Good Case Study About Emergency Management

Following the hurricanes Fran and Floyd that ravaged the eastern coast of the United States, the city of Kinston, North Carolina was faced with the necessity of rebuilding damaged housing areas and relocating large numbers of residents to safer areas outside the floodplain. The city was wholly unprepared for the first disaster, but in the aftermath of the storm they were able to take a proactive approach that placed them in a much better position to cope with the next one.
The majority of displaced residents were black and in a low-income bracket. The city wanted to move them into a more upper-class section in the northeast, but residents there did not accept this proposed change as an acceptable solution. Ultimately, they built new housing in the northwestern part of Kinston for these people. The government bought the land that was within the borders of the flood zone and established a park for tourists en route to the coast to enjoy.
The opportunity to update the city’s sewage treatment system came as a result of the hurricanes. There was a state mandated requirement to update and improve the waste treatment methods that they were able to abide by after gaining access to emergency funding to make repairs and renovations after the storms.
The city was able to capitalize on opportunities for future growth and stability after dealing with the immediate crisis of the hurricane damage. It provided opportunities to improve the quality of life for the area’s residents in such a way that would not have been possible otherwise, so it was a mixed blessing.
As a response to the writing of my classmates, I agree with what they both have written. As Kristin Rochon pointed out, the process of relocating citizens, while keeping them within the city limits and considering the implications on voting districts was all accurate. The recovery efforts were, indeed, long-term solutions that would eliminate cause for concern regarding future flooding.
In response to Kristina Gamble, it is somewhat surprising that race played an important role in the community’s response to the disaster. It is fortunate that Kinston was able to put their local recovery programs into effect in conjunction with the federal government’s aid so that they could offer a comprehensive plan for their residents to get back on their feet and become fully functioning members of their community again within a relatively short amount of time.
Kinston proved its resiliency in the face of these severe weather disasters. After recovering from the damage, the town is in a more favorable position for future economic growth. They have overcome the flood lands issue and will not have to contend with the same issue again. Cooperation among residents, government, building contractors and suppliers has been demonstrated after each of the hurricanes and positive results have been achieved. I agree with the view point that the first hurricane laid the foundation for the planning and development that Kinston needed to get through the next one successfully. Urban planning has benefitted, ultimately, from weathering the storms and coming out ahead.