It has been said that "all disasters are political," and there is considerable evidence to support this statement. For instance, the elder George Bush is said to have lost the election because of a perceived deficient response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992. His son, George W. Bush, suffered politically for years as recovery operations on the Gulf Coast dragged on at a pace considered unsatisfactory by constituents and Congress alike.
In the aftermath of disasters, we look to our elected leaders to solve the problem at hand, and their ability to do so influences public opinion from that point forward. Prior to the onset of disasters, however, the political nature of disasters is not as apparent to these same leaders.
For the Portfolio Project:
Assess the current state of the emergency management field in regards to its political influence. Does it appear political influences are subsiding? Give two examples supporting your assessment.
Analyze Hurricane Sandy a U.S. disaster and identify three politically charged components in the mitigation, preparedness, response, and/or recovery phases.
Describe how disaster policy might be more proactive and how this could be accomplished.
List the greatest obstacles to a more proactive evolution of emergency management.
Your paper should be 3000-4000 words in length, well written, and formatted per the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements. Support your analysis by referencing and citing at least five credible sources (peer-reviewed articles, textbook, and/or government reports) other than the course textbook. The Virtual Library is a good place to start to find credible sources, including government reports.