Building Sustainable Cities in a Post-Katrina Nation

Abstract

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, governments at all levels have placed a greater emphasis on emergency planning. The federal government has increased mitigation funding, but the process can be costly. Federal funds may not cover the price of mitigation efforts so local and state governments must find new methods of creating sustainable cities. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it became apparent that in many locales, one major department was overlooked when emergency planning teams were created—human resources. In the days following the storm, local governments faced difficulties in contacting their employees and paying those who worked through the catastrophe. Although human resource management is an everyday occurrence in local government, in times of crisis, simple tasks may become difficult. By understanding six major vulnerabilities that local governments face, human resources departments can assist local governments not only in effective mitigation but also in creating a sustainable city.