Hurricane Sandy draws a line in the sand; future of disaster relief policy hinges on election

An elderly couple clings desperately to the roof of their home as storm-whipped waves pull at their feet and carry off their neighbors’ cars and houses. They need help, they need it soon. Just days before the election, Hurricane Sandy drew a line in the sand and focused national attention on vastly different government policy offered by Republicans and Democrats.

On the left side of the line stands the progressive ideal of strong central government with an ability to coordinate and deploy resources on a national scale. At the right of the line is the conservative ideal of small central government and strong states rights. The question provoked by disasters like Sandy is straightforward: Which works better? Or, more importantly, which works to the benefit of whom?

The conservative position on disaster relief was expressed by Republican nominee Mitt Romney in a debate last year. When asked if states should take on more of the role that FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) has traditionally filled, Romney answered, “Absolutely. Every time you have an occasion to take something from the federal government and send it back to the states, that's the right direction. And if you can go even further and send it back to the private sector, that's even better.”csmonitor.com, 2012/1030.

In the aftermath of Sandy, Romney reversed himself and expressed his full support of FEMA. He may have changed his mind. He may have realized that restating his belief about cutting FEMA, while the disaster-struck region was accepting desperately needed federal assistance, would be unpopular. Worse, it could provoke reporters to ask unwanted questions about disaster relief under a Romney administration. Reporters remembered his earlier remarks and asked anyway. huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/30.

The Democratic position on disaster relief policy was illustrated when President Obama mobilized the nation’s resources to aid the victims of Sandy. Federal funds for state relief have been allocated from FEMA, Health and Human Services and other federal agencies. According to hamptonroads.com, 2012/10 (a military blog), three military ships were deployed and are positioned off the coast with needed supplies for victims of Sandy. This effort could not be accomplished by states acting alone. It requires the collective cooperation of all states working together under a central government. Through the federal government, the American people act as one to provide coordinated aide to citizens in need of assistance.