Hurricane Katrina Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Aftermath== {{See also|Social effects of Hurricane Katrina|Political effects of Hurricane Katrina|Hurricane Katrina disaster relief|IDPs in the United States}} ===Economic effects=== {{Main|Economic effects of Hurricane Katrina}} {{Costliest U.S. Atlantic hurricanes|align=right}} The economic effects of the storm reached high levels. The [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush Administration]] sought $105 billion for repairs and reconstruction in the region,<ref>St. Onge, Jeff; Epstein, Victor. [https://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/04/01/ex_chief_says_fema_readiness_even_worse/ "Ex-chief says FEMA readiness even worse"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064250/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/04/01/ex_chief_says_fema_readiness_even_worse/ |date=March 4, 2016}} ''Boston.com''. April 1, 2006. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> which did not account for damage to the economy caused by potential interruption of the [[petroleum|oil]] supply, destruction of the Gulf Coast's highway infrastructure, and exports of commodities such as grain. Katrina damaged or destroyed 30 [[oil platform]]s and caused the closure of nine [[oil refinery|refineries]];<ref name="katreport"/> the total shut-in oil production from the Gulf of Mexico in the six-month period following Katrina was approximately 24% of the annual production and the shut-in gas production for the same period was about 18%.<ref>Fagot, Caryl; Winbush, Debra. [http://www.mms.gov/ooc/press/2006/press0222.htm "Hurricane Katrina/Hurricane Rita Evacuation and Production Shut-in Statistics Report as of Wednesday, February 22, 2006"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060510213820/http://www.mms.gov/ooc/press/2006/press0222.htm |date=May 10, 2006}} [http://www.mms.gov/ ''U.S. Government Minerals Management Service'']. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051126001158/http://www.mms.gov/ |date=November 26, 2005}} February 22, 2006. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> The forestry industry in Mississippi was also affected, as {{convert|1.3|e6acre|km2}} of forest lands were destroyed.<ref name="CRS environment">{{cite web |last=Sheikh |first=Pervaze A. |date=October 18, 2005 |url=http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL33117_20051018.pdf |title=The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Biological Resources |publisher=[[Congressional Research Service]] |access-date=April 14, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624185025/http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL33117_20051018.pdf |archive-date=June 24, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The total loss to the forestry industry from Katrina is calculated to rise to about $5 billion.<ref name="CRS environment"/> Furthermore, hundreds of thousands of local residents were left unemployed. Before the hurricane, the region supported approximately one million non-farm jobs, with 600,000 of them in New Orleans. It is estimated that the total economic impact in Louisiana and Mississippi may eventually exceed $150 billion.<ref>Burton, Mark L.; Hicks, Michael J. [http://www.marshall.edu/cber/research/katrina/Katrina-Estimates.pdf "Hurricane Katrina: Preliminary Estimates of Commercial and Public Sector Damages"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051017133300/http://www.marshall.edu/cber/research/katrina/Katrina-Estimates.pdf |date=October 17, 2005}} ''[[Marshall University]]: Center for Business and Economic Research''. September 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> Forensic accountants were involved in the assessment of economic damages resulting from this catastrophe.<ref>Insurance Institute. {{cite web|url=http://documents.insuranceinstitute.ca/english/localchapters/manitoba/BusinessInterruptionFormIIMA.pdf |title=Business Interruption |access-date=May 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521031743/http://documents.insuranceinstitute.ca/english/localchapters/manitoba/BusinessInterruptionFormIIMA.pdf |archive-date=May 21, 2014}} Retrieved on May 17, 2014.</ref> Katrina displaced over one million people from the central Gulf coast to elsewhere across the United States, becoming the largest [[diaspora]] in the history of the United States.<ref>Anthony E. Ladd, John Marszalek, and Duane A. Gill. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080624185024/http://www.ssrc.msstate.edu/katrina/publications/katrinastudentsummary.pdf The Other Diaspora: New Orleans Student Evacuation Impacts and Responses Surrounding Hurricane Katrina.] Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref> [[Houston, Texas]], had an increase of 35,000 people; [[Mobile, Alabama]], gained over 24,000; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, over 15,000; and [[Hammond, Louisiana]], received over 10,000, nearly doubling its size. [[Chicago, Illinois]] received over 6,000 people, the most of any non-southern city.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://chicagodefender.com/page/local.cfm?ArticleID=6776 | title = Katrina evacuees at home in Chicago | first = Mema | last = Ayi | newspaper = [[Chicago Defender]] | date = August 30, 2006 | access-date = April 14, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071212040739/http://chicagodefender.com/page/local.cfm?ArticleID=6776 |archive-date = December 12, 2007}}</ref> By late January 2006, about 200,000 people were once again living in New Orleans, less than half of the pre-storm population.<ref name="popestimate">{{cite web|first1=Greg |last1=Stone |first2=Tim |last2=Grant |first3=Nathaniel |last3=Weaver |year=2006 |title=Rapid Population Estimate Project: January 28–29, 2006 Survey Report |publisher=Emergency Operations Center, City of New Orleans |access-date=April 14, 2010 |url=http://katrina.lsu.edu/downloads/research/NOLAPopEstimate.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707170953/http://katrina.lsu.edu/downloads/research/NOLAPopEstimate.pdf |archive-date=July 7, 2010}}</ref> By July 1, 2006, when new population estimates were calculated by the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the state of Louisiana showed a population decline of 219,563 or 4.87%.<ref name="popdecline">Christie, Les. [https://money.cnn.com/2006/12/22/real_estate/fastest_growing_states/index.htm?postversion=2006122209 "Growth states: Arizona overtakes Nevada: Texas adds most people overall; Louisiana population declines nearly 5%"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106133918/http://money.cnn.com/2006/12/22/real_estate/fastest_growing_states/index.htm?postversion=2006122209 |date=January 6, 2007}} ''CNN''. December 22, 2006. Retrieved on December 22, 2006.</ref> Additionally, some [[Insurance|insurance companies]] have stopped insuring homeowners in the area because of the high costs from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, or have raised homeowners' insurance premiums to cover their risk.<ref>Staff Writer. [https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/28/eveningnews/main1663142.shtml "More Bad News Blows In From Katrina"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015003101/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/28/eveningnews/main1663142.shtml |date=October 15, 2006}} ''CBS News''. May 28, 2006. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> {{clear}} ===Environmental effects=== {{See also|Murphy Oil USA refinery spill}} {| class="wikitable" style="font-size:92%; float:right; margin-top:0; margin-left:10px; margin-right:0;" |- ! colspan=3 style="background:#ccf;" | '''Large oil spills caused by Hurricane Katrina'''<br /><small>Spills exceeding {{convert|10000|USgal|L|lk=on}}</small><ref name="msnbcspills"/> |- ! rowspan = 2 | Spill Location ! colspan = 2 | Quantity |- ! <small>(US gal)</small> !! <small>(L)</small> |- | Bass Enterprises (Cox Bay) || style="text-align:right;"| 3,780,000 || style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|3780000|USgal|L|disp=output number only}} |- | Shell ([[Pilottown, Louisiana|Pilot Town]])|| style="text-align:right;"| 1,050,000 || style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|1050000|USgal|L|disp=output number only}} |- | Chevron ([[Empire, Louisiana|Empire]])|| style="text-align:right;"| 991,000 || style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|991000|USgal|L|disp=output number only}} |- | Murphy Oil ([[Meraux, Louisiana|Meraux]] and [[Chalmette, Louisiana|Chalmette]])|| style="text-align:right;"| 819,000 || style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|819000|USgal|L|disp=output number only}} |- | Bass Enterprises ([[Pointe à la Hache, Louisiana|Pointe à la Hache]])|| style="text-align:right;"| 461,000 || style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|461000|USgal|L|disp=output number only}} |- | Chevron ([[Port Fourchon, Louisiana|Port Fourchon]])|| style="text-align:right;"| 53,000 || style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|53000|USgal|L|disp=output number only}} |- | Venice Energy Services ([[Venice, Louisiana|Venice]])|| style="text-align:right;"| 25,000 || style="text-align:right;"|{{convert|25000|USgal|L|disp=output number only}} |- | Shell Pipeline Oil (Nairn)|| style="text-align:right;"| 13,440 || style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|13440|USgal|L|disp=output number only}} |- | Sundown Energy (West Potash)|| style="text-align:right;"| 13,000 || style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|13000|USgal|L|disp=output number only}} |} Katrina also had a profound impact on the environment. The storm surge caused substantial [[Coastal erosion|beach erosion]], in some cases completely devastating coastal areas. In Dauphin Island (a [[barrier island]]), approximately {{convert|90|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the east of the point where the hurricane made landfall, the sand that comprised the island was transported across the island into the [[Mississippi Sound]], pushing the island towards land.