In the wake of the devastation Hurricane Katrina wrought on the US, many pundits continue to blame the uncoordinated and slow response to the disaster, as well as a lack of effective preparedness, on the nation’s post-Sept 11 focus on terrorism. Many cite the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s placement under the Department of Homeland Security, for instance, as a reason for this shift of attention to terrorism over natural disasters and industrial accidents. No doubt this is part of the story at the federal level, and clearly it is important to analyze federal policy for the pressures it brings to bear on those who carry them out.

When one looks at what local emergency planners actually do in practice, however, the story becomes much more complex. If this complexity isn’t boldly addressed by policymakers, decision-makers and analysts, including anthropologists, the nation’s current problems of emergency preparedness will remain.