Response to Irene is not Katrina-like

Hurricane Irene slammed ashore in North Carolina last week. Predictions put it at a Force 4 storm with a northerly track over major cities, including New York.

The predicted track was correct, although the storm’s ferocity diminished as it barreled up the coast. It was eventually down graded to a tropical storm.

Every conceivable preparation for Irene was made. Cities, states and counties enforced mandatory evacuations. Airports, roads, subways, ferries and train service were closed.

Irene was predicted to be the hurricane of a lifetime.

The storm was bad. It just was not the wind event that was predicted. The flooding, however, is historic. Early estimates put property damage at more than $11 billion. Forty-four people have died as a result of the storm. Power outages affected a dozen states and more than four million people. The extreme flooding in northern states has yet to crest. Even so, 60 bridges and 250 roads have already been destroyed in Vermont alone. Supplies are being airlifted to people stranded by floods and raging water.

Instead of a sigh of relief at the passing of Irene and compliments all around, recriminations surfaced.

Amazingly, once the winds subsided people complained that the official preparations were draconian and that the storm was over hyped—too many people were evacuated, too many services were cut and too much was made of the dangers. The preparations have been called overblown.

Not so. In this age when government is accused of doing too little and being unresponsive and inefficient, this was an example of public service at its best.

All levels of government worked in concert. All levels of government used the best information available to make plans and preparations. All levels of government were at the ready. Resources were abundant before they were even needed, unlike in the past when they were too little and too late.

Irene was no Hurricane Katrina, but neither was it a Katrina in the failure of government to prepare, react and respond.

Total losses will continue to be tallied and assessed. Resources will continue to be used to ameliorate the damage.

All in all, the public sector did something for which it is not famous: It operated with efficiency and effectiveness. It continues to do so.

The critics should put a sock in it and hope that public services do as well the next time they are needed.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher