Hurricane Katrina devastated regions of Gulf Coast nearly one year ago, and the nation’s capacity to respond to catastrophic disasters still needs improvement.

“Dealing with disasters is primarily the responsibility of states and local communities,” James Carafano writes. Accordingly, an effective national response system should support state and local governments when they are overwhelmed by catastrophic disasters.

According to Carafano, Congress can improve disaster response by reforming state grant formulas, creating regional homeland security outreach offices, and increasing Coast Guard modernization funding.

Read Katrina One Year After: Congress's Unfinished Agenda by James Jay Carafano, Ph. D.

Background: From Tragedy to Triumph: Principled Solutions for Rebuilding Lives and Communities

State and Regional Responses to Disasters: Solving the 72-Hour Problem by Jill Rhodes and James Jay Carafano

Event: Grassroots Response: Citizens Taking Care of Citizens During Disasters  - Thursday at 10 am

Talking Through Disasters: The Federal Role in Emergency Communications by James Jay Carafano, Ph.D.

Learning Katrina’s Lessons: Coast Guard Modernization Is a Must by James Jay Carafano, Ph.D., and Laura P. Keith July 7, 2006 (Backgrounder #1950)

Military Support to Civilian Authorities: An Assessment of the Response to Hurricane Katrina by Alane Kochems

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As a conservative analyst who spent much of the 1990s working against most of Bill Clinton's agenda -- including even some aspects of his welfare reform proposals -- it pains me to say this...

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For more on the author:

• Biographical information: Robert Rector
• More research and commentary by Robert Rector

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Two major terrorism plots in the last six weeks highlight Pakistan’s central role in the war on terrorism. One of these plots--a plan to blow up airline flights mid-air between the United Kingdom and the United States--was successfully thwarted because British, American, and Pakistani security agencies worked together. The other--a series of bombings July 11 that killed nearly 200 on commuter trains in Mumbai, India--has been linked by Indian officials to a terrorist group operating in Pakistan. These plots demonstrate the need for more effective engagement with Pakistan that encourages it to widen its terrorism crackdown beyond al-Qaeda to local extremist groups. This approach could reap great dividends in the war on terrorism.