The Repopulation of New Orleans After Hurricane Katrina

Abstract

The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit research organization providing objective analysis and effective solutions that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors around the world. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.R ® is a registered trademark. © Copyright 2006 RAND CorporationAll rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from RAND. The research described in this report results from the RAND Corporation's continuing program of self-initiated research. Support for such research is provided, in part, by donors and by the independent research development provisions of RAND's contracts for the operation of its U.S. Department of Defense federally funded research and development centers. This research was conducted through the RAND Labor and Population Program and under the auspices of the RAND Gulf States Policy Institute (RGSPI). Library of Congress Cataloging-in-PublicationData is available for this publication.ISBN: 0-8330-3940-7-iii - PREFACEWhat the future size and composition of the population of New Orleans will be in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is a topic of intense interest and discussion among current and displaced residents of the city; among policymakers in the City of New Orleans, the State of Louisiana, and the federal government;and within the general public. This report presents population estimates for New Orleans three months, six months, one year, and three years after Hurricane Katrina.This report was prepared after consultation with New Orleans leaders in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and was done specifically to support the efforts of the Bring New Orleans Back Commission.Projections of the future population of New Orleans are essential to the work of the Commission's subcommittees for planning, infrastructure, and sustainability. RGSPI is housed at the RAND Corporation, an international nonprofit research organization with a reputation for rigorous and objective analysis and effective solutions.

Reconstruction of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina: A research perspective

“…Five months later, the Census estimated the population at 158,253, a loss of 64% from the already lower July 2005 number (21). One future projection to 2008 foresees a population of 279,000 or 60% of the pre-Katrina population (61).…”

Higher ground: an exploratory analysis of characteristics affecting returning populations after Hurricane Katrina

“…As such, Black/African American identity is selected as the primary population characteristic under study to predict whether a respondent has returned to their pre-Katrina residence. In addition, focusing upon vulnerable Black/African American populations provides an empirical investigation to analyses that state that the displacement of predominately Black/African American populations will leave many areas of the Gulf Coast with a higher percentage of White populations, which are also better educated, have higher income, and are of a higher social class (Frey 2005b;Logan 2006a;McCarthy et al 2005). The impact of being Black/African American upon returning to pre-Katrina residences will be analyzed against characteristics relating to vulnerabilities suggested by the aforementioned analyses and literature.…”

Investigating the difference in policy responses to the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons and homeowner insurance crises in Florida and Louisiana

“…The accompanying storm surges caused extensive flooding that submerged 80% of the city and large parts of the neighboring parishes (McCarthy et al, 2006). A month later, Hurricane Rita further aggravated this flooding.…”