “One Man Army” Police feel as though they are responsible for “restoring order”

Police Brutality: Worden Reading

Sociological Theory on Force During Katrina Effects of Situational Factors intensified without communication

Psychological Theory on Force During Katrina Behavioral Predispositions intensified

Police “Code of Silence” “Perhaps the greatest single barrier to the effective investigation and adjudication of complaints is the officers’ unwritten code of silence, which consists of one simple rule: an officer does not provide adverse information against a fellow officer.”

Made easier with breakdown in communication

Would You Shoot?

Police Officer’s DilemmaStudy on white subject's reactions to ambiguous images

How schemas determine interpretations

Response time determined by ethnicity Police fire at an armed target faster if they are black

More likely to make mistake if black

Social Learning reinforces discrimination Media Harry Lee

Applying the Theories:Communications Failures and the State of Nature Communications failures and civil society

Lack of communication = State of Nature?

No communication = No authority figure?

Hobbes’ State of Nature War of All vs. All Anticipatory Violence

Locke Is there a common judge?

Rousseau General Will?

Collective Self-Preservation

Charles Mills Civil Society does not include blacks Always in a State of Nature

The Seven Recommendations from The U.S Senate's Homeland Security Committee:

Recommendation #1- Create a New, Comprehensive Emergency Management Organization within DHS to Prepare for and Respond to All Disasters and Catastrophes.

Recommendation #2 - From the Federal Level Down, Take a Comprehensive All-Hazards Plus Approach to Emergency Management.

Recommendation #3 – Establish Regional Strike Teams and Enhance Regional Operations to Provide Better Coordination between Federal Agencies and the States.

Recommendation #4 - Build a True, Government-Wide Operations Center to Provide Enhanced Situational Awareness and Manage Interagency Coordination in a Disaster.

Recommendation #5 - Renew and Sustain Commitments at All Levels of Government to the Nation’s Emergency Management System

Recommendation #6 – Strengthen the Plans and Systems for the Nation’s Response to Disasters and Catastrophes.

Recommendation #7 – Improve the Nation’s Capacity to Respond to Catastrophic Events.

Improvements for the Future: Learning From Katrina

Create Office of Emergency Communications

Create “Disaster-Proof” Communications Systems Regional integration across departments

Train Cops for Disaster Situations Behavioral, Psychological, Attitudinal training