Journalists to Discuss Coping With Disaster

Robert Block (photo: Ethan Block) Christopher Cooper (photo courtesy of the Author)

Wall Street Journal reporters Christopher Cooper and Robert Block, authors of a new book on the subject of Hurricane Katrina and its impact, will participate in the panel discussion "Coping With Disaster: What to Do When Catastrophe Strikes," as part of the American Booksellers Association's programming on Saturday, May 20, at BookExpo America. They and fellow panelists Dr. Irwin Redlener, director of Columbia University's National Center for Disaster Preparedness and co-founder of the Children's Health Fund, and Scott Naugle, owner of Pass Christian Books in Pass Christian, Mississippi, will talk about the hurricanes' devastation and what it means for America. They will also offer concrete ways individuals and businesses can prepare for future disasters.

Cooper is the Journal's White House correspondent and a former political reporter for the Times-Picayune; Block, who covers the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the Journal, is a former foreign correspondent. The two conducted extensive interviews with federal, state, local officials, inside and outside of DHS and FEMA, to expose the systemic flaws and mismanagement that led to the crisis in New Orleans and the Gulf.

Their book, Disaster: Hurricane Katrina and the Failure of Homeland Security (Holt), will be published in August of this year. In an e-mail interview, Cooper and Block gave BTW a brief look at the kinds of issues they plan to address during the panel discussion and in their book.

The authors have found much to criticize with the federal government's handling of the vulnerable region, before, during, and after Katrina. "Contrary to what we have been told," they wrote, "Washington and DHS had plenty of 'situational awareness' about the potential threat [of Katrina], the extent of the levee breaches, the existence of the people at the NOLA [Ernest N. Morial] Convention Center, but ignored it or dismissed the information."

The problems began before August 29, 2006, according to the authors. "FEMA was broken long before the storm hit; Brown's [Michael Brown, former FEMA director] influence in DHS and the White House was very limited. Once the storm started, the President and Michael Chertoff [director of DHS] could have adopted a more aggressive stance if they had accepted initial reports the severity of flooding was indicative of a levee breach."

The authors point to a lack of planning in many areas -- including transportation, medical support, evacuation, and shelter -- as part of the reason for the post-hurricane catastrophe. All of these essential components were inadequate or nonexistent, according to Cooper and Block.

To prepare for, and allay fears about, future disasters, Cooper and Block will offer actions that ordinary citizens can undertake. "CERT (Citizen Emergency Response Team) training is available from most local firehouses," they wrote. "These take about three nights and part of an afternoon. Not only does it prepare you for all kinds of emergencies at home, in your neighborhood, and at work, but it allows people to become more involved in community response. It's also a lot of fun and provides participants with a real sense of responsibility."

Panelist Scott Naugle lost his bricks-and-mortar Pass Christian Bookstore during Hurricane Katrina, but immediately began selling books online, renting a space for author signings. Naugle anticipates opening in a new location in a few months.

Of his presence on the panel at BEA, Naugle told BTW, "My comments will be focused at the local and grassroots level -- what can we do as booksellers to ensure the safety of our employees and continue in business after a disaster? A disaster is any unplanned event that affects business -- fire, broken water main, tornado, hurricane, or avian flu. With planning, it is possible to remain in business under extended adverse conditions."

For an earlier interview with Dr. Redlener, click here.

"Coping With Disaster: What to Do When Catastrophe Strikes" will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 20, in Room 150A of the Washington Convention Center. --Nomi Schwartz