New Orleans Hurricane Katrina Report

On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast with the force of a nuclear explosion. Less than 12 hours later, more than 80% of New Orleans was submerged in water. The resulting damage is predicted to have cost $300 billion and to have taken at least 1,400 lives. The progress in which cities along the Gulf Coast has amazed much of America, especially in New Orleans. As The New York Times stated, “It is a wonder that any of it is there at all.” (Robertson and Fausset) However, New Orleans and many other cities have yet to fully recover from the hurricane and many believe that they won’t. What was once a thriving city filled with diversity, is now a city comprised of middle to upper class Caucasian and Hispanic families. Although it’s …show more content…
Although test scores have been slightly higher since Katrina, charter schools have mainly run the New Orleans school district. Children who were moved out of the public school system were shocked by the change of rules, and as a result suspension rates have gone up considerably. Along with suspension rates, conviction rates for minor crimes in “bad” neighborhoods, such as the ninth ward, have also gone up. (Kimmet) After Katrina over 7,000 teachers and staff from the New Orleans public school district were laid off, only 20% of the teachers and staff still remain to this day. Most of the teachers currently in the New Orleans public school district are volunteers through a program called Teach for America, or veterans. Even with these teachers from different backgrounds coming through the New Orleans public school district, there is a distinct lack of racial diversity in the schools. Before Katrina about 71% of the teachers were African American, the most recent study says that now about 48% of public school workers are African American. (Dreilinger) Through my own personal experience, I have come to understand how important it is for young African American students to see successful role models in their local community. This is especially important for teachers, as I have noticed that many of these children relate and respond best to the stories of other African American teachers. …show more content…
Through all of these facts and opinions I have come to realize that although each person had a different experience dealing with the aftermath, race and class can be categorized in the same group, due to their similarities. Housing was more accessible to the upper-middle and upper class, along with out-of-state people. Meanwhile, many lower class African Americans were unable to return due to lack of housing and higher prices. Thus, bringing the African American population down significantly not only in the city, but also in leadership positions. Despite the progress made over the last 10 years, it is really important that New Orleans continues to help the lower class African Americans progress just as quickly as the city. We as a nation can help them by boosting the economy, helping rebuild the rundown areas, and furthering our education on the way their school system is ran. One example of help already given is Brad Pitt’s charity foundation Make it Right. Make it Right has built 109 homes in the Ninth Ward since Katrina; these homes are environmentally friendly, cheap to build, and cheap to live in with a monthly utility bill of about $25. (Blakeley) Although we cannot all be like Brad Pitt and create over a hundred homes, being willing to give time, money, or