Hurricanes and ScarcityBy Stacy Bodin

Scarcity is the condition of not being able to have all of the goods and services that you want. The supply isn’t enough for

the demand of what is needed.

Things often become scarce after disasters and scarcity becomes a problem.

In 2005, two Hurricanes hit the Louisiana coast. Things were lost and there weren’t enough supplies for everyone.

Sister Hurricanes Katrina and Hurricane Rita both brought flooding to almost all Louisiana coastal parishes in the summer and fall. Many things in those areas became scarce because of

rising water.

During Hurricane Katrina’s flooding problems in New Orleans, some residents who remained in the area were stranded with

not enough to eat or drink.

Both food and drinking water were scarce before they were rescued.

Clothes in flooded homes were also lost in the water. Clothes were wanted or needed and were scarce for some residents.

Homes, schools, churches and businesses were destroyed. Many Louisiana residents found themselves without homes

because flooding from both of the hurricanes left many homeless.

Finding houses to rent was difficult. With the lack of housing available, there weren’t enough houses to live in.

That made houses scarce for many coastal residents. The demand for finding homes was greater than the supply

available.

With so many schools at that time destroyed, school supplies were also scarce. The students lost their books, desks and

supplies in the flood. The demand was greater than what was supplied at the time.

School buildings were also scarce and some schools had to share campuses. FEMA trailers were brought in or built to help

with the supply and demand of the scarcity issues.

Since Hurricane Katrina and Rita, Louisiana has been rebuilding.

Donations and hard work from around the United States has helped with the scarcity of many of the lost home and supplies

needed to meet the demands of the Louisiana communities.