Social Marginalisation, Federal Assistance and Repopulation Patterns in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area following Hurricane Katrina

Abstract

Five years after Katrina’s devastation, almost 90 per cent of New Orleans metropolitan population has returned. Recovery patterns, however, remain highly uneven. This paper examines the relationship between pre-existing demographic and housing conditions, damage from Hurricane Katrina, access to federal individual and housing assistance, and repopulation rates in the New Orleans metropolitan area. Findings shed light on the respective roles of pre-existing conditions, damage and assistance in shaping long-term recovery outcomes. In the case of Katrina, areas that have experienced the lowest repopulation rates had high levels of damage and received disproportionately low individual and housing assistance relative to damage. These areas are characterised by higher concentrations of minorities, low-income households and rental units than areas that experienced higher repopulation rates. Findings also highlight structural causes for the unevenness of recovery outcomes. The paper concludes with suggestions for a more effective and sustainable post-disaster assistance and recovery approach.

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