The devastation caused by the Gulf Coast hurricanes presents the nation with unprecedented challenges as well as opportunities to reexamine shared responsibility among all levels of gov¿t. All levels of gov¿t., together with the private & nonprofit sectors, will need to play a critical role in the process of choosing what, where, & how to rebuild. Agreeing on what the costs are, what federal funds have been provided, & who will bear the costs will be key to the overall rebuilding effort. This testimony: (1) places federal assistance provided to date in the context of damage estimates for the Gulf Coast; & (2) discusses key federal programs that provide rebuilding assistance to the Gulf Coast states. Illustrations.

In Nov. 2005, the President issued an executive order establishing the Office of the Fed. Coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding (OFC) with the broad mission of supporting recovery efforts following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Given their vast size and impact, these storms presented unprecedented rebuilding challenges to federal, state, and local officials which, combined with concerns about the lack of coordination in the government¿s initial response to the disaster, precipitated the creation of the OFC. This report: (1) describes the functions the Coordinator has performed; (2) obtains stakeholder perspectives regarding the office's operation; and (3) provides observations on issues to be considered for moving forward. Illustrations.

Disasters—natural ones, such as hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes, and unnatural ones such as terrorist attacks—are part of the American experience in the twenty-first century. The challenges of preparing for these events, withstanding their impact, and rebuilding communities afterward require strategic responses from different levels of government in partnership with the private sector and in accordance with the public will. Disasters have a disproportionate effect on urban places. Dense by definition, cities and their environs suffer great damage to their complex, interdependent social, environmental, and economic systems. Social and medical services collapse. Long-standing problems in educational access and quality become especially acute. Local economies cease to function. Cultural resources disappear. The plight of New Orleans and several smaller Gulf Coast cities exemplifies this phenomenon. This volume examines the rebuilding of cities and their environs after a disaster and focuses on four major issues: making cities less vulnerable to disaster, reestablishing economic viability, responding to the permanent needs of the displaced, and recreating a sense of place. Success in these areas requires that priorities be set cooperatively, and this goal poses significant challenges for rebuilding efforts in a democratic, market-based society. Who sets priorities and how? Can participatory decision-making be organized under conditions requiring focused, strategic choices? How do issues of race and class intersect with these priorities? Should the purpose of rebuilding be restoration or reformation? Contributors address these and other questions related to environmental conditions, economic imperatives, social welfare concerns, and issues of planning and design in light of the lessons to be drawn from Hurricane Katrina.