Introduction
In 2005, the United States was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. The hurricane is believed to be the most severe and destructive in the country’s history. Many deaths occurred in New Orleans and Louisiana due to flooding. In addition, levee systems which had been installed to control such catastrophes failed and the storm moved inland causing more deaths. Approximately 1,836 people died making it the most deadly in the United States since the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. Economists estimated the damage caused by the hurricane to exceed $ 100 billion. Global warming is as a result of atmospheric pollution leading to increased atmospheric temperatures. Global warming develops slowly and it may take many years before its effects are felt. Before the occurrence of hurricane Katrina in 2005, the United States had been warned of its possibilities (Dyson 2006, p. 90). According to Al Gore, the officials from the United States were reluctant to deliberate on the issue of global warming; they actually failed to admit that global warming existed and instead they referred to the issue as the usual climate change. He claims that the tragedy was avoidable if only the United States’ government could have paid attention to warning given by the specialist. Measures to control the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are fundamental in order to avoid warming effects such as hurricanes. After hurricane Katrina, investigations were conducted to determine what had led to the failure of the levee system, the property of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Thorough Investigations of the response team were conducted in all levels of government. The ensuing report on the causes and management of the disaster vindicated some officials in the state and central government. This resulted in the resignation of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) chief for the negligence and New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) Superintendent for his role during the evacuations. Failed leadership is thought to have led to this catastrophe. Warnings had been given to the United States but the officials did little to prevent it from happening (Gore 2005, p. 16). The essay seeks to explore the roles played by the 21 irrefutable laws of leadership in the tragedy
Main body
The terrible and devastating incidences of hurricane Katrina still linger in the minds of Americans and the whole world at large. To the United State officials, it was a reality that global warming was developing and this trend was becoming perilous with time. This knowledge should have helped the officials to avoid the worst catastrophe that has ever befallen Americans. However, this can only be realized if the officials embrace good leadership skills and making of right decisions on how to help the global society overcome effects of global warming. Leadership requires individuals to listen to advices provided and make the best decisions to correct any possible disaster. Present decisions made by leaders determine the future of the public. Leaders should accept the reality and avoid burying their head in denial and illusion. Past records show that the intensity of storms has been on the rise and this is attributed to the effect of global warming (Center for Public Integrity 2007, p. 65). American officials should have noticed this and realize that more and severe hurricanes are bound to happen so that they can put relevant measures in place. Mitigation measures to reduce the impact of hurricane Katrina, with proper response team could have enabled United States to adapt to the veracity of global warming. Leaders can accomplish this by listening to scientists and relying on their foreknowledge and technological advances to make right decisions. This prior knowledge could have helped leaders to transform settlement pattern and modify policies that negatively affected development of communities by laying down long term strategies. According to Al Gore, sufficient warnings had been given and the levee system could have reinforced, it was evident that a disaster would strike but the question was how soon. George Bush and his team failed to listen to experts; they were guided by religion so they just prayed and put no control measures in place. When the disaster occurred they argued that no one new and claimed that it was an accident just like any other (Gore 2006, p. 90).
In the twenty one irrefutable laws of leadership, John Maxwell asserts that leadership involves working with people. The Bush administration failed to listen to scientist s who advised them on the occurrence of the hurricane and the destruction it would cause. The officials did not prepare the country to handle the actual issues of this tragedy and when the tragedy struck, the public was caught unaware. To make matters worse, when disaster struck, the Bush administration was on vacation discussing and amending taxation breaks for the wealthy. When hurricane Katrina occurred the victims suffered so much as there was no immediate response. This led to the failure of the levee system thus resulting in massive loss of lives due to the raging waters. Poor leadership resulted in inadequate plans of containing the disaster. Public transport facilities were inadequate and victims remained at the scene for long increasing the number of deaths further (Maxwell 2007, p. 78). Leaders blamed the victims who could not afford automobiles to enable them evacuate the city of New Orleans on time. The expectation would have been that the government should have provided all the necessary gadgets for evacuation early enough since enough warnings had been given by scientists. The result was the loss of many lives and massive destruction of properties and infrastructure. This was evident in the form of the violation of human right s and the government should have been held accountable. Five days later, corpses were still floating of toxic water. Victims lacked basic needs such food, water and medical care which showed poor disaster response and mitigation. The scene lacked adequate security system as cases of carjacking, assassination, rape and raiding increased. Officials in the Bush administration lacked vision and citizens perished. Hurricane Katrina was not only knowable but the government was well informed in advance but it completely failed to exercise its leadership responsibilities (Blake 1964, p. 56)
Leadership is a process which involves the ability of leaders to listen and make informed decisions on what needs to be done. Leader should be able to impact positive social influence on the people they are leading in order to encourage cooperation in decision making at all levels. The twenty one laws of leadership workbook gives an elaborate guidance on appropriate leadership qualities. It describes leadership as a process whose success is not realized overnight but which takes some time. The book upholds that leadership entails working with people, bush administration failed to work with scientist who advised them on the occurrence of hurricane Katrina and its impacts. The twenty one laws of irrefutable leadership help in molding of individuals to become effective leaders who do not fail their followers. United States officials failed their citizens as well as scientist who had put great efforts to study in order to discover the possible effects of increased levels of global warming. In his movie Al Gore portrays that problems associated with global warming are urgent and solutions lies on leaders who should improve on their governance. Problems related to global warming should be addressed by putting proper mitigation and responsive measures based on warnings given by the scientist. This can be enhanced by proper leadership in the Bush administration (Carlyle 1841, p. 91).