<ref>{{cite web | author = United States Geological Survey | date = September 14, 2005 | url = http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/katrina/lidar/dauphin-island.html | title = Daupin Island – Pre- and Post-Storm 3D Topography | website = Hurricane Katrina Impact Studies | publisher = [[USGS]] | access-date = June 5, 2006 | author-link = United States Geological Survey | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150312144109/http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/katrina/lidar/dauphin-island.html | archive-date = March 12, 2015 | url-status = live}}</ref> The storm surge and waves from Katrina also severely damaged the [[Chandeleur Islands]], which had been affected by Hurricane Ivan the previous year.<ref>{{cite web |author=United States Geological Survey |date=September 14, 2005 |url=http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/katrina/photo-comparisons/chandeleur.html |title=Before and After Photo Comparisons: Chandeleur Islands |website=Hurricane Katrina Impact Studies |publisher=USGS |access-date=June 5, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614070836/http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/katrina/photo-comparisons/chandeleur.html |archive-date=June 14, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> The US Geological Survey has estimated {{convert|217|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}} of land was transformed to water by the hurricanes Katrina and Rita.<ref>[http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/releases/pr06_002.htm "USGS Reports Latest Land Change Estimates for Louisiana Coast", USGS National Wetlands Research Center, Oct 3, 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513083524/http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/releases/pr06_002.htm |date=May 13, 2008}}, accessed May 7, 2008.</ref> Before the storm, [[subsidence]] and [[erosion]] caused loss of land in the Louisiana wetlands and [[bayou]]s. This, along with the canals built in the area, let Katrina keep more of its intensity when it struck.<ref>{{cite book|page=[https://archive.org/details/ravagingtide00mike/page/22 22]|first=Mike|last=Tidwell|title=The Ravaging Tide: Strange Weather, Future Katrinas, and the Coming Death of America's Coastal Cities|publisher=Free Press|year=2006|isbn=978-0-7432-9470-6|access-date=April 14, 2010|url=https://archive.org/details/ravagingtide00mike|url-access=registration|quote=The Ravaging Tide: Strange Weather, Future Katrinas, and the Coming Death of America's Coastal Cities book.}}</ref> The lands that were lost were breeding grounds for marine mammals, brown [[pelican]]s, [[turtle]]s, and [[fish]], and migratory species such as [[redhead duck]]s.<ref name="CRS environment"/> Overall, about 20% of the local [[marsh]]es were permanently overrun by water as a result of the storm.<ref name="CRS environment"/> The damage from Katrina forced the closure of 16 [[National Wildlife Refuge]]s. Breton National Wildlife Refuge lost half its area in the storm.<ref name="FWS impact">{{cite web | author = United States Fish and Wildlife Service | date = September 9, 2005 | url = http://www.fws.gov/southeast/news/2005/r05-088.html | title = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Conducting Initial Damage Assessments to Wildlife and National Wildlife Refuges | publisher = [[U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service|USFWS]] | access-date = June 5, 2006 | author-link = United States Fish and Wildlife Service | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051029213935/http://www.fws.gov/southeast/news/2005/r05-088.html | archive-date = October 29, 2005 | url-status = live}}</ref> As a result, the hurricane affected the habitats of [[sea turtle]]s, Mississippi [[sandhill crane]]s, [[red-cockaded woodpecker]]s, and [[Alabama Beach Mouse|Alabama Beach mice]].<ref name="FWS impact"/> Katrina produced massive tree loss along the Gulf Coast, particularly in Louisiana's [[Pearl River Basin]] and among [[bottomland hardwood forest]]s. Before the storm, the standard mortality rate for the area's trees was 1.9%, but this interval increased to 20.5% by the end of 2006.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Chapman|first=Elise|year=2008|title=Hurricane Katrina Impacts on Forest Trees of Louisiana's Pearl River Basin|journal=Forest Ecology and Management|volume=256|issue=5|pages=883–889|doi=10.1016/j.foreco.2008.05.057}}</ref> Delayed mortality as an effect of the storm continued with rates up to 5% until 2011.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Henkel|first=Theryn|year=2016|title=Delayed Tree Mortality and Chinese Tallow Explosion in Louisiana Bottomland Hardwood Forest Following Hurricane Katrina|url=http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/6kh4k7vb|journal=Forest Ecology and Management|volume=378|pages=222–232|doi=10.1016/j.foreco.2016.07.036|doi-access=free}}</ref> This significant loss in [[biomass]] caused greater decay and an increase in carbon emissions. For example, by 2006 the decreased biomass in bottomland hardwood forests contributed an amount of carbon which equated to roughly 140% of the net annual U.S. [[carbon sink]] in forest trees.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Hurricane Katrina's Carbon Footprint on U.S. Gulf Coast Forests|first1=Jeffrey Q.|last1=Chambers|first2=Jeremy I.|last2=Fisher|first3=Hongcheng|last3=Zeng|first4=Elise L.|last4=Chapman|first5=David B.|last5=Baker|first6=George C.|last6=Hurtt|date=January 1, 2007|journal=Science|volume=318|issue=5853|pages=1107|doi=10.1126/science.1148913|pmid=18006740|jstor=20051600|bibcode=2007Sci...318.1107C|s2cid=477946}}</ref> [[File:Chandeleur L5 Oct2004Sep2005.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Chandeleur Islands]], before Katrina (left) and after (right), showing the impact of the storm along coastal areas.]] The storm caused [[oil spill]]s from 44 facilities throughout southeastern Louisiana, which resulted in over {{convert|7|e6USgal|m3}} of [[oil]] being leaked. Some spills were only a few hundred gallons and most were contained on-site, though some oil entered the ecosystem and residential areas. After a spill at the [[Murphy Oil]] refinery, for example, 1,800 homes were oiled in the towns of [[Chalmette, Louisiana|Chalmette]] and [[Meraux, Louisiana|Meraux]].<ref name="msnbcspills">{{cite news | first=Miguel | last=Llanos | title=44 oil spills found in southeast Louisiana | work=NBC News | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/9365607 | publisher=NBC News | date=September 19, 2005 | access-date=June 15, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104013837/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/9365607/ | archive-date=November 4, 2013 | url-status=live}}</ref> Unlike [[Hurricane Ivan]], no offshore oil spills were officially reported after Hurricane Katrina. However, Skytruth reported some signs of surface oil in the Gulf of Mexico.<ref name="msnbcspills"/> Finally, as part of the cleanup effort, the floodwaters that covered New Orleans were pumped into Lake Pontchartrain, a process that took 43 days to complete.<ref name="katreport"/> These residual waters contained a mix of raw [[sewage]], [[bacteria]], [[heavy metals]], [[pesticide]]s, toxic chemicals, and [[oil]], which sparked fears in the scientific community of massive numbers of fish dying.<ref name="CRS environment"/> The toxic floodwaters were also a danger for New Orleans, due to the presence of petrochemical chemicals and industrial toxins close to the city. Thomas La Point, director of the Institute of Applied Sciences at the [[University of North Texas]], stated that "[a] toxic soup would be a good way to describe the situation".<ref>{{Cite web |last=News |first=A. B. C. |title=Katrina Creates a 'Toxic Soup' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1081623&page=1 |access-date=2024-04-14 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref> ===Reestablishing governance=== {{further|Effects of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans#Civil disturbances}} [[File:Patrolling an area that was previously underwater in New Orleans September 2005.jpg|thumb|U.S. Army Infantry on patrol in New Orleans in an area previously underwater, September 2005.]] [[File:USBP-SRT-New Orleans.jpg|thumb|A [[United States Border Patrol|Border Patrol]] Special Response Team searches a hotel room-by-room in New Orleans in response to Hurricane Katrina.]] Shortly after the hurricane moved away on August 30, 2005, some residents of New Orleans who remained in the city began [[looting]] stores. Many were in search of food and water that were not available to them through any other means, as well as non-essential items.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[KLRT-TV|KLRT]]|url=<!-- http://community.fox16.com/photos/story_in_pictures--_hurricane_katrina/picture807981.asp -->|title=Hurricane Katrina : Aug 31: Looting in Mississippi|location=Little Rock, Arkansas|date=August 31, 2005}}</ref> Additionally, there were reports of [[carjacking]], [[murder]]s, [[theft]]s, and [[rape]]s in New Orleans. Some sources later determined that many of the reports were inaccurate, greatly exaggerated or completely false, leading news agencies to print retractions.