Regulations creating roadblocks to disaster aid
eastern United States reduced the ability of foreign-born residents and individuals with low levels of education to receive funds.
In other words, FEMA individual assistance was less likely to go to immigrants or people who did not finish high school.
This does not mean FEMA officials intentionally withheld aid to anyone. It’s far more likely that those in need were unable to navigate the bureaucratic process because of complicated paperwork and having less political capital to appeal decisions or petition for resources.
Similar criticisms have been made about the confusing nature of the application process for FEMA’S Road Home program following Hurricane Katrina.
Government regulations intended to protect citizens during normal times can also hinder the recovery process. After Katrina, several regulatory roadblocks increased the amount of time it took to rebuild. For instance, the city of New Orleans required residents to obtain official approval from city inspectors for any repairs made to wind- and water-damaged homes.
Such requests helped the city determine which neighborhoods should receive utilities first, but it also meant residents had to wait weeks before rebuilding.
Likewise, the city’s redevelopment plans added uncertainty
If our most vulnerable populations cannot turn to government, how can they receive the help they need?
for residents. Because their neighborhoods could be designated to become green space, people had to wait for more information before investing their time and money into the arduous rebuilding process.
If our most vulnerable populations cannot turn to government, how can they receive the help they need?
On the bright side, our research has also found that local leaders and entrepreneurs can step up to this challenge by finding ways to share information and best practices on how to apply for, petition for, and ultimately receive resources from government, nonprofits and businesses.
For example, when the Vietnamese population in New Orleans East found out that their community was designated to become greenspace in the aftermath of Katrina, they turned to a community leader named Father Vien for help. He personally visited parishioners scattered across different states, documented who planned to return, and appealed to the media to demonstrate that his community was worth saving.
Father Vien also petitioned for FEMA trailers for the community’s elderly. Without his leadership and knowledge of the political process, his community may not have been able to recover as quickly as it did.
In the months ahead, the diverse array of disaster-affected communities should seek reforms that help those who need assistance the most. Such reforms should include simplifying the application process and offering services to help residents navigate government bureaucracy.
In addition, we should look to empower residents and local leaders to discover unique solutions on their own.
Rosemarie Fike is an instructor of economics at Texas Christian University. Stefanie Haeffele is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. They wrote this for Insidesources.com.