Rebuilding Housing After Hurricane Katrina

Publication Date: December 2006

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

Author(s):

Research Area: Social conditions

Type:

Abstract:

Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall near New Orleans on August 29, 2005, arguably caused more direct damage to more people than any previous natural disaster in the history of the United States. It led to the evacuation of a major city and the surrounding area. It destroyed housing and infrastructure on an unprecedented scale. Many people had to be rescued by military and civilian first responders.

This report summarizes the impact of the hurricane, reports on the status of recovery efforts a year after Katrina, explores the reasons why the recovery has proceeded as it has, and suggests issues that Congress might wish to consider in order to better plan for future disasters and to improve the capability of all levels of government to respond effectively.