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Sarah|last1=Rosenblatt|first2=James|last2=Rainey|title=Rita's Aftermath; Katrina Takes a Toll on Truth, News Accuracy|page=A16|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=September 27, 2005|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/902682211.html?dids=902682211:902682211&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+27%2C+2005&author=Susannah+Rosenblatt+and+James+Rainey&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=A.16&desc=RITA%27S+AFTERMATH%3B+Katrina+Takes+a+Toll+on+Truth%2C+News+Accuracy%3B+Rumors+supplanted+accurate+information+and+media+magnified+the+problem.+Rapes%2C+violence+and+estimates+of+the+dead+were+wrong|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308042758/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/902682211.html?dids=902682211:902682211&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+27%2C+2005&author=Susannah+Rosenblatt+and+James+Rainey&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=A.16&desc=RITA%27S+AFTERMATH%3B+Katrina+Takes+a+Toll+on+Truth%2C+News+Accuracy%3B+Rumors+supplanted+accurate+information+and+media+magnified+the+problem.+Rapes%2C+violence+and+estimates+of+the+dead+were+wrong|archive-date=March 8, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Thousands of National Guard and federal troops were mobilized and sent to Louisiana, with 7,841 in the area on August 29, to a maximum of 46,838 on September 10. A number of local law enforcement agents from across the country were temporarily deputized by the state. "They have [[M16 rifle|M16s]] and are locked and loaded. These troops know how to shoot and kill and I expect they will", Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco said.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4207202.stm|title=New Orleans rocked by huge blasts|date=September 2, 2005|newspaper=BBC|access-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726183529/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4207202.stm|archive-date=July 26, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Congressman [[Bill Jefferson]] told [[ABC News]]: "There was shooting going on. There was sniping going on. Over the first week of September, law and order were gradually restored to the city."<ref>{{cite news|first=Jake|last=Tapper|url=https://www.abcnews.go.com/US/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1123495&page=1|title=Amid Katrina Chaos, Congressman Used National Guard to Visit Home|newspaper=[[ABC News]]|date=September 13, 2005|access-date=July 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060426011116/http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1123495&page=1|archive-date=April 26, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> Several shootings occurred between police and New Orleans residents, some involving [[police misconduct]]; including [[Danziger Bridge shootings|an incident]] where police officers killed two unarmed civilians and seriously injured four others at [[Danziger Bridge]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/9208195/#.U7jWUvRDtpc|title=Police kill at least 5 in New Orleans|newspaper=[[NBC News]]|date=September 4, 2005|access-date=July 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140818035438/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/9208195/#.U7jWUvRDtpc|archive-date=August 18, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> Five former police officers pleaded guilty to charges connected to the Danziger Bridge shootings in the aftermath of the hurricane. Six other former or existing officers appeared in court in June 2011.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/12/01/louisiana.katrina.shootings/| title=Ex-cop gets 8 years for role in post-Katrina shootings| publisher=CNN| date=December 2, 2010| access-date=December 2, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206221527/http://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/12/01/louisiana.katrina.shootings/| archive-date=December 6, 2010| url-status=live}}</ref> Overall, a number of [[arrests]] were made throughout the affected area, including some near the New Orleans Convention Center. A [[Camp Greyhound|temporary jail]] was constructed of chain link cages in the [[New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal]], the city's main train station.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4163081.html |title=At the Train Station, New Orleans' Newest Jail is Open For Business |newspaper=[[KOMO-TV]] |date=September 6, 2005 |access-date=July 6, 2014 |location=New Orleans, Louisiana |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119182853/http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4163081.html |archive-date=November 19, 2014}}</ref> On September 30, the New Orleans Police Department confirmed that 12 police officers were participating in looting and property theft.<ref>{{citeweb|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/30/nopd.looting/|title=Witnesses: New Orleans cops took Rolex watches, jewelry|work=CNN|accessdate=2024-03-13}}</ref><ref>{{citeweb|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/29/nopd.looting/index.html|title=Witnesses: New Orleans cops among looters|work=CNN|accessdate=2024-03-13}}</ref> In West Virginia, where roughly 350 refugees were located, local officials took fingerprints to run criminal background checks on the refugees. The background checks found that 45% of the refugees had a criminal record of some nature, and that 22% had a violent criminal record.<ref name="WBOY WV records">{{cite news|first=Elizabeth|last=Schubert|url=http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=5266|title=Some Katrina Evacuees at Camp Dawson Have Criminal Records|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=[[WBOY-TV]]|date=September 18, 2005|access-date=June 5, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928203933/http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=5266|archive-date=September 28, 2011}}</ref> Media speculation fueled a popular perception that the displaced New Orleans residents brought a wave of crime into the communities where they relocated, however, detailed studies of crime statistics in these communities did not reveal a significant increase in violent crime.<ref>{{Cite journal|url = http://docs.rwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1026&context=sjs_fp|title = A Tale of Three Cities: Crime and Displacement after Hurricane Katrina|last = Verano|first = Paul|date = January 1, 2010|journal = Journal of Criminal Justice|volume = 38|pages = 42–50|doi = 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2009.11.006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150913003431/http://docs.rwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1026&context=sjs_fp|archive-date = September 13, 2015|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title = Crime in post-Katrina Houston: the effects of moral panic on emergency planning|last1 = Settles|first1 = Tanya|date = August 23, 2010|journal = Disasters|doi = 10.1111/j.1467-7717.2010.01200.x|pmid = 20735458|last2 = Lindsay|first2 = Bruce|volume=35|issue = 1|pages=200–219}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = New Orleans gang wars spill into Houston area|date = January 28, 2006|url = https://www.chron.com/news/hurricanes/article/New-Orleans-gang-wars-spill-into-Houston-area-1885064.php|access-date = September 18, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150906054646/http://www.chron.com/news/hurricanes/article/New-Orleans-gang-wars-spill-into-Houston-area-1885064.php|archive-date = September 6, 2015|url-status = live}}</ref> ===Government response=== [[File:Katrina x large.png|right|thumb|upright=1.35|Chart showing some common uses of the FEMA marking system in [[New Orleans]] after Hurricane Katrina]] [[File:BUSHKATRINA.jpg|thumb|President Bush stands with [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] [[Donald Rumsfeld]], [[Secretary of Labor]] [[Elaine Chao]] and [[Secretary of Health and Human Services]] [[Mike Leavitt]] during a press conference from the [[White House Rose Garden|Rose Garden]], regarding the devastation along the Gulf Coast caused by Katrina.]] Within the United States and as delineated in the [[National Response Plan]], disaster response and planning is first and foremost a local government responsibility. When local government exhausts its resources, it then requests specific additional resources from the county level. The request process proceeds similarly from the county to the state to the federal government as additional resource needs are identified. Many of the problems that arose developed from inadequate planning and back-up communication systems at various levels.<ref name="usgovwh"/> Some [[disaster relief]] response to Katrina began before the storm, with the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency of the United States|Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) preparations that ranged from logistical supply deployments to a [[mortuary]] team with refrigerated trucks. A network of volunteers began rendering assistance to local residents and residents emerging from New Orleans and surrounding parishes as soon as the storm made landfall (even though many were directed to not enter the area), and continued for more than six months after the storm<ref name="usgovwh">{{cite web | url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/reports/katrina-lessons-learned/ | title=The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned | publisher=The White House | date=January 20, 2009 | access-date=June 7, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525104449/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/reports/katrina-lessons-learned/ | archive-date=May 25, 2015 | url-status=live}}</ref> Of the 60,000 people stranded in New Orleans, the Coast Guard rescued more than 33,500.