False Conflict: Who's in Charge of National Public Health Catastrophes

Michael Greenberger, University of Maryland School of Law

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© American Bar Association 2006. Reprinted with Permission.

Abstract

Hurricane Katrina renewed an old debate concerning which level of government should lead the response effort to catastrophic disasters. Traditionally, emergency response is handled at the most local level possible. The National Response Plan (NRP) adheres to this tenet, while providing for extensive coordination between the federal government and states and localities, if necessary. In doing so, the NRP provides procedures to ensure that federal assets may be brought to bear, without stomping on the nation's time honored commitment to the principles of federalism.