Debating FEMA’s approach to disaster relief

November 02, 2012 | By PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION

This week the nation watched as Hurricane Sandy devastated many areas on the East Coast and the Caribbean. With affected regions beginning recovery, U.S. News has an interesting debate on the federal government’s role in responding to these crises. Scholars from the Cato Institute, the Mercatus Center, and the Heritage Foundation offer their perspectives.

At PLF we constantly examine the relationship between agencies, the federal government, state governments and the American citizen. The online debate about FEMA’s approach to disaster relief provides a timely glimpse into one aspect of the interplay between federal agencies, states and individuals. It is worth reading the scholars’ positions and thinking about what systems can most effectively provide relief in times of weather-related distress.