<ref name="GAO-06-903">{{cite book | author = United States Government Accountability Office | author-link = Government Accountability Office | url = http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06903.pdf | title = Coast Guard: Observations on the Preparation, Response, and Recovery Missions Related to Hurricane Katrina | access-date = August 27, 2006 | date = July 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060901040345/http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06903.pdf | archive-date = September 1, 2006 | url-status = live}}</ref> Congress recognized the Coast Guard's response with an official entry in the Congressional Record,<ref name="S. 246">{{cite book | author = United States Congress | title = Senate Resolution 246: To express the sense of the Senate regarding the missions and performance of the United States Coast Guard in responding to Hurricane Katrina | date = September 21, 2005 | access-date = August 27, 2006 | publisher = Government Printing Office | url = http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:sr246ats.txt.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110109102603/http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:sr246ats.txt.pdf | archive-date = January 9, 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref> and the [[Military of the United States|Armed Service]] was awarded the [[Presidential Unit Citation (US)|Presidential Unit Citation]].<ref>{{cite web| title = USCG Message Traffic: Award of the Presidential Unit Citation to the Coast Guard| date = May 25, 2006| access-date = November 15, 2008| url = http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg3/cg3pcx/publications/alcoast/alcoast-317-06.asp| publisher = United States Coast Guard| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080924111023/http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg3/cg3pcx/publications/alcoast/alcoast-317-06.asp| archive-date = September 24, 2008| url-status = live}}</ref> The [[United States Northern Command]] established [[Joint Task Force Katrina|Joint Task Force (JTF) Katrina]] based out of [[Camp Shelby]], Mississippi, to act as the military's on-scene response on Sunday, August 28, with [[US Army]] [[Lieutenant general (United States)|Lieutenant General]] [[Russel L. Honoré]] as commander.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20070817085847/http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=1955 Special Defense Department Briefing with Commander of Joint Task Force Katrina]". ''[[United States Department of Defense]]''. News Transcript. September 1, 2005. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref> Approximately 58,000 National Guard personnel were activated to deal with the storm's aftermath, with troops coming from all 50 states.<ref>Phillips, Kyra. [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0509/06/se.01.html "Bush Discusses Displaced Students; Department of Defense Briefs Press on Katrina Response (CNN Live Transcript)"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017174609/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0509/06/se.01.html |date=October 17, 2006}} ''CNN''. September 6, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> The [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]] also activated volunteer members of the [[Civil Air Patrol]]. Michael Chertoff, [[United States Secretary of Homeland Security|Secretary]] of the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|Department of Homeland Security]], decided to take over the federal, state, and local operations officially on August 30, 2005, citing the National Response Plan.<ref>California Political Desk. [http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=5916 "Pelosi: Davis Report on Katrina Leaves Unfinished Business"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061027034249/http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=5916 |date=October 27, 2006}} ''California Chronicle''. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060617134855/http://www.californiachronicle.com/ |date=June 17, 2006}} February 15, 2006. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> This was refused by Governor Blanco who indicated that her National Guard could manage. Early in September, Congress authorized a total of $62.3 billion in aid for victims.<ref>Baker, Peter; Goldstein, Amy. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/08/AR2005090801081.html "Congress Approves $51.8 Billion For Victims"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909140905/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/08/AR2005090801081.html |date=September 9, 2017}} ''[[The Washington Post]]''. September 9, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> Additionally, President Bush enlisted the help of former presidents [[Bill Clinton]] and [[George H. W. Bush]] to raise additional voluntary contributions, much as they did after the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]] and [[tsunami]].<ref>Bush, George W. [https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050901-3.html "President Asks Bush and Clinton to Assist in Hurricane Relief"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712034929/https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050901-3.html |date=July 12, 2017}} ''White House'', Press Release. September 1, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> [[Flag of the United States|American flags]] were also ordered to be [[half-staff]] from September 2, 2005, to September 20, 2005, in honor of the victims.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050904-2.html |title=Proclamation by the President: Honoring the Memory of the Victims of Hurricane Katrina |publisher=Whitehouse.gov |access-date=October 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114005420/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050904-2.html |archive-date=January 14, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> FEMA provided housing assistance (rental assistance, [[FEMA Trailer|trailers]], etc.) to more than 700,000 applicants—families and individuals. However, only one-fifth of the trailers requested in Orleans Parish were supplied, resulting in an enormous housing shortage in the city of New Orleans.<ref>''Times-Picayune'', September 26, 2005, page A-12. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> Many local areas voted to not allow the trailers, and many areas had no utilities, a requirement prior to placing the trailers. To provide for additional housing, FEMA has also paid for the hotel costs of 12,000 individuals and families displaced by Katrina through February 7, 2006, when a final deadline was set for the end of hotel cost coverage. After this deadline, evacuees were still eligible to receive federal assistance, which could be used towards either apartment rent, additional hotel stays, or fixing their ruined homes, although FEMA no longer paid for hotels directly.<ref>Foster, Mary. [https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/13/katrina/main1311616.shtml "Judge: FEMA Off Hook For Hotel Costs"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206190958/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/13/katrina/main1311616.shtml |date=December 6, 2006}} ''[[CBC News]]''. February 13, 2006. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> As of March 30, 2010, there were still 260 families living in FEMA-provided trailers in Louisiana and Mississippi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=12230906|title=Hancock Co. woman struggles to get out of FEMA trailer|first=Al|last=Showers|publisher=WLOX Channel 13|date=March 30, 2010|access-date=April 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228204125/http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=12230906|archive-date=February 28, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Law enforcement and public safety agencies, from across the United States, provided a "[[Mutual aid (emergency services)|mutual aid]]" response to Louisiana and New Orleans in the weeks following the disaster. Many agencies responded with manpower and equipment from as far away as [[California]], [[Michigan]], [[Nevada]], New York, and [[Texas]]. This response was welcomed by local Louisiana authorities as their staff were either becoming fatigued, stretched too thin, or even quitting from the job.<ref>{{cite news | last = Treaster | first = Joseph B. | title = Law Officers, Overwhelmed, Are Quitting the Force | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/04/national/nationalspecial/04police.html?ei=5090&en=8bf8550c348bbc33&ex=1283486400&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print | newspaper = The New York Times | date = September 4, 2005 | access-date = June 24, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060617021730/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/04/national/nationalspecial/04police.html?ei=5090&en=8bf8550c348bbc33&ex=1283486400&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print | archive-date = June 17, 2006 | url-status = live}}</ref> Two weeks after the storm, more than half of the states were involved in providing shelter for evacuees. By four weeks after the storm, evacuees had been registered in all 50 states and in 18,700 zip codes—half of the nation's residential postal zones. Most evacuees had stayed within {{convert|250|mi|km}}, but 240,000 households went to Houston and other cities over {{convert|250|mi|km}} away and another 60,000 households went over {{convert|750|mi|km|-2}} away.