Planning Efforts to Reduce Future Disaster Impacts This paper looks at options for programs to be put in place before to a disaster to avoid major and often poorly-managed expenditures after a catastrophe and to offer suitable protection against the risk of those large losses which do occur. It is important for the government to provide programs that enlightens the citizens on how to deal with the hazards that come with hurricanes. Natural hazards have taken place in America and they have not been well attended to. The response in the Haiti earthquake showed some weakness in response. Hurricane Katrina should have given Americans a lesson on how to prevent major destructions in case of a similar scenario.

Introduction

Katrina was a hurricane that hit the Atlantic in 2005 and was known to be the most dangerous hurricane in history of America. Over 1,836 people died as a result of this hurricane with a total damage being estimated to be over $81 billion. This was as a result of the damage that was caused by the floods. This hurricane formed at the Bahamas where it caused deaths before heading to the Gulf of Mexico by 23rd, August 2005. By 29th August, it had struck Louisiana and caused several damages along the Texas from Florida. Places like Mississippi had their coastal regions all submerged in water effect (Shaughness, White & Brendler, 2010)'.

The effects of Katrina were the highest in the Bush regime. The figures were estimated at over 105 billion for reconstructions. This figure hardly includes the destroyed supplies of oils which highly affected the economy (Mackenzie & Levendis, 2010). The exports sector were highly affected too contributing on the economic destruction factor. Jobs sector was hard hit, and research shows that over 50 billion was the total economic impact in Louisiana and Mississippi, since everyone was left without jobs in these areas (Mackenzie & Levendis, 2010). No taxes were being collected since no checks were cashed. It is unfortunate that the government allowed reconstruction workers to be paid lower wages which made the place remain poorer than before.

The...

They included heart of America's Books which was an organization that came in to help those children who had their lives shattered by Katrina in order for them to get back to school. There is AARP which is also a program for those who are over fifty years, and were in the Katrina disaster. Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) also came in to help in supply of clean water, health services, and basic educations. Air Compassion America offered transportation for the ailing ones after the disaster.
The Red Cross is known to be the number one disaster aid. There were also Faith-Based organizations like office of the United Jewish Community, which volunteered to work with the government in Katrina disaster. Some of the schools helped in raising funds for children and families who were affected by Katrina. An example of such a school is Gloria Dei Lutheran Bible School (Mackenzie & Levendis, 2010). These are just but a few examples since the disaster was taken care of by different groups that were willing to save the region. After such a disaster, it was important for the government to not only find how they could build a healthier nation, but also protect themselves from such a disaster in the future (Shaughness, White & Brendler, 2010).

Different areas had to be covered in order to prevent a future hurricane disaster. Environmental Protection Program (EPA) had to ensure that preparedness, and response to a disaster was looked into. First method would be by identifying the geographic environments that were likely to be hit by these hurricanes. The EPA would ensure that the transport or infrastructure in these areas was upgraded. This would include the government communication. The areas should be accessible and the new programs to curb disaster would be available to all. It would be hard to amend the past mistakes, but awareness can be a remedy to protecting future catastrophes (Mackenzie & Levendis, 2010).

Assessments of these catastrophes have a big impact on the community as a whole. A disaster like Katrina had a…