Gustav turned out not to be as bad as projected, according to the New York Times recap of the hurricane. More hurricanes though are on the horizon, and the federal government will have to continue examining its role in disaster response.  After Katrina, the federal government was criticized for not being involved enough, but the trick is in striking a balance.

In certain circumstances, deemed catastrophic disasters, the federal government must step in because local and state authorities cannot possibly keep up.  These, however, are the exception and not the rule.  It is one thing for the federal government to support the local response, another thing to attempt to run the show.

The best way to manage disasters is through local and state governments who are already on the ground, know the area, and can react quickly.  The Heritage Foundation’s Jim Carafano describes the balance needed between local, state, and federal involvement in natural disasters in his Web Memo: As Gustav lands, there are lessons to be learned. Instead of federalizing the natural disaster responses, the federal government should act in a role supportive of the local and state response initiatives.