トランプトランプ政権せいけんの人員じんいん削減さくげん方針ほうしん 災害さいがい支援しえんの遅おくれに懸念けねんも

In 2025, twenty years after Hurricane Katrina, which claimed the lives of more than 1,800 people in Louisiana and other parts of the southern United States in 2005, people in the affected areas paid tribute to the victims and renewed their determination to rebuild.

On the other hand, the Trump administration has announced plans to streamline FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, by reducing staff and other measures. However, there are concerns that this could lead to delays in disaster relief efforts.

20 years since Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina, which struck the southern United States in August 2005, claimed the lives of over 1,800 people due to strong winds and flooding.

20 years ago, on the 29th, which marks the day Hurricane Katrina made landfall, a memorial ceremony was held in New Orleans, Louisiana, one of the areas most heavily affected, to honor the victims.

The heart of New Orleans, the city where jazz was born, has regained its liveliness, but in areas where the levees broke and catastrophic damage occurred—areas with many low-income residents—abandoned vacant houses stand out, and efforts toward recovery are ongoing.

In front of the seawall painted with pictures to preserve the memory of the disaster, the gathered people offered a silent prayer for the victims, then paraded through the community dancing to music, renewing their determination for recovery.

In the case of Katrina, criticism arose over the delayed response of FEMA the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which became an opportunity to review disaster response by government authorities and local communities.

The Trump administration has announced plans to streamline FEMA by measures such as reducing personnel, but there are concerns that this could lead to delays in disaster relief. As this year marks the 20th anniversary of Katrina, one of the most significant disasters in American history, discussions about disaster response are once again intensifying.

On the other hand, the Trump administration stated that people are not receiving support when they need it most regarding FEMA, and in January of this year, established a council to review past disaster responses and other related matters.

The council aims to transfer disaster response authority from the federal government to each state, reduce personnel, and streamline the organization, and plans to compile its recommendations by November 16th of this year.

Some FEMA employees: Trump administration may cause further failures in disaster response On August 25, ahead of the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, some FEMA employees issued a statement declaring that they would never repeat the failures of Katrina. However, they warned that the Trump administrations policies could actually lead to more failures in future disaster responses. They submitted a written protest to the House of Representatives, opposing staff reductions and the termination of disaster mitigation programs.

It warns that under the Trump administration, experienced FEMA staff were dismissed or encouraged to resign, and that one-third of full-time employees have left since the beginning of this year. As a result, it says, the organization has lost skills developed internally as well as relationships with other government agencies.

Regarding this, American media reports that the number of personnel who have left FEMA is about 2,000.

In the document, it also expresses concern that negative effects on disaster response are already emerging, stating that during the flood in southern Texas in July, which claimed the lives of more than 130 people, support was hindered by leadership that questioned FEMAs very purpose and prioritized cost-cutting without justification.

Mr. Declan Crowe, an emergency management specialist at FEMA who responded to an NHK interview, said that after signing, he was suspended. He stated, The Trump administration has implemented policies that make it difficult for many employees to remain at FEMA, which is affecting our ability to support disaster victims.

He expressed his concern, saying, Even if a large-scale disaster occurs, FEMA will probably not be able to respond effectively.

Major American media outlets are reporting concerns that the confusion surrounding FEMA and the downsizing of its operations could lead to delays in disaster response.

Among them, the area that suffered the most damage was the Lower Ninth Ward, which is surrounded by the Mississippi River and canals, and where the levees broke.

Local young people painted artworks on the levees rebuilt after the disaster, depicting scenes such as people waiting for rescue on the roofs of submerged houses and people huddling together in shelters, in order to preserve the memory of Katrina.

At the ceremony celebrating the completion held on the 23rd of this month, a city official said, Let us engrave in our hearts that this city will continue to grow stronger even 20 years from now.

A large number of residents in this area were forced to evacuate for a long period of time.

Many of the places where houses once stood are still vacant lots, and there are also many houses left with broken walls and roofs, making it clear that recovery has not progressed.

According to a local nonprofit organization, the population, which was about 14,000 at the time of the disaster, has dropped to just over 5,000 as of 2023.

According to Lowernine.org, an organization that has been supporting housing reconstruction in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans since 2007, government assistance for home repairs was calculated based on the pre-disaster property value. As a result, in this area with a large low-income population, many residents were unable to cover the repair costs.

The organization has built approximately 100 houses so far and has repaired more than 400.

Many residents have only managed to make the minimum necessary repairs to get by, and the organization continues to receive a flood of requests.

Of these, the 80-year-old woman could not afford to repair the hole in her floor at home, so she had no choice but to leave it as it was for three weeks until the organization fixed it.

On the 23rd of this month, volunteers were working to carefully strip off the old paint from the house and repaint it in lavender. The woman said, I am truly grateful for their efforts.

Representative Laura Paul said, In the world of disaster relief, there is a saying: Disasters do not discriminate.

However, what we always say is, Disasters do not discriminate, but recovery certainly does.

This area is, unfortunately, a typical example, he explained, adding, I want to see the former residents return to the land that has become vacant.

The role of volunteers is increasing. As the Trump administration considers policies to reduce FEMA personnel and funding, volunteer organizations are playing a larger role not only in recovery but also in the initial response to disasters.

One example is the volunteer organization United Cajun Navy, which was founded by Mr. Todd Terrell of Louisiana after he was affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Mr. Terrell brought together people involved in the fishing industry and churchgoers to voluntarily engage in rescue, search operations, and support for evacuees, making the organization widely known.

Now, whenever disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, or wildfires occur in other states, we immediately dispatch members with rescue experience and skills such as operating boats and heavy machinery.

In the flood that claimed the lives of more than 130 people in southern Texas this July, members of the organization and locally recruited volunteers played a part in rescue and search efforts by using pump trucks to drain water accumulated along the river and bulldozers to remove debris.

Support supplies donated by companies and individuals, ranging from water and food to diapers, clothing, and toys, are being gathered in a warehouse adjacent to the airport in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, which served as a support base for government and volunteer efforts during Hurricane Katrina.

When there are no disasters, supplies are distributed at charity events aimed at children and the elderly. A list of needed items is made public to solicit donations, and the supplies are constantly being rotated.

We own boats for water rescue, camper vans where volunteers can stay overnight, machines for making sandbags, and are also prepared to dispatch small airplanes, helicopters, and fire trucks.

The influential newspaper The New York Times has stated that such volunteer organizations involved in initial disaster response are on the rise, and argued that in the future, coordination with local authorities and other support organizations will become an issue.

I have been told by the authorities to get out or that I am not needed many times.

“There is always a role for the government, but it is volunteers and citizens who protect our lives,” he said, emphasizing the importance of volunteers in complementing government functions.

And expanding the resources we can use to other people and groups

Inherit, pass on, and invite more people to participate in what has been created.

Our mission is exactly that, they said.

Kevin Smiley, who studies the impact of disasters on communities at Louisiana State University, said, With Katrina, it became clear how different communities across the United States would adapt to the increase in extreme weather and disasters.

He emphasized, We need not only to build embankments, but also to create a society that can respond to floods.

And regarding volunteering: There are challenges, but the organization of volunteer activities is progressing because of the fundamental human desire to help others.

They will continue to play a major role in disaster response and recovery, he said, pointing out that sharing responsibilities with the government will become even more important in the future.