<ref>{{cite web|last=Quigley |first=Bill |title=Six Months After Katrina: Who Was Left Behind Then and Who is Being Left Behind Now? |url=http://www.cwsworkshop.org/katrinareader/node/162 |date=February 21, 2006 |access-date=November 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309165717/http://www.cwsworkshop.org/katrinareader/node/162 |archive-date=March 9, 2009}}</ref> ===Criticism of government response=== {{Main|Criticism of the government response to Hurricane Katrina}} [[File:USNS Comfort.jpg|thumb|upright|[[USNS Comfort|USNS ''Comfort'']] takes on supplies at [[Mayport, Florida]], en route to the Gulf Coast.]] The criticisms of the government's response to Hurricane Katrina primarily consisted of criticism of [[Administrative incompetence|mismanagement]] and lack of [[leadership]] in the relief efforts in response to the storm and its aftermath. More specifically, the criticism focused on the delayed response to the flooding of New Orleans, and the subsequent state of chaos in the city.<ref name="thevenot" /> The [[neologism]] ''Katrina[[-gate|gate]]'' was coined to refer to this controversy, and was a runner-up for "2005 word of the year".<ref>Clark, Heather. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060325135124/http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1480616 "Linguists Vote 'Truthiness' Word of 2005"]. ''ABC News''. January 6, 2006. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref> Within days of Katrina's August 29 landfall, public debate arose about the local, state and federal governments' role in the [[Preparations for Hurricane Katrina|preparations]] for and response to the hurricane. Criticism was initially prompted by televised images of visibly shaken and frustrated political leaders, and of residents who remained stranded by floodwaters without [[drinking water|water]], [[food]], or shelter. Deaths from [[thirst]], [[Fatigue (medical)|exhaustion]] and [[violence]] days after the storm had passed fueled the criticism, as did the dilemma of the evacuees at facilities such as the Louisiana Superdome and the New Orleans Civic Center. Some alleged that [[Race (classification of human beings)|race]], [[social class|class]], and other factors could have contributed to delays in government response. For example, during ''[[A Concert for Hurricane Relief]]'', a benefit concert for victims of the hurricane, rapper [[Kanye West]] veered off script and harshly criticized the government's response to the crisis, stating that "George Bush doesn't care about [[African Americans|black people]]."<ref>{{cite news|last=de Moraes|first=Lisa|title=Kanye West's Torrent of Criticism, Live on NBC|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090300165.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 3, 2005|access-date=September 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080806153052/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090300165.html|archive-date=August 6, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{citeweb|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kanye-west-said-george-bush-doesnt-care-about-black-people-on-this-day-in-2005-130006321.html|title=Kanye West said, 'George Bush doesn't care about Black people' on this day in 2005|work=Yahoo Entretaiment|accessdate=2024-03-05}}</ref> In accordance with federal law, President George W. Bush directed the [[Secretary of Homeland Security|Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security]], Michael Chertoff, to coordinate the Federal response. Chertoff designated [[Michael D. Brown]], head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as the Principal Federal Official to lead the deployment and coordination of all federal response resources and forces in the Gulf Coast region. However, the President and Secretary Chertoff initially came under harsh criticism for what some perceived as a lack of planning and coordination. Brown claimed that Governor Blanco resisted their efforts and was unhelpful. Governor Blanco and her staff disputed this.<ref>{{cite news |first1=David |last1=Kirkpatrick |first2=Scott |last2=Shane |title=Ex-FEMA Chief Tells of Frustration and Chaos |date=September 15, 2005 |access-date=May 13, 2010 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/15/national/nationalspecial/15brown.html?pagewanted=all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015052650/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/15/national/nationalspecial/15brown.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=October 15, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Eight days later, Brown was recalled to Washington and Coast Guard Vice Admiral [[Thad W. Allen]] replaced him as chief of hurricane relief operations.<ref>Meserve, Jeanne; Barrett, Ted. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/09/katrina.washington/index.html "Admiral takes over Katrina relief"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061222162611/http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/09/katrina.washington/index.html |date=December 22, 2006}} ''CNN''. September 9, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> Three days after the recall, Michael D. Brown resigned as director of FEMA in spite of having received recent praise from President Bush.<ref>{{cite web | author = Office of the Press Secretary | title = President Arrives in Alabama, Briefed on Hurricane Katrina | date = September 2, 2005 | access-date = July 19, 2006 | publisher = The White House | url = https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050902-2.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110521182702/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050902-2.html | archive-date = May 21, 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref> Politicians, activists, pundits, and journalists also directed criticism at the local and state governments headed by Mayor Nagin of New Orleans and Louisiana Governor Blanco. Nagin and Blanco were criticized for failing to implement New Orleans's evacuation plan and for ordering residents to a shelter of last resort without any provisions for food, water, security, or sanitary conditions. Perhaps the most important criticism of Nagin was that he delayed his emergency evacuation order until 19 hours before landfall, which led to hundreds of deaths of people who could not find any way out of the city.<ref name="CongressInvestigation"/> The destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina raised other, more general public policy issues about [[emergency management]], [[environmental policy]], [[poverty]], and [[unemployment]]. The discussion of both the immediate response and of the broader public policy issues may have affected [[elections]] and [[legislation]] enacted at various [[Executive (government)|levels of government]]. The storm's devastation also prompted a Congressional investigation, which found that FEMA and the Red Cross "did not have a logistics capacity sophisticated enough to fully support the massive number of Gulf coast victims". Additionally, it placed responsibility for the disaster on all three levels of government.<ref name="CongressInvestigation"/> An ABC News [[Opinion poll|poll]] conducted on September 2, 2005, showed more blame was being directed at state and local governments (75%) than at the Federal government (67%), with 44% blaming Bush's leadership directly.<ref name="abcnewspoll">Langer, Gary. [https://abcnews.go.com/US/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1094262&page=1 "Poll: Bush Not Taking Brunt of Katrina Criticism"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061104094924/http://abcnews.go.com/US/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1094262&page=1 |date=November 4, 2006}} ''ABC News''. September 12, 2005. Retrieved on July 15, 2006.</ref> A later [[CNN]]/[[USAToday]]/[[Gallup poll]] showed that respondents disagreed widely on who was to blame for the problems in the city following the hurricane—13% said Bush, 18% said federal agencies, 25% blamed state or local officials and 38% said no one was to blame.<ref name="cnnpoll">Staff Writer. [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/07/katrina.poll/ "Poll: Most Americans believe New Orleans will never recover"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908050709/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/07/katrina.poll/ |date=September 8, 2013}} ''CNN''. September 8, 2005. Retrieved on July 15, 2006.</ref> ===International response=== {{Main|International response to Hurricane Katrina}} [[File:Canadian relief transport.jpg|thumb|[[United States Navy]] personnel unload [[Canada|Canadian]] relief supplies from a [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] transport aircraft in [[Pensacola, Florida]].]] Over seventy countries pledged monetary donations or other assistance. Cuba and Venezuela (both considered as hostile to US government interest) were the first countries to offer assistance, pledging over $1 million, several mobile hospitals, water treatment plants, canned food, [[bottled water]], heating oil, 1,100 doctors and 26.4 metric tons of medicine, though this aid was rejected by the U.S. government.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080614224742/http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=14771 "Venezuela and Cuba offer US aid"]. [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]], September 7, 2005. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071105025006/http://www.freepeoplesmovement.org/fpm/page.php?56 "Venezuela and Cuba offer aid to Katrina victims"]. [[Free Press (publisher)|The Free Press]], Volume 1, Issue 4. