Drawing Lessons From Major Disasters

Published by the Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania, the new report entitled "The Worst Is Yet to Come: Lessons from September 11 and Hurricane Katrina" by the Institute's Director Donald F. Kettl provides a hard look at the problems of natural and man-made disasters.

"[The report] examines what public administration scholars and practitioners can learn from these devastating events in recent history. Dr Kettl's conclusions are thought provoking and also provide insight into how government can learn to cope with the 'wicked problems' presented by natural disasters and terrorism in the twenty-first century."

From the report:

"More crises like September 11 and Katrina are inevitable, from a major California earthquake to a nasty flu virus, from a terrorist attack to mega-storms. These problems slop over the boundaries we've created to deal with them. Yet we keep trying to draw boxes around problems that defy boundaries. We keep resorting to old ideologies for new problems. Even worse, Katrina isn't over. We'll be dealing with its consequences, from reconstructing the city's homes to rebuilding its civic life, for years to come."