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1/ THREAD: Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina became a disaster due to preventable failures in preparation and response strategies, compounded by systemic racism. In 2005, 67.3% of New Orleans’ population were African American.
#geographyteacher
[Resource included at end]
Hurricane Katrina became a disaster due to preventable failures in preparation and response strategies, compounded by systemic racism. In 2005, 67.3% of New Orleans’ population were African American.
#geographyteacher
[Resource included at end]
2/ New Orleans had levees, however they were built in a disjointed fashion based on outdated data. Much of this was due to a lack of funding — resulting in a flawed system of levees that was inconsistent in quality, materials, and design. https://www.vox.com/2015/8/23/9191907/hurricane-katrina
3/ New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin ordered the first ever mandatory evacuation of the city, however it was estimated that ~40% would not be able to leave without assistance. Officials decided to accept this significant risk and instead offered the Superdome as shelter.
4/ So why couldn’t residents get a bus or a train out of the city? In many North American cities, New Orleans included, public transit is considered a mode of last resort or a novelty for tourists.
5/ Service quality is minimal, and poorly integrated into the overall transport system (Litman, 2006)
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242081750_Lessons_From_Katrina_and_Rita_What_Major_Disasters_Can_Teach_Transportation_Planners
However, there were missed opportunities for mass evacuation for those without cars. Before the storm hit, Amtrak ran equipment out of the city.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242081750_Lessons_From_Katrina_and_Rita_What_Major_Disasters_Can_Teach_Transportation_Planners
However, there were missed opportunities for mass evacuation for those without cars. Before the storm hit, Amtrak ran equipment out of the city.
6/ With rooms for several hundred evacuees, they offered the spots to the city. Officials declined, so the train left with no passengers. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2005/09/11/the-steady-buildup-to-a-citys-chaos/7e601e89-6a05-497f-82b5-167618ae4186/
7/ Furthermore, some people chose to stay at home. Check your textbook, does it say this was due to ‘worries about looting?’ Mine does, which is interesting because Litman (2006) summarised the reasons given in interviews (see image) and fear of looting does not feature.
8/ The media exaggerated reports of looting and crime after the event. Many retracted reports as it transpired that the ‘looters’ were survivors hunting for food and water.
9/ There is evidence to suggest these exaggerated reports worsened the crisis as officers arrived heavily armed and prepared to shoot. At one incident, two unarmed civilians were shot dead by local police. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/aug/16/hurricane-katrina-new-orleans-looting-violence-misleading-reports
10/ Hundreds of firefighters from other cities who volunteered to help in the response were rerouted to Atlanta, where they sat through two days of presentations on sexual harassment and the history of FEMA before being sent to New Orleans.
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-09-07-firefighters-ga-katrina_x.htm
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-09-07-firefighters-ga-katrina_x.htm
11/ Historic problems of devaluing houses in Black neighbourhoods sought to limit insurance pay outs for rebuilding homes. In the linked podcast, Dr Beverly Wright explains. See the quote below 
https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/01/advocate-and-scholar-wants-to-put-justice-at-center-of-climate-policies/?ct=
https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2021/01/advocate-and-scholar-wants-to-put-justice-at-center-of-climate-policies/?ct=
12/ So what is the link between these failures to protect and reimburse the population of New Orleans? One might attempt to explain these 'oversights' with reasons other than race, however when multiple parties all make the exact. same. decision.
13/ to NOT prioritise the safety of a majority Black population, then this is a clear manifestation of systemic racism.
Systemic racism and race are key to understanding the failures of Hurricane Katrina's mitigation strategy.
Systemic racism and race are key to understanding the failures of Hurricane Katrina's mitigation strategy.
14/ However, many geography resources refer to "socially disadvantaged communities" who stayed at home due to "fears of looting" but do not mention race or systemic racism at all. This is something we can address in our lessons.
15/ For further information on the interplay of environmental racism and Hurricane Katrina, as well as detailed maps, see the @ArcGISStoryMaps below. https://www.arcgis.com/apps/Cascade/index.html?appid=2106693b39454f0eb0abc5c2ddf9ce40
16/ RESOURCE: Here is the year 10 lesson I used this year. It contains additional information about the impacts on New Orleans' population. I taught it alongside Typhoon Haiyan, but will separate them next year. Also includes exam question and mark scheme. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VWnHFtVQpxVTiAQU9wLzY1ZUScB7BtZ8/view?usp=sharing
