Final answer:
The Department of Homeland Security was created to improve coordination between federal, state, local, and private sectors in emergency response. FEMA's response to Hurricane Katrina highlighted the need for this coordination. Steps included implementing preparedness measures and ensuring infrastructure resilience, vital for effective federalism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The federal system identified for improved coordination of federal, state, local, and private industry response to incidents is the Department of Homeland Security. Established after the 9/11 attacks, it aimed to bring together various agencies to create a unified and effective response to emergencies. One stark example highlighting the need for better coordination was FEMA's (Federal Emergency Management Agency) inadequate response during Hurricane Katrina, where the agency showed deficiencies in managing and coordinating the emergency efforts.
Improvements in coordination and response were clearly needed, and recommendations included implementing civil defense and emergency preparedness measures, alongside ensuring the resilience of critical national infrastructure. These steps were to better prepare different governmental levels and private industry in responding cooperatively to disasters, aligning with the goals of federalism.
However, as evidenced by the challenges during Hurricane Katrina, the reality of federalism can be complex, with issues of authority and communication between federal, state, and local governments. Proper joint response mechanisms and clear jurisdictional responsibilities are crucial for an effective emergency response in the context of federalism, which relies on a balance and collaboration between different levels of government authority.