In the Eye of the Storm: Hurricane Sandy
The Northeastern US is about to be hit by a massive hurricane, threatening devastation to communities and causing countless billions of dollars in damages. The Storm also threatens to expose a complex web of corruption and failings in the emergency response system, leaving many communities frustrated by the effectiveness of the aid. Federal, Local, and State governments must work together to address the issues and damages, coordinating responses and addressing future natural disasters.
Topic 1 - Emergency Response & Disaster Management
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which caused nearly $70 billion in damages and nearly 160 American fatalities, President Obama has decided to take immediate action to assess the situation and how to move forward. He has created the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, consisting of officials across various executive agencies. The objective for this Task Force is to work with federal, state, and local officials to identify immediate steps to help communities rebuild. In line with this objective, Task Force should create a comprehensive regional rebuilding strategy consisting of recommendations to rebuild communities across the regions affected by Hurricane Sandy, and ensure these communities are better able to withstand such storms moving forward.
Topic 2 - Avoiding another Catastrophe
In responding to this natural disaster, President Obama acknowledged that storms like Hurricane Sandy expose long term risks and vulnerabilities resulting from climate change. As a result, he has directed the Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force to construct climate policy proposals and to engage in negotiations with Congress to pass these proposals. The Task Force faces a difficult journey ahead, as it attempts to address the root causes of storms like Hurricane Sandy and working with an institution dominated by partisan politics in the process. Can the Task Force create an environmental policy that can pass a sharply divided and polarized Congress?
