JHU SAIS Research Center Publishes Report on U.S. Government's Handling of Overseas Aid After Hurricane Katrina
The Center for Transatlantic Relations at the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) today is releasing a report that critically examines the U.S. government's role in managing offers of foreign assistance received in the wake of Hurricane Katrina last August.
Immediately after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, the British government sent the United States 500,000 meals-ready-to-eat (MREs) to feed hungry victims. But the food went uneaten after the U.S. Department of Agriculture blocked its distribution for fear of spreading Mad Cow Disease.
As the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, "Role Reversal: Offers of Help from Other Countries in Response to Hurricane Katrina" sheds light on this and other incidents that occurred as the U.S. government resisted or mishandled offers of foreign aid. The report is based primarily on interviews with key U.S. government and international experts and diplomats.
Anne C. Richard, a fellow at the Center for Transatlantic Relations and vice president for Government Relations and Advocacy at the International Rescue Committee, is the author of the study. "During this hurricane season, we should resolve to act on the lessons from Katrina and improve America's ability to cope with the next disaster," says Richard.
Offers from other countries poured into the United States after the hurricane struck on 08/29/2005. Though President Bush vowed on 09/1that "this country's going to rise up and take care of it," FEMA managers argued that international help was not needed. Even after the State Department reversed course and welcomed outside aid, there was no system in place to vet the offers and donations, such as the British MREs. In her report, Richard tracks the final disposition of those meals - mostly to needy people in Eastern Europe.
At the conclusion of her analysis, Richard recommends steps the government and international community should take before the next large-scale disaster strikes America. These proposals include adoption of a uniform list of goods for stockpiling and use in crises. Throughout, Richard makes that case that effective crisis response is an important part of international security.
The SAIS Center for Transatlantic Relations engages international scholars, students, government officials, parliamentarians, journalists, business executives and other opinion leaders on contemporary challenges facing Europe and North America. The goal of the center is to strengthen and reorient transatlantic relations to the dynamics of a globalizing world.
On Thursday, 09/7 at 9 a.m., SAIS will host a forum with Anne Richard where she will discuss her findings and be available to answer questions. The event will take place in room 500 of the Bernstein-Offit Building located at 1717 Massachusetts Ave., N.W.
To request a review copy of "Role Reversal" or to set up an interview with Anne Richard, journalists should contact Felisa Neuringer Klubes at the SAIS Public Affairs Office at 202.663.5626 or [email protected].