Before, During, and After the Disaster
By: Hazel Fitzpatrick
In the previous post, we introduced the Environmental Justice movement and how low income communities and communities of color have historically been placed closest to environmental hazards. While we often see this injustice through pollution over time, natural disasters also often provide an example of environmental racism and injustice. A clear and devastating example of this took place in August of 2005 during and after Hurricane Katrina.
Hurricane Katrina made landfall in New Orleans on August 29, 2005. When the levees failed, more than 80% of the city flooded. The collapse of the levee system was not simply the result of nature. Years of neglect and inadequate maintenance left the levees unable to withstand the hurricane. Federal agencies had been told that critical repairs were needed, yet improvements were repeatedly delayed, which put the communities below sea level at risk. When the storm hit, the barriers broke in over 50 places, allowing water to rush into the most vulnerable low-lying neighborhoods. This failure was preventable and reflected a long standing lack of investment in the safety of communities.
The storm itself was severe, but the scale of devastation was shaped by deeper problems than the high speed winds and flooding. It was shaped by history. Decades of racialized housing patterns and redlining placed many Black residents in the lowest lying areas of the city, including the Lower Ninth Ward. This neighborhood was almost entirely Black and working class, positioned below sea level and at the greatest risk of flooding. That risk, unfortunately, became a reality.
As evacuation orders went out, many residents faced a challenge that policymakers failed to consider. Leaving the city required access to transportation and a place to stay. Thousands of households did not own a car or have the resources to stay at a hotel until the storm passed. Even with warnings issued 48 hours before landfall, evacuation was not as simple as just packing a bag and leaving. For many families, staying behind was their only option. When the storm arrived and the levees broke, those without resources were left to face rising water, collapsing homes, and a slow emergency response. As a result, Black and low income residents experienced death, displacement, and loss at a much higher rate than wealthier white residents. Katrina revealed what the environmental justice movement had been screaming for decades. Disasters do not impact everyone equally because we do not all start from the same place.
The inequity continued long after the storm passed. Recovery efforts often reflected the same disparities that shaped the damage in the first place. Federal programs distributed rebuilding funds based on pre-storm property values. Homes in white and wealthier neighborhoods were valued higher and therefore received more aid, while homes in the Lower Ninth Ward were undervalued due to decades of discrimination. Even though this community endured some of the worst destruction, many residents received less financial support to repair or rebuild. Families who lost everything were given fewer resources than those who lost less. As a result, many people were unable to return home and to this day, a high percentage of Black residents remain displaced.
Years later, the city struggled to rebuild in a fair and equitable way. Whole communities were scattered across the country and many never returned to their home. The Lower Ninth Ward remains a symbol of this unequal recovery. Empty lots still sit where homes once stood and the area has not reached anything close to its pre Katrina population.
Hurricane Katrina remains one of the clearest examples of why the Environmental Justice movement exists. It showed that the environment cannot be separated from race, class, or power. Climate change is continuing to increase the intensity of storms, and without equity considered when planning, vulnerable communities will continue to carry the heaviest burden of these natural disasters. Katrina forced the nation to confront difficult questions. Who is protected? Who is not? And who receives support when disaster strikes?
Later in this series, we will return to Hurricane Katrina as a case study to discuss what could have been done differently. We will look at how evacuation planning, funding distribution, and community involvement could create a more equitable disaster response. Katrina is a painful reminder of the cost of inequality, but also a lesson. Understanding this event is the first step toward preventing history from repeating itself.
Lead in drinking water is extremely dangerous to consume. There is no safe level of exposure, especially for children, who are more vulnerable to the effects of lead. Lead can cause developmental and behavioral issues, memory loss, and long-lasting damage to the brain. Adults exposed to lead also face an increased risk of heart disease and kidney damage. In Flint, thousands of people were exposed for months.
Learn More About This Topic:
Netflix Documentary Trailer: Katrina: Come Hell and High Water | Official Trailer | Netflix
Youtube Video: Hurricane Horror: Inside the Eye of Katrina’s Fury | The Weather Files S1