Natural disasters are some of the most devastating events that can take place in history. They displace people, claim lives, and have no mercy. FEMA has claimed that Hurricane Katrina is the single most catastrophic natural disaster in US history. Sometimes the aftermath of the natural disaster is worse than the actual event and people have to find a way to keep back on their feet. An essential part of the recovery process is the help of others, especially government aid, but the government has not always been as proactive and reactive as it should. When Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, President Bush was on vacation in Texas as residents tried to survive. After pressure from his aides, he returned to Washington two days after the catastrophe occurred. However, Bush initially only saw the extent of the damage from Air Force One as he flew over New Orleans, which was one of the most devastated areas. Residents were in desperate need of help; still the government did not take the necessary actions to save lives. This lack of leadership and aid from the government can also be seen today with Hurricane Harvey and the Trump Administration. Residents once again find that they have to take matters into their own hands and save themselves.
Whenever I hear about a hurricane or tropical storm that may hit the United States, I always think of Hurricane Katrina. I remember seeing images on television of people standing on rooftops waving their hands for help or waiting to be rescued. News channels flocked to the Superdome to interview the citizens that were displaced while they waited for help. I could not believe how extensive the damage was and why no one seemed to be helping the situation. I also wondered if the lack of response had anything to do with racial and economic demographics. New Orleans' population is 67 percent African American and 30 percent of the population is poor and these residents suffered the greatest losses. Catastrophic events, like Hurricane Katrina, that affect primarily poor minorities show us how there is a negative correlation between government response to the disaster and those who rely on their aid the most. Yet, it most importantly shows us the true intentions of the government or rather the commander in chief when American citizens are in a dire situation.
After Hurricane Harvey hit on August 27th, Trump praised government officials for their relief efforts via Twitter. That same day he tweeted," Great coordination between agencies at all levels of government. Continuing rains and flash floods are being dealt with. Thousands rescued." However he later tweeted," With Mexico being one of the highest crime Nations in the world, we must have THE WALL. Mexico will pay for it through reimbursement/other." In the aftermath of the storm, he created an image of a fast acting, proactive administration while also trying to push his own political agenda. His Twitter account over the past few days seem to be an exchange between commending the government and also reminding people of what he considers to be a bigger picture. It seemed as though he was trying to gain more trust and support for the policies he wants to implement by showing that his administration is reliable and effective. He also claimed to see the damage firsthand, but reporters put his claim to rest when images emerged of him simply standing on top of a firetruck in Corpus Christi holding a Texan flag, nowhere near the damage. Trump seems to be trying to learn from Bush's mistake, yet he is not doing it in a truthful way. He is using the disaster to gain more support for himself and his agenda rather than actually meeting victims and accessing the damage.
Hurricane Harvey and Katrina taught us how the government's actions speak a lot louder than their words. We can only make certain claims for so long before they are exposed especially with the use of social media. Our commanders in chief need to be more hands on and get out the Oval Office. A natural disasters is a national crisis not a national campaign used as a marketing tool to garner support for the administration.