A Failure of Initiative: Final Report of the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina

United States House of Representatives

In September 2005, the House of Representatives created the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina. The Committee was charged with conducting "a full and complete investigation and study and to report its findings to the House not later than February 15, 2006, regarding-- (1) the development, coordination, and execution by local, State, and Federal authorities of emergency response plans and other activities in preparation for Hurricane Katrina; and (2) the local, State, and Federal government response to Hurricane Katrina."

The Committee presents the report narrative and the findings that stem from it to the U.S. House of Representatives and the American people for their consideration. Members of the Select Committee agree unanimously with the report and its findings. Other Members of Congress who participated in the Select Committee’s hearings and investigation but were not official members of the Select Committee, while concurring with a majority of the report’s findings, have presented additional views as well, which we offer herein on their behalf.

First and foremost, this report is issued with our continued thoughts and prayers for Katrina’s victims. Their families. Their friends. The loss of life, of property, of livelihoods and dreams has been enormous. And we salute all Americans who have stepped up to the plate to help in any way they can. (Summary modified from the Preface.)

Genre(s): Social Science (Culture & Anthropology), Modern (20th C)

Language: English

Group: United States Government Reports

Section Chapter Reader Time
Play 00 Preface Larry Wilson
00:15:02
Play 01 Executive Summary of Findings Larry Wilson
00:20:40
Play 02 Investigation Overview, part 1 Maryanka
00:17:48
Play 03 Investigation Overview, part 2 Andrew Nelson
00:19:18
Play 04 Investigation Overview, part 3 Jennifer Dorr
00:18:23
Play 05 Investigation Overview, part 4 Doug Sheppard
00:26:06
Play 06 Background, part 1 Doug Sheppard
00:32:09
Play 07 Background, part 2 Doug Sheppard
00:30:15
Play 08 Background, part 3 Doug Sheppard
00:23:52
Play 09 Background, part 4 Doug Sheppard
00:22:51
Play 10 Pre-landfall Preparation and Katrina's Impact, part 1 Richard Shipp
00:26:01
Play 11 Pre-landfall Preparation and Katrina's Impact, part 2 Richard Shipp
00:19:50
Play 12 Pre-landfall Preparation and Katrina's Impact, part 3 Richard Shipp
00:28:00
Play 13 Hurricane Pam Maria Kasper
00:17:09
Play 14 Levees, part 1 Michele Fry
00:26:32
Play 15 Levees, part 2 Michele Fry
00:22:39
Play 16 Evacuation, part 1 Maria Kasper
00:24:31
Play 17 Evacuation, part 2 Maria Kasper
00:30:46
Play 18 Evacuation, part 3 Maria Kasper
00:18:02
Play 19 Evacuation, part 4 Maria Kasper
00:21:23
Play 20 The National Framework for Emergency Management, part 1 Mary J
00:15:39
Play 21 The National Framework for Emergency Management, part 2 Mary J
00:19:57
Play 22 The National Framework for Emergency Management, part 3 Mary J
00:20:55
Play 23 FEMA Preparedness Shelley Stephen
00:38:47
Play 24 Communications, part 1 Maria Kasper
00:23:07
Play 25 Communications, part 2 Maria Kasper
00:20:36
Play 26 Communications, part 3 Maria Kasper
00:22:55
Play 27 Communications, part 4 Maria Kasper
00:14:47
Play 28 Command and Control, part 1 MaryAnn
00:26:01
Play 29 Command and Control, part 2 MaryAnn
00:23:27
Play 30 The Military, part 1 Mary J
00:15:07
Play 31 The Military, part 2 Mary J
00:17:45
Play 32 The Military, part 3 Mary J
00:20:58
Play 33 The Military, part 4 Mary J
00:21:01
Play 34 The Military, part 5 Mary J
00:15:01
Play 35 The Military, part 6 Mary J
00:19:04
Play 36 Law Enforcement, part 1 TriciaG
00:22:10
Play 37 Law Enforcement, part 2 TriciaG
00:32:49
Play 38 Law Enforcement, part 3 TriciaG
00:18:35
Play 39 Law Enforcement, part 4 TriciaG
00:21:45
Play 40 Medical Care, part 1 Maria Kasper
00:34:13
Play 41 Medical Care, part 2 Maria Kasper
00:33:34
Play 42 Medical Care, part 3 Maria Kasper
00:26:16
Play 43 Medical Care, part 4 Maria Kasper
00:30:12
Play 44 Medical Care, part 5 Maria Kasper
00:33:57
Play 45 Medical Care, part 6 Maria Kasper
00:32:08
Play 46 Shelter and Housing Linda Velwest
00:21:58
Play 47 Logistics and Contracting, part 1 Maria Kasper
00:28:49
Play 48 Logistics and Contracting, part 2 Maria Kasper
00:30:48
Play 49 Logistics and Contracting, part 3 Maria Kasper
00:27:38
Play 50 Charitable Organizations, part 1 Michele Fry
00:19:26
Play 51 Charitable Organizations, part 2 Michele Fry
00:28:54
Play 52 Conclusion Michelle Gray
00:19:36