The Pros And Cons Of Hurricane Katrina

Hurricanes on the American East Coast often tend to cause a sudden economic downturn in affected areas as well as its surroundings, but recently there have been methods put in place to prevent such a disastrous aftermath. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina primarily hit Louisiana and Mississippi. The total lives lost were estimated to be 1,836. In addition, public and private damages of around $150 billion as well as an estimated 230,000 jobs were lost due not only to disastrous storm conditions but mainly because they were in a state of under preparation. In 2012 Hurricane Sandy arrived, causing an estimated 285 deaths, 30,000 jobs lost, and around $62 billion of damage and impact; far less than what Katrina caused because Sandy had recovery plans …show more content…
Shelters for Katrina victims lacked space, control, and resources. FEMA was forced to create a plan in place for Katrina victims as the disaster was taking place. For example, FEMA did not provide the city of New Orleans with detailed information of storm shelters so the residents of New Orleans were forced to take shelter in an unsafe hurricane environment, the New Orleans Superdome. According to the US House of Representatives, the Superdome was in a flood area that was never permitted to be a shelter location (311) and “the Superdome roof suffered extensive wind damage, demonstrating that it was not a hurricane wind resistant structure” (US House of Representatives (HOR) 311). The citizens of New Orleans were not provided with hurricane safe shelters because of the communication barrier and lives were lost because of this. In addition, many victims had lost their homes and properties and FEMA did not have a logical back up plan in …show more content…
The storm metrics were very similar so the excuse of the storm not being as strong is not valid for the huge differences in rebuilding results. FEMA and the New York government provided the victims with a much more functional and safe shelter and recovery system. FEMA did not communicate with the Louisiana government enough to put plans in effect to minimize damages during Katrina. The more functional the shelter plans are the faster the communities and economy recover. Sandy affected areas are a prime example of prepared shelters successful benefitting the community and New Orleans is an example of recovery in a state of dissolution. Shelter programs have proved to be a successful lesson learned, from Katrina, in order to protect communities from disaster’s during and after affects and are of mass importance for communities to become successful after disaster