Factors Affecting the Rebuilding and Reoccupation of New Orleans Following Hurricane Katrina (2009)

Undergraduate: Thomas Koester

Faculty Advisor: David Guilkey
Department: Economics

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Hurricane Katrina was one of the most devastating disasters in modern American history. Recovery efforts have been painfully slow and plagued by numerous problems. Many allegations were made during the immediate aftermath of the storm that factors such as income or race affected the response to and coverage of it, especially in the hard-hit city of New Orleans. This thesis takes that same question and applies it not to the immediate response to the storm, but to long-term recovery from it in the city of New Orleans. It uses econometric analysis to determine whether characteristics like income or race have had an effect on who has been able to return and rebuild more than three years after the hurricane. The socioeconomic characteristics measured include income, race, education, and age. Other variables relating to the storm itself were introduced, including flood depth and location in the Lower Ninth Ward. Finally, data relating to residents who received “Road Home” recovery grants is also included as an explanatory variable. The data used in the research is compiled from the 2000 Census of Orleans Parish, Road Home program statistics, and lists of households derived from United States Postal Service mailing lists. Of main interest is the income variable, measured as median household income. This research reaches important conclusions as to who are least able to recover from natural disasters and where recovery efforts should be focused.