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080616014353/http://www.pww.org/article/view/7693/1/285/ "From abroad, offers of aid for Katrina victims"]. [[People's Weekly World]], September 10, 2005. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref><ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-09-02-katrinaworldhelps_x.htm "France, Cuba, Venezuela among those offering aid"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211010746/http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-09-02-katrinaworldhelps_x.htm |date=February 11, 2011}} ''[[USA Today]]'', September 2, 2005. Retrieved on August 5, 2007.</ref> Kuwait made the largest single pledge, $500 million; other large donations were made by Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (each $100 million), South Korea ($30 million), Australia ($10 million), India, China (both $5 million), New Zealand ($2 million),<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0509/S00159.htm |title=Scoop: Further NZ assistance in wake of Hurricane Katrina |publisher=Scoop.co.nz |date=September 6, 2005 |author=New Zealand Government |access-date=October 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309085157/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0509/S00159.htm |archive-date=March 9, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> Pakistan ($1.5 million),<ref>Staff Writer. [https://web.archive.org/web/20071222192047/http://usembassy.state.gov/pakistan/h05090802.html "U.S. Grateful for Pakistan's Assistance for Hurricane Katrina Victims"]. Embassy of the United States. September 8, 2005. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref> Norway ($1.8 million),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dokumentarkiv/Regjeringen-Bondevik-II/smk/Nyheter-og-pressemeldinger/2005/katastroferammede_i_usa_far_hjelp.html?id=257645|title=Katastroferammede i USA får hjelp fra Norge på 10 millioner kroner|date=October 24, 2006|access-date=November 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103025556/http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dokumentarkiv/Regjeringen-Bondevik-II/smk/Nyheter-og-pressemeldinger/2005/katastroferammede_i_usa_far_hjelp.html?id=257645|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> and Bangladesh ($1 million).<ref>Staff Writer. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4215820.stm "Asian nations offer U.S. assistance"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050908064210/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4215820.stm |date=September 8, 2005}} ''BBC News''. September 5, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> India sent tarps, blankets, and hygiene kits. An [[Indian Air Force]] IL-76 aircraft delivered 25 tonnes of relief supplies for the Hurricane Katrina victims at the [[Little Rock Air Force Base]], Arkansas, on September 13, 2005. Israel sent an [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] delegation to New Orleans to transport aid equipment including 80 tons of food, disposable diapers, beds, blankets, generators and additional equipment which were donated from different governmental institutions, civilian institutions, and the IDF.<ref>Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/MFA+Spokesman/2005/Israeli+aid+to+Hurricane+Katrina+victims+5-Sep-2005.htm "Israel Aids Hurricane Katrina Victims"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820035007/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/MFA+Spokesman/2005/Israeli+aid+to+Hurricane+Katrina+victims+5-Sep-2005.htm |date=August 20, 2006}} ''[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)|MFA]]''. September 5, 2005. Retrieved on December 17, 2006.</ref> The Bush Administration announced in mid-September that it did not need Israeli divers and physicians to come to the United States for search and rescue missions, but a small team landed in New Orleans on September 10 to give assistance to operations already underway. The team administered first aid to survivors, rescued [[abandoned pets]] and discovered hurricane victims.<ref>Jewish Virtual Library. [https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Politics/Katrianaid.html "Israel's Aid to Hurricane Katrina Victims"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906125044/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Politics/Katrianaid.html |date=September 6, 2015}} ''[[Jewish Virtual Library]]''.</ref> Countries like Sri Lanka, which was still recovering from the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|Indian Ocean Tsunami]], also offered to help. [[Canadian response to Hurricane Katrina|Canada]], [[Mexican response to Hurricane Katrina|Mexico]], [[Singaporean response to Hurricane Katrina|Singapore]], and [[Germany]] sent supplies, relief personnel (like [[Technisches Hilfswerk]]), troops, ships and water pumps to aid in the disaster recovery. Belgium sent in a team of relief personnel. The United Kingdom's donation of 350,000 emergency meals did not reach victims because of laws regarding [[mad cow disease]].<ref>Staff Writer. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4344168.stm "U.S. rejects British Katrina beef"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070319174856/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4344168.stm |date=March 19, 2007}} ''BBC News''. October 15, 2005.</ref> Russia's initial offer of two jets was declined by the U.S. State Department but accepted later. The French offer was also declined and requested later.<ref>Staff Writer. [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/04/katrina.world.aid "U.S. receives aid offers from around the world"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060513192039/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/04/katrina.world.aid/ |date=May 13, 2006}} ''CNN''. September 4, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> ===Non-governmental organization response=== [[File:FEMA - 15322 - Photograph by Andrea Booher taken on 09-05-2005 in Texas.jpg|thumb|Residents of Louisiana, who had to flee their homes because of Hurricane Katrina, are inside the [[Houston Astrodome]] and being helped by the Red Cross and other agencies and associations.]] The [[American Red Cross]], America's Second Harvest (now known as [[Feeding America]]), [[Southern Baptist Convention]], [[Salvation Army]], [[Oxfam]], [[Common Ground Collective]], [[Burners Without Borders]],<ref name="sfbg">{{cite news | first=Steven T. | last=Jones | url=http://www.sfbg.com/40/21/cover_katrina.html | title=From here to Katrina | work=San Francisco Bay Guardian | date=February 22, 2006 | access-date=May 18, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060526233911/http://www.sfbg.com/40/21/cover_katrina.html | archive-date=May 26, 2006 | url-status=live}}</ref> [[Emergency Communities]], [[Habitat for Humanity]], [[Catholic Charities]], [[Direct Relief]], Service International, "A River of Hope", [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]],<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]|title=Church Providing Relief to Hurricane Katrina Victims|url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-providing-relief-to-hurricane-katrina-victims|date=September 1, 2005|access-date=January 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629003054/https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-providing-relief-to-hurricane-katrina-victims|archive-date=June 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Latter-day Saints to Mobilize Another 4,000 Volunteers in Chainsaw Brigade's Second Wave|publisher=[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]|url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/latter-day-saints-to-mobilize-another-4,000-volunteers-in-chainsaw-brigade-s-second-wave|date=September 16, 2005|access-date=January 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628150606/https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/latter-day-saints-to-mobilize-another-4,000-volunteers-in-chainsaw-brigade-s-second-wave|archive-date=June 28, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://ldsmag.com/article-1-662/ | title=Mormon Helping Hands Make a Difference | magazine=Meridian Magazine | date=October 20, 2005 | access-date=June 7, 2015 | first=Jared | last=Johnson | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421024517/http://ldsmag.com/article-1-662/ | archive-date=April 21, 2016 | url-status=live}}</ref> and many other charitable organizations provided aid to victims in the aftermath of the storm. They were not allowed into New Orleans proper by the National Guard for several days after the storm because of safety concerns. These organizations raised US$4.25 billion in donations from the public, with the Red Cross receiving over half of these donations.<ref name = "Charity Navigator report">{{cite web | author = Staff writer | publisher = [[Charity Navigator]] | title = Where Did The Money Go? | year = 2006 | access-date = August 5, 2006 | website = Hurricane Katrina: One Year Later | url = http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/katrina.main.