Student Timeline Worksheet: Group Two

"Hurricane Katrina and the Blame Game"

Directions:
Your group will be covering a portion of the timeline "Katrina: What Happened When" and answering questions based on the reading. Your job is to analyze how events or individuals might have been responsible for the poor response to Hurricane Katrina. You will be reporting your findings to the class.

Group Two (Aug. 29, 2005 Aug. 31, 2005):

1. Read the summaries of the articles that cover your time period at: http://www.factcheck.org/article348.html. As a group, decide what criticism might be made of the actions of the following people:
   • President George W. Bush
   • Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff
   • United States Senator David Vitter
   • Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco
2. Read the article found at: http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_09_07.htm. As a group, answer the following questions:
   • What was FEMA's response to the breach of the 17th Street Canal?
   • What reaction did Greg Stone and Ivor Van Heerden have to FEMA's response?
   • Why did the flooding continue after Hurricane Katrina left the city?
   • What evidence is there that communications broke down between various levels of government and agencies during the flooding?
3. Using information from your reading, take a stand on whom you would blame for the poor response to Hurricane Katrina. Explain your answer and provide supporting information.
4. Using supporting information, organize a short presentation that covers your group's findings on who is to blame for the devastation. Include a recommendation on how this problem could be avoided in the future. Summarize what you will be presenting here.