Hurricane reconstruction strategist seeks local input

Donald Powell, a longtime Texas banker and ally of President Bush, has been handed what seems like an impossible job: create a long-term plan, perhaps many years long, for rebuilding the Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

No job that Powell has ever held, including his most recent as chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, could have fully prepared him for this challenge, which is unique in American history. Powell is responsible for "coordinating" the federal government's plans with those of state and local officials.

That means he's the man who must listen to all of the parties -- from governors' offices to city councils to business and neighborhood coalitions -- and bring their wish lists to the administration and Congress. Already, Powell is finding that some of the players are not as far along in their plans as one might hope.

Powell insists he won't wield a heavy federal hand. As he said many times when he sat down for an interview with National Journal, the vision for rebuilding must come "from the locals," elected and community leaders on the ground. The next few months will test Powell, and the wisdom of that approach. Edited excerpts:

NJ: What are you doing to plot the strategy for recovery and reconstruction in the region?

Powell: I've been to the area three times. I've been doing a lot of listening, meeting elected officials, business people, educators, health administrators, and just normal citizens. My long-term job is to work with the locals -- the parishes, counties, cities, states -- and assist and help them develop their vision for reconstruction. It needs to be their vision. [I will] understand the strategies necessary to accomplish that vision, and the costs, and then talk to the administration and members of Congress and say, here it is.

NJ: What are the local officials' visions for reconstruction?

Powell: There are unique challenges [in each state]. Safety [from future storms] is the most important issue. Then I think you can debate whether No. 2 is jobs or housing. But unless people believe they're safe, they won't stay, nor will they come back.

NJ: How much do you think the reconstruction ultimately will cost?

Powell: I don't know. There's been $62 billion allocated now. The Gulf Coast does not want the taxpayers' money to be spent in a wasteful way. At the same time, whatever money's needed to rebuild, they expect it to come. I think [state officials] understand they'll have to participate in part of the cost.

NJ: Why aren't there more signs of visible progress in the hardest-hit areas? For instance, why has it taken so long to remove debris?

Powell: You'd have to be there almost every day at one site to see all of the progress that's being made. [Debris removal] just takes forever.

NJ: Can you say what work will be done after the debris is cleared?

Powell: I think you've got to work on parallel paths. You've got to be thinking about jobs, about housing, about debris removal. All those plans have got to be in concert. You've got to worry about utilities, sewage, all of the infrastructure, police protection. You can't wait until we get debris removal done before you plan these things.

What has your professional experience done to prepare you for this job?

Powell: My background is all business. I've been in Washington three times in my life before I came to serve as FDIC chair. I've been associated with nonprofits. I was CEO of an institution in Texas, during the banking crisis, that came very close to failing. When you live through that downturn in the economy, you have lots of stress, lots of tough, tough challenges.