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060813170224/http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/katrina.main.htm | archive-date = August 13, 2006 | url-status = live}}</ref> Some smaller organizations and individuals ignored the access restrictions and provided early relief. For example, two privately chartered planes from [[FasterCures]] evacuated 200 patients from Charity Hospital in New Orleans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/2005/09/09/al-gore-airlifts-evacuees.html |title=Al Gore Airlifts Evacuees |publisher=FOXnews.com |date=September 9, 2005 |access-date=February 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070420195422/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C168978%2C00.html |archive-date=April 20, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Volunteers from the [[Amateur Radio Emergency Service]] provided communications in areas where the communications infrastructure had been damaged or totally destroyed, relaying everything from 911 traffic to messages home.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Staff Writer|url=http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2005-09-16|title=ARRL President Submits Congressional Testimony on Hams' Katrina Response|publisher=American Radio Relay League|access-date=April 14, 2010|date=September 16, 2005|volume=24|issue=36|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221033732/http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2005-09-16|archive-date=December 21, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> In Hancock County, Mississippi, ham radio operators provided the only communications into or out of the area and even served as 911 dispatchers.<ref>Rick Palm. [http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2005-09-22 "ARES E-Letter for September 22, 2005"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121220834/http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2005-09-22 |date=January 21, 2012}} ''The American Radio Relay League''. September 22, 2005. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref> Many private corporations also contributed to relief efforts. On September 13, 2005, it was reported that corporate donations amounted to $409 million, and were expected to exceed $1 billion.<ref>[https://money.cnn.com/2005/09/13/news/fortune500/katrina_donations/ "Corporate Katrina gifts could top $1B"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107142543/http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/13/news/fortune500/katrina_donations/ |date=January 7, 2007}} ''CNN''. September 13, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> During and after the Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita, the American Red Cross had opened 1,470 shelters and registered 3.8 million overnight stays. None were allowed in New Orleans, however. A total of 244,000 Red Cross workers (95% of which were non-paid volunteers) were utilized throughout these three hurricanes. In addition, 346,980 comfort kits (including such basic necessities as toothpaste, soap, washcloths, and toys for children) and 205,360 cleanup kits (containing brooms, mops, and bleach) were distributed. For mass care, the organization served 68 million snacks and meals to victims of the disasters and to rescue workers. The Red Cross also had its Disaster Health services meet 596,810 contacts, and Disaster Mental Health services met 826,590 contacts. Red Cross emergency financial assistance was provided to 1.4 million families. Hurricane Katrina was the first natural disaster in the United States in which the American Red Cross utilized its "Safe and Well" family location website.<ref name="ARC 1 yr">{{cite web|publisher=[[American Red Cross]] |title=A Year of Healing |date=September 29, 2006 |url=http://www.redcross.org/images/pdfs/Katrina_OneYearReport.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121200321/http://www.redcross.org/images/pdfs/Katrina_OneYearReport.pdf |archive-date=January 21, 2012}}</ref><ref name = "ARC 2005AHS facts">{{cite web | publisher = American Red Cross | title = Hurricane Season 2005: Facts and Figures|date = September 29, 2006 | url = http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/hurricanes/2005/facts.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060501000858/http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/hurricanes/2005/facts.html|archive-date=May 1, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Direct Relief provided a major response in the Gulf states so health providers could treat the local patients and evacuees. Direct Relief furnished $10 million in medical material aid and cash grants to support clinics and health centers in the area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/hurricane-katrina/|title=Hurricane Katrina Relief|date=2018-04-25|website=Direct Relief |access-date=2019-03-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322143644/https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/hurricane-katrina/|archive-date=March 22, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In the year following Katrina's strike on the Gulf Coast, The Salvation Army allocated donations of more than $365 million to serve more than 1.7 million people in nearly every state. The organization's immediate response to Hurricane Katrina included more than 5.7 million hot meals and about 8.3 million sandwiches, snacks, and drinks served in and around New Orleans. Its SATERN network of amateur radio operators picked up where modern communications left off to help locate more than 25,000 survivors. Salvation Army pastoral care counselors were on hand to comfort the emotional and spiritual needs of 277,000 individuals. As part of the overall effort, Salvation Army officers, employees, and volunteers contributed more than 900,000 hours of service.<ref name="Salvation Army">{{cite web | url = http://www.salvationist.org/intnews.nsf/vw_web_articles/80D873B8CDAC8607802571D9003FDDEF?opendocument | title = Salvation Army Reflects on Largest Disaster Response Ever at One-Year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina | access-date = April 14, 2010 | date = August 28, 2006 | publisher = [[Salvation Army|The Salvation Army]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110727001251/http://www.salvationist.org/intnews.nsf/vw_web_articles/80D873B8CDAC8607802571D9003FDDEF?opendocument | archive-date = July 27, 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref> ===Analysis of New Orleans levee failures=== {{Main|2005 levee failures in Greater New Orleans}} [[File:Hurricane Katrina Eye viewed from Hurricane Hunter.jpg|thumb|upright|View of the eyewall of Hurricane Katrina taken on August 28, 2005, as seen from a [[NOAA]] [[WP-3D Orion|WP-3D]] [[hurricane hunter]] aircraft before the storm made landfall on the United States [[Gulf Coast]]]] According to a modeling exercise conducted by the [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]] (USACE), two-thirds of the deaths in [[Greater New Orleans]] were due to levee and [[flood wall]] failure.<ref>Charles F. Anderson, Jurjen A. Battjes; et al. (2007). "The New Orleans Hurricane Protection System: What Went Wrong and Why" [http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/katrina/reports/ERPreport.pdf (PDF)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061810/http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/katrina/reports/ERPreport.pdf |date=March 4, 2016}}. American Society of Civil Engineers. Retrieved July 25, 2016.</ref> On April 5, 2006, months after independent investigators had demonstrated that levee failures were not caused by natural forces beyond intended design strength, Lieutenant General [[Carl Strock]], [[chief of engineers]] and commander of the Corps of Engineers, testified before the United States Senate Subcommittee on Energy and Water that "We have now concluded we had problems with the design of the structure."<ref>Staff Writers [https://web.archive.org/web/20080527010320/http://www.unregisterednews.com/content/view/184/53/ "Problems with the design of levees"]. ''[[Unregistered News]]''. September 29, 2005. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref> A June 2007 report released by the [[American Society of Civil Engineers]] determined that the failures of the levees and flood walls in New Orleans were found to be primarily the result of system design and construction flaws.<ref name="ASCE HKERP report"/> The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been federally mandated in the [[Flood Control Act of 1965]] with responsibility for the conception, design, and construction of the region's flood-control system. All of the major studies in the aftermath of Katrina concluded that the USACE was responsible for the failure of the levees. This was primarily attributed to a decision to use shorter steel sheet pilings during construction in an effort to save money.<ref name="Robertson"/> According to a report published in August 2015 in the official journal of the [[World Water Council]], the Corps misinterpreted the results of a 1985 study and wrongly concluded that sheet piles in the flood walls needed to be driven to depths of only {{convert|17|ft|0}} instead of between {{convert|31|and|46|ft|0}}. That decision saved approximately US$100 million, but significantly reduced overall engineering reliability.<ref>{{cite news |page=707 |author1=J. David Rogers |author2=G. Paul Kemp |title=Interaction between the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Orleans Levee Board preceding the drainage canal wall failures and catastrophic flooding of New Orleans in 2005 |publisher=Water Policy |year=2015 |access-date=January 28, 2017 |url=http://wp.iwaponline.com/content/17/4/707 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203220852/http://wp.iwaponline.com/content/17/4/707 |archive-date=February 3, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2008, Judge [[Stanwood Duval]] of the U.S. District Court ruled that despite the Corps' role in the flooding, the agency<ref name="Nossiter"/> could not be held financially liable because of [[sovereign immunity]] in the [[Flood Control Act of 1928]]. Exactly ten years after Katrina, J. David Rogers, lead author of a new report in the official journal of the World Water Council, concluded that the flooding during Katrina "could have been prevented had the corps retained an external review board to double-check its flood-wall designs".