Geography as Silent Agent

Reorganization of FEMA under DHS increased the social, spatial, and temporal distances between FEMA and the White House
Reorganization within FEMA broke ties between people doing mitigation and preparation work from those tasked with response and recovery
Reorganization disrupted spatial and social ties among FEMA, state OES, and local first responders, disrupting Incident Command establishment
Telecommunications linkups among FEMA, NHC, DHS, and Crawford were not enough to overcome the friction of spatial and social distance
Perception of the spatiality of risk to the hurricanes may have been colored by the demographics of those most vulnerable, perhaps impeding response
Still emerging are conflicts over the space of the new New Orleans: which areas will be restored? Who can move into restored space? Who benefits and who loses from the diaspora of the poor, Black, and Democratic residents? Is the safety of those returning a high priority?