Bridging the Gap

<p>Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina demonstrated the imperative for Department of Defense (DOD) to integrate with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) state and local authorities in order to provide an effective disaster response for the citizens of this nation in their time of need. The monumental changes in federal state and local planning for disasters in New Orleans after Katrina signify a new level of dedication to interagency coordination. DOD has a significant role to play in the federal response and as such is affected by these changes and it has made changes of its own in response. This research therefore attempts to identify if the changes within DOD are sufficient to form the basis for an improved response to future domestic disasters. It considered the legal framework that authorizes DOD response to domestic disasters academic research on the subject as well as DOD's own planning processes. Consideration is given to the organizational structure within DOD a detailed state engagement plan strategy and further improving interagency cooperation at the federal state and local level.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p><br>