Hurricane Katrina: Analyzing a Mega-Disaster

Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics

Abstract

Abstract The response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 has been widely described as a disaster in itself. Politicians, media, academics, survivors, and the public at large have slammed the federal, state, and local response to this mega disaster. According to the critics, the response was late, ineffective, politically charged, and even influenced by racist motives. But is this criticism true? Was the response really that poor? This article offers a framework for the analysis and assessment of a large-scale response to a mega disaster, which is then applied to the Katrina response (with an emphasis on New Orleans). The article identifies some failings (where the response could and should have been better) but also points to successes that somehow got lost in the politicized aftermath of this disaster. The article demonstrates the importance of a proper framework based on insights from crisis management studies.

Authors 2

1. Arjen Boin Aachen Department of Public Institutions and Governance

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Public Institutions and Governance, Leiden University

2. C. C. Brown

   European Commission

   Affiliation as printed

   European Commission