Analysis & Opinions - CNN

Debate on Whether to Show Up for Flood Misses the Point

| August 23, 2016

So the flooding in Louisiana has come down to this: whether Donald Trump was right to visit the disaster area, whether President Barack Obama was too late in traveling there Tuesday, and whether Hillary Clinton should jump on a plane and show up. At least that's how it has felt judging by some of the headlines.

But as the water begins to recede in the state, leaving behind at least 13 people dead and some 60,000 homes damaged, it is important to refocus on what is really important here. Similar problems will occur again and again, because the reality is that flooding continues to be the nation's most costly disaster. With that in mind, it's time to focus on the thousands of people who have been displaced, and not on who will or won't be showing up....

Continue reading: http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/23/opinions/obama-louisiana-flood-visit-kayyem/index.html

For more information on this publication: Belfer Communications Office
For Academic Citation: Kayyem, Juliette.“Debate on Whether to Show Up for Flood Misses the Point.” CNN, August 23, 2016.

The Author

Juliette Kayyem Headshot

Juliette Kayyem

  • Member of the Board, Belfer Center
  • Belfer Senior Lecturer in International Security, Harvard Kennedy School
  • Faculty Director, Homeland Security Project
  • Faculty Affiliate, Middle East Initiative
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