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Speaking to government about Hurricane Katrina
September 13, 2005
Talking points for contacts with elected officials:
- Note that, unless our nation acknowledges that poverty and racism contributed to the scope of this disaster, we will fail to address these issues in our response to Katrina's devastation and will be doomed to repeat our mistakes.
- Affirm the initial commitment of $62 billion in federal aid in response to Hurricane Katrina. In addition to rebuilding communities request that a significant portion of this — and additional resources — be used to address justice issues that compounded this disaster.
- Ask that an independent panel be appointed to conduct a full investigation of how our nation could have mitigated the impact of this disaster, and the specific ways that racism and poverty affected who was most vulnerable (e.g. who lived closest to the levees), who was evacuated, and who received services in the wake of Katrina. How did environmental factors, like the abuse of wetlands, contribute to the extent of the flooding?
- Emphasize that now is the time to redouble our national commitment to alleviate poverty and dismantle racism, not a time to cut Food Stamps, nutrition programs and Medicaid — as is being considered under the current Reconciliation bill before Congress.
- Stress that services and resources be readily available to affected immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, without adding to their fear of being deported.
- Urge that federal, state and local governments agree on a process to better coordinate their responses to disasters. Communities of color and other vulnerable groups should be broadly consulted in determining how best to coordinate efforts.
MCC Washington Office
(202) 544-6564
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