Hurricane Katrina

Basic Facts

• Made landfall in Louisiana as a Category 3 storm with 127 mph winds

• Almost 2,000 confirmed deaths• Majority of deaths

occurred in New Orleans

• $100-150 billion in damages (2005 USD)• Costliest hurricane

in U.S. history

• Affected approximately 90,000 sq. miles of the United States

The Damage The storm surge breached 53 different levees around the

city 80% of the city was flooded with up to 20 feet of water The older parts of the city, built next to more solid levees and

not below sea level, were the few places not badly hit by flooding

http://www.nola.com/katrina/graphics/flashflood.swf

While 80-90% of New Orleans residents were able to evacuate the night before the storm hit, the rest who did not have access to transportation or did not wish to leave were stranded Many were trapped on or in their homes without access to clean

water for days or electricity for weeks

In the city, 70% of all occupied housing units suffered damage from the hurricane and flooding Over one-fourth reported that their house sustained damages of

$15,000 or more

The Damage

Before and

After

FEMA & Governmental Response FEMA = Federal Emergency Management Agency

Lack of preparation for Hurricane Katrina Especially in New Orleans The mayor’s very late implementation of his evacuation plan

and lack of food, water, security, or sanitary conditions Levees were just in no way prepared enough for a storm the

size of Katrina

Lack of quick, strong response to flooding worsened everything FEMA’s lack of coordination with other federal relief agencies A failure to respond to the huge food/water emergency of

stranded residents and evacuees

Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general wrote a report noting the widespread criticism over FEMA’s handling of Hurricane Katrina

The criticism against FEMA is largely deserved

NGO Response Red Cross launched its largest relief effort in its 124-year

history 1st 2 weeks – 74,000 volunteers giving shelter to 160,000

evacuees Raised about one billion dollars in cash and pledges

Feeding America Over 33 million pounds of food specifically for Katrina relief

Salvation Army 5.6 million meals served, 3.3 million people assisted, $400

million donated

Disaster Leads to Displacement In July 2012, the population of New Orleans had only

returned to 76% of its April 2000 population (369,250 out of the original 484,674) Although this was an increase from the loss of over 50%

measured in the immediate aftermath

In the larger scope, over one million people in the Gulf Coast region were displaced Up to 600,000 were still displaced a month later

However, this displacement was not universally felt by all groups of people Specifically, income, race, and education level all were

significant factors when looking at the people who were able to return to their home or hometowns

So, where did these people go? Other places, including…

Focus on Lafayette Lafayette, due to its more western and inland location, was

for the most part spared from the path of the hurricane

However, in the city Lafayette, the issue became being able to accommodate the huge number of refugees (14,000 evacuees officially, 5,000 new permanent residents – 3.2% increase) Hotels were at 99% occupancy for months Residential sales increased by over 22% in 2005 The city grew rapidly, putting a huge strain on the city’s

transportation and housing infrastructures, education system

Although a lot of the evacuees have left by now, many have permanently relocated (8.25% increase in overall population of Lafayette Parish) The Parish experienced 15 years of population growth within

months This still presents the issue of supplying these new permanent

residents with permanent, affordable housing

Lafayette’s Response Short-term plans

Government consolidated construction of affordable single-family homes

Ensuring that current structures are up to stand furture storm damage

Using certain lots within the Parish for temporary, affordable housing developments

Long-term plans Ensure drainage system is completed ASAP Continue the emphasis and growth in affordable, permanent

housing construction Ensure that the infrastructure and emergency transportation

structure are able to accommodate this larger number of people

Disaster plans Establish a centralized, consolidated center that houses resources,

agencies, and individuals for human services, non-profit agencies, and/or disaster staging Establish for both daily assistance and disaster relief

One of the stories in Lafayette!http://www.habitat.org/disaster/programs/details/la_pat_hebard.aspx

Why Couldn’t the Evacuees Return? For many Katrina evacuees, especially in the city of New

Orleans, their housing developments were completely demolished

However, these housing developments were not rebuilt as they previously existed Developers wanted to prevent the recreation of the high rates

of crime experienced in the low-income housing projects

The solution for developers was “mixed-income neighborhoods” The developments were re-built with much nicer facilities,

and only about 1/3 of the spots were open as public housing The rest were sold off to families with higher incomes

In addition, a lack of initiative and drive on FEMA’s part led to temporary housing fixes becoming WAY more permanent than intended

Mixed-Income NeighborhoodsPros

Offering much nicer, newer housing to low-income families

More opportunities for low-income residents Job training and

counseling

Reduced the previous rate of crime in these areas

Cons

Greatly limits the amount of public housing offered

Increased rent and utilities pricing in these neighborhoods even for public housing

Does not recreate the sense of community felt by previous residents

Poor and/or black residents were much less likely to return

Why a Home is Important

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/04/080418155002.htm

Housing Development What should housing developers be focused on?

Maximizing the amount of evacuees that can return? Attempting to recreate the sense of community and culture

which previously existed? Attempt to create a safe, economically fruitful housing

development? Recreate the demographics of the community previously

living there? Focus on permanent housing style residences or more

temporary renting residences? Acting quickly or acting effectively?

These are all very big questions that we should attempt to find out what exactly Lafayette did/is attempting to do with their housing developments “Challenging Service” – ABP’s motto