When disaster strikes. On the balance between centralization of disaster response – and decentralization – the flexibility and improvisation, the ability to cope, a precondition for fast local decision making.

Description

The disaster response to the 2005 Katrina hurricane is an example of how large federal agencies with massive resources apparently were paralyzed in rigid bureaucracy, whereas smaller and more flexible organizations were better able to adapt (cope) and utilize their limited resources in a highly efficient manner.  Improvisation requires trust.  If people are fearful, the start to "go by the book".  Or as John Tierney from the New York Times said: "Going (down) by the book".

Subject

natural disaster response