Disasters And the Law: Katrina And Beyond (Aspen Elective)

Recent hurricanes and other natural disasters demonstrate serious gaps in the legal system and its ability to respond to events of this magnitude. Innovative policies are needed if society is to deal effectively with the aftermath of these disasters and the risk of future ones. "Disasters and the Law: Katrina and Beyond" studies disaster response, prevention, and mitigation strategies. By integrating knowledge and experience from fields as diverse as urban planning, bankruptcy law, and wetlands law, the authors talk about the legal process in disaster response and reconstruction. Past responses to Hurricane Andrew, the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 and the Loma Prieta Earthquake also are discussed along with a history of U.S. disaster response efforts. The book examines a wide range of issues and engages in provocative discussion of such topics as: * The goals and limits of Federal and military involvement in civilian and domestic support and our expectations of a swift and multi-layered response from government in times of a crisis versus government and private sector capabilities; * Medicaid issues raised by the hurricane such as the New York Disaster Relief Medicaid waiver granted in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks and current federal legislation related to Medicaid and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts; * Environmental issues such as the Army Corps of Engineers' work on levee constructions and the controversy over environmental litigation's role in the Corps' projects, as well as the future re-construction on floodplains; * Issues concerning health care, communications, law enforcement, and evacuation.