Three Years after Katrina: Lessons for Community Resilience

• Published in: Environment : science and policy for sustainable development Vol. 50; no. 5; pp. 36 - 47
• Main Authors: Colten, Craig E., Kates, Robert W., Laska, Shirley B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington Heldref 01-09-2008; Kirkpatrick Jordon Foundation
• Subjects: Brackish; Building permits; Climate change; Communications systems; Community; Disaster recovery; Emergency preparedness; Evacuations & rescues; Flood control; Floods; Freshwater; Hurricane Katrina; Hurricanes; Infrastructure; Levees & battures; Marine; Natural disasters; New Orleans; Planning; Renovation & restoration; Resilience; Resource allocation; Storm damage; U.S.A; USA, Louisiana, New Orleans; ASW, USA, Louisiana
• ISSN: 0013-9157; 1939-9154
• DOI: 10.3200/ENVT.50.5.36-47

New Orleans proved that it could recover from 27 major floods before Hurricane Katrina overwhelmed its levees in August 2005, flooding 80 percent of the city, causing some 1,300 deaths, forcing an extended evacuation, relocating (perhaps permanently) 100,000 residents, seriously damaging 70 percent of the city's residences, and disrupting basic municipal services, economic activity, and social networks. Resilient communities have in place integrated emergency institutions and communications; formal disaster plans; trained first responders; multihazard event response exercises; a reserve of personnel, material, and financial resources; public education and information; and continuing longterm planning for recovery and vulnerability reduction.4 When a hazard event or multiple events are about to impact a community, a set of emergency responses ensues.