Home    We Remember    Giving to HSF    Who we are    You can help    Contact us

KATRINA RESPONSE (A DISASTER ALERTED)

In October 1st, 2002, Dr. Sonia Lizardo Dillon was invited to present a position paper at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy entitled:  Enlisting the Private Sector: The Inportance of Private/Public Partnerships in the War on Terrorism.  In that paper, Dr. Dillon alerted  that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will be operating at several multilevel with steering and rowing responsibilities simultaneously and that will hamper the ability of  DHS to respond with efficiency and accountability to any disaster.  The slow response of  DHS/FEMA to the Katrina's disaster is an evidence of her point of view.  Please, see below what she said:                                                                                                                                      "The new Department of Homeland Security (established on November 25, 2002) will be operating at several multilevel with  steering and rowing responsibilities simultaneously.  Some experts in government bureaucracy are skeptical about the efficiency of this new Department since it is recommended that steering and rowing be uncoupled in order to achieve efficiency and accountability" In addition, she mentioned in her paper that the new Homeland Security Paradigm and the formation of the Department of Homeland Security would  bring as a consequence that key people might leave their positions weakening that institution. After the formation of DHS, many key people of FEMA left their positions.                                    Please, see below what she said:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        "This new paradigm of Homeland Security bases its defense strategies on surveillance, prevention, awareness, preparedness and people participation.  When people and communities are facing new paradigms you can expect uneasy feelings and upsetting behaviors from some while others become distance, in denial, disenchanted or leave the field.  The new Homeland Security paradigm embraced by the creation of the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS), requires that the government helps people to change their perception, provide clear definition to the new paradigm, build faith in the new paradigm, help people to let go of their old paradigm, give people time to adjust to changes, provide new vision, mission and values statements and finally provide a safety net in case of failures.  This paradigm shift and the creation of the new Department of Homeland Security will affect the work of each individual involved, his/her perception, power, behavior, expectations and accomplishments. Some will become more productive but others will fail. Each one will decide on what side of the road they will be. The task is enormous and so is the amount of people involved and the budget power. The Administration needs the flexibility to manage the new Department in the pursuit of efficiency and effectiveness. The Congress, on the other hand, needs to keep the eyes on how the changes are taking place"                                                                                                      Dr. Dillon's paper was placed at the Library of the U.S. Coast Guard  as it is shown in the following letter:

-START -

<a href="http://www.kwmap.com/"> resources</a> - browse Keyword Maps of the Internet <br><br>

-STOP -

Search Engine Optimization and Free Submission 

Free Search Engine Submission

<a href="http://www.aol.com/"><img src="http://www.aol.com/gr/aolanywherebutton.gif" alt="AOL Anywhere" width="197" height="38" border="0"></a>