Reference no: EM133006766

New Orleans as Resilience Lab

Summary

Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005, killing 1,800 people and displacing millions-the worst natural disaster to hit the United States (see case). The New Orleans levees failed, which caused at least $188 billion in damage to the region. After 10 years, the area has mostly recovered in a new form that some have called a "resilience lab."

Analysis

New Orleans, Louisiana, is located along the U.S. Gulf Coast. Water levees were built to protect the city until Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, leaving sizable damage and destruction to the area. Most revitalization efforts came from local residents and grassroots efforts. People saw the destruction and responded in a way to rebuild their city.

While many residents fled to neighboring cities like Houston and Dallas, some stayed to invest in recovery efforts, even if their own home had been destroyed. While young professionals had also flocked to the area for new job opportunities, local people stepped up in leadership roles to sustain their community's growth. While the "resilience lab" efforts were very sustainable, it also presented some challenges like gentrification or displaced African American communities; and the 27% poverty rate is unchanged, while the graduation rates did rise under a new charter school system.

The government may have mishandled the crisis, but the local people were able to salvage some of the recovery based on their own hard work and recovery efforts.

Question 1. Do you think the successes of the New Orleans recovery outweigh the failures?

Question 2. How long do you think it will take for recovery to be complete?

Question 3. What opportunities did Katrina offer the people of New Orleans?

Question 4. When natural disasters strike cities, what can government leaders do to encourage grassroots leaders to stay and rebuild?

Question 5. What, if anything, can be done to ensure that people of all incomes and races share equally in disaster recovery?