Hurricane Katrina was a category 5 hurricane that hit the gulf coast of the United States in August of 2005. By the end of its path of destruction, Katrina had caused nearly $106 Billion in damage primarily focused in Louisiana and Mississippi, making it the most expensive hurricane in United States history. A silver lining to this disaster was that it revealed lingering racial inequality in these areas, as people of color were disproportionately affected by its destruction.
African American people were forced to live in the most undesirable and flood prone areas in this region for many years after the Civil War. The city of New Orleans, whose population is 67% African American, was 80% submerged in the storm surge caused by Hurricane Katrina.
African American people were forced to live in the most undesirable and flood prone areas in this region for many years after the Civil War. The city of New Orleans, whose population is 67% African American, was 80% submerged in the storm surge caused by Hurricane Katrina.
Additionally, both preventative and recovery efforts disproportionately neglected black people. The city of New Orleans was late to call for an evacuation, so those with personal vehicles were able to evacuate just in time. However, those who could not afford a car and relied on public transportation, like 60% of New Orleans' black population, were left stranded. In the months following, multiple reports confirmed that FEMA's recovery efforts neglected low-income and minority neighborhoods. The shared household rule made many of these households ineligible for temporary relief housing and benefits.