The first law is the law of the lid; leadership capacity indicates a person’s degree of effectiveness. When leaders are faced with challenges how they solve the problem determines their effectiveness. The United States was faced with the problem of global warming which increased the intensity of hurricanes. However, the government did not solve the problem adequately it failed to put response and mitigation measures of any possible hurricane. When hurricane Katrina struck levee system failed many victims continues to suffer at the scene they lacked basic needs, this was a clear indication of leadership failure. The law of influence acts as a true measure of the ability by leaders to have others listening and following them. This is a fundamental requirement in leadership. However, on occasions where leaders come up with misguided decision they end up misguiding a large group of people. Bush and his administration misled the American citizens; some believed that the tragedy was an accident like any other no one knew that it would happen. Nonetheless, scientists had adequately advised the government on possible effects of increased rates of global warming which it totally ignored. The third law is the law of process, successful leadership is not achieved overnight but it takes a continuous process of learning. Bush should have taken time to learn more about global warming and its effect so that they can come up with an informed decision to address its effects. Adequate consultation provide varied ideas which when integrated may give concrete solution, Bush administration should have worked with scientist for better solutions (Maxwell 2007, p. 142). The law of navigation requires leaders to solve crisis. Advice may be provided but leaders should chart the course. American government was expected to device the best solution to solve global warming problems however they failed. Bush lacked any leader to design the best way of solving the problems brought about by hurricane Katrina tragedy. The law of addition, in offering service to others leaders add values to themselves, challenges create opportunities for learning and hence growth. American government was able to learn from the tragedy they adopted and laid better measures to control future disasters. Trust establishes strong foundation of leadership; American government betrayed this trust by failing to uphold the welfare of its citizen. The law of respect states that people follow leaders who are stronger Bush government was strong though some people opposed it due to the failure in the disaster (Spielman 2007, p. 62).
The law of intuition shows that leaders address problems with leadership prejudice. American government instead of paying attention to scientist it moved on with other issues which they thought were more important. Law of magnetism and connection checks the satisfaction of leaders with the people they associate with. Connection specifically shows that leaders establish a personal relationship with their followers. The above two are realized if the leadership process is successful, failure such the hurricane Katrina breaks these laws. A leadership is ability or failure is determined by those who are close to them, Al Gore was able to notice the failure in Bush in addressing the issue of global warming. Power sharing shows that particular leaders feel secure of their positions; this allows other to participate in decision making. The thirteen law of picture indicates that behaviors of leaders are influenced by other people. Some act in a particular way to please the public, bush administration aced to please those who thought that scientist warnings were mere threats. Leaders play a key role in the state; lack of credibility can lead to failure of the whole state (Shellybenoit 2010, p.119). Unpreparedness of hurricane Katrina led to many death and destruction of property which was termed by Al Gore as a failure at governance by the United States. It is the responsibility of leaders to ensure that set goals are achieved; realization of victory requires personal sacrifice of leaders. American government concentrated on misplaced priorities such taxation break for the rich instead of addressing the urgent issue of global warming (Louisiana Department of health 2006, p. 88). Leaders should have the needs of the state at victims of hurricane Katrina needed immediate attention, basic supplies such food, water, security and Medicare care were urgently required. Evacuation of survivors to safer required leaders to sacrifice resources and time allocated for other activities and concentrate on the disaster first. The nineteenth law of timing enables leaders to deliver services on time without failure. Warnings given by scientist provided enough evidence that a disaster was about to happen however, it was not clear when and so the government was expected to get prepared as soon as possible. Continuous development of leaders build their capacity to handle new challenges, knowledge on the consequences of global warming was not clear to many leaders and after the tragedy many sought to learn more. The last law of legacy, this is a guiding value in leadership failure questions leaders legacy. Failure Bush administration to contain the hurricane Katrina tragedy queried its legacy (Kouzes & Posner 2007, p. 215).
Conclusion
Continued increase of global warming has led to occurrence of stronger hurricanes. The destruction and the casualties witnessed make Hurricane Katrina one of the most devastating hurricanes in recent times. The hurricane resulted in the death of 1, 836 people and property worth at least $100 billion was destroyed. Though this was attributed to effects of global warming enough warning had been give to the government by the scientist. The government could have considered change of settlement pattern by evacuating those at risk and putting measures in place to enhance response and mitigation when the disaster struck. However, due to poor governance all warning were ignored and instead the government concentrated on less important issues such as taxation break for the rich. The twenty one irrefutable laws of leaders help leaders to evaluate themselves so that they are able to identify loop holes which need to be addressed. Bush administration failed to work with people notably scientist who advised them on possible effects of high rate of global warming. Governance which upholds all the twenty one laws would be able to resolve crisis in a better way because it is able to consult and make informed decision.
Reference
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Spielman, D.G., 2007, Katrinaville Chronicles: Images and Observations from a New Orleans Photographer, Baton Rouge: LSU Press.