<ref>{{cite news|last=Stoltz|first=Mary Helen|title=Flood damage after Katrina could have been prevented, S&T expert says|publisher=Missouri S&T|date=August 24, 2015|access-date=February 22, 2016|url=http://news.mst.edu/2015/08/flood-damage-after-katrina-could-have-been-prevented-st-expert-says/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220034916/http://news.mst.edu/2015/08/flood-damage-after-katrina-could-have-been-prevented-st-expert-says/|archive-date=February 20, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Other factors may have contributed to the flooding. According to the authors of ''Catastrophe in the Making'' (Island Press, 2009), the straight design and lack of outward flow into the Gulf allowed the [[Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Canal]] to become "the perfect shortcut for salt-water intrusion" which damaged buffering cypress forests and wetlands which historically had protected New Orleans from storm surge.<ref>{{cite book|page=120|author1=Freudenburg, William R.|first2=Robert|last2=Gramling|title=Catastrophe in the Making|publisher=Island Press|year=2009|access-date=October 15, 2015|url=https://www.islandpress.org/book/catastrophe-in-the-making|display-authors=etal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105121505/https://www.islandpress.org/book/catastrophe-in-the-making|archive-date=January 5, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The Army Corps of Engineers built and maintained the canal. Furthermore, according to storm surge researcher Hassan Mashriqui: {{blockquote|Storm surge pushing across shallow [[Lake Borgne]] from the east is constrained by these MRGO levees to the south and, to the north, by the long-standing levees of the Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW). Initially ten or more miles apart, these two channels meet, and when they do, the water building between their levees is squeezed into a single channel – the Funnel – only 260 yards wide, constrained by levees 14 feet to 16 feet high….In concert with the denuded marshes, it could increase the local storm surge hitting the Intracoastal Waterway by 20 percent to 40 percent – a critical and fundamental flaw.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZNroiySUreQC|title=The Storm: What Went Wrong and Why During Hurricane Katrina – the Inside Story from One Louisiana Scientist|first1=Ivor van|last1=Heerden|first2=Mike|last2=Bryan|date=May 18, 2006|publisher=Penguin|via=Google Books|isbn=9781101201701|access-date=October 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428000452/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZNroiySUreQC|archive-date=April 28, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>}} [[File:Katrina-new-orleans-flooding3-2005.jpg|thumb|View of flooded New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina]] The Corps of Engineers disputes these causalities.<ref>Warrick, Joby; Grunwald, Michael. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/23/AR2005102301200_pf.html "Investigators Link Levee Failures to Design Flaws"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125035439/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/23/AR2005102301200_pf.html |date=November 25, 2016}} ''The Washington Post''. October 24, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> Nonetheless, in June 2008, the Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District submitted a Deep-Draft De-authorization Study of the MRGO which stated that "an economic evaluation of channel navigation use does not demonstrate a Federal interest in continued operation and maintenance of the channel." Congress ordered the MRGO closed as a direct result. Many of the levees have been reconstructed since Katrina. In reconstructing them, precautions were taken to bring the levees up to modern building code standards and to ensure their safety. For example, in every situation possible, the Corps of Engineers replaced I-walls with T-walls, which have a horizontal concrete base that protects against soil erosion underneath the flood walls.<ref name=Walls>{{cite news | first=Matt | last=Crenson | agency=Associated Press | url=http://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/story.asp?story=6589 | title=Levee Repairs to Be Finished By First Day of Hurricane Season | date=February 2, 2006 | access-date=May 12, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207184213/http://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/story.asp?story=6589 | archive-date=February 7, 2006 | url-status=live}}</ref> Funding battles continue over the remaining levee improvements. In February 2008, the Bush administration requested that the state of Louisiana pay about $1.5 billion of an estimated $7.2 billion for Corps of Engineers levee work (in accordance with the principles of local cost-sharing required by Congress as early as the [[Flood Control Act of 1928]]), a proposal which angered many Louisiana leaders.<ref name=funding>{{cite news | title=White House Budget for Levee Work Riles Many Louisiana Elected Officials | agency=Associated Press | first=Cain | last=Burdeau | url=http://www.cegltd.com/story.asp?story=10045 | date=February 12, 2008 | access-date=May 12, 2008 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> On May 2, 2008, Louisiana Governor [[Bobby Jindal]] used a speech to The National Press Club to request that President Bush free up money to complete work on Louisiana's levees. Bush promised to include the levee funding in his 2009 budget but rejected the idea of including the funding in a war bill, which would pass sooner.<ref name=BushJindal>{{cite web | url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/18539869.html | title=Jindal asks Bush for levee cash | publisher=2theadvocate.com | first=Gerard | last=Shields | date=May 3, 2008 | access-date=May 12, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506102615/http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/18539869.html | archive-date=May 6, 2008 | url-status=live}}</ref> ===Media involvement=== {{Main|Media coverage of Hurricane Katrina}} Many representatives of the [[news media]] reporting on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina became directly involved in the unfolding events, instead of simply reporting. Because of the loss of most means of communication, such as land-based and cellular telephone systems, field reporters in many cases became conduits for information between victims and authorities. The authorities, who monitored local and network news broadcasts, as well as internet sites, would then attempt to coordinate rescue efforts based on the reports. One illustration was when [[Geraldo Rivera]] of [[Fox News]] tearfully pleaded for authorities to either send help or evacuate the thousands of evacuees stranded at the [[Ernest N. Morial Convention Center]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Geraldo Rivera & Shepard Smith Unleashed |url=http://www.spike.com/video-clips/gmidjv/geraldo-rivera-shepard-smith-unleashed |website=Spike.com |access-date=January 4, 2016 |date=September 5, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314143006/http://www.spike.com/video-clips/gmidjv/geraldo-rivera-shepard-smith-unleashed |archive-date=March 14, 2016}}</ref> The role of AM radio was also of importance to the hundreds of thousands of persons with no other ties to news, providing emergency information regarding access to assistance for hurricane victims. Immediately after Katrina, [[WWL-AM]] was one of the few area radio stations in the area remaining on the air. This emergency service, simulcasted on shortwave outlet [[WHRI]], was named "[[United Radio Broadcasters of New Orleans]]". Their ongoing nighttime broadcasts continued to be available up to {{convert|500|mi|km|abbr=on}} away. Announcers continued to broadcast from improvised studio facilities after the storm damaged their main studios.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://radio.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=radio&cdn=gadgets&tm=58&f=00&su=p504.1.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=0&bts=0&st=23&zu=http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001052023|title=Local Media Outlets Struggle to Carry On Post Katrina|date=August 31, 2005|access-date=April 14, 2010|first1=Katy|last1=Bachman|first2=Tony|last2=Sanders|magazine=Billboard Radio Monitor}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The [[cellular phone]] antenna network was severely damaged and completely inoperable for several months. The storm also brought a dramatic rise in the role of websites—especially [[blogging]] and [[community journalism]]. One example was the effort of ''NOLA.com'', the web affiliate of New Orleans's ''[[The Times-Picayune|Times-Picayune]]''. A group of reporters were awarded the Breaking News [[Pulitzer Prize]]<ref name="Pulitzer BN">{{cite web | author = The Pulitzer Board | title = 2006 Pulitzer Prize Winners – Breaking News Reporting | year = 2006 | access-date = November 15, 2008 | url = http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2006,Breaking+News+Reporting | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090110190152/http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2006,Breaking+News+Reporting | archive-date = January 10, 2009 | url-status = live}}</ref> and shared the Public Service Pulitzer with the Biloxi-based ''[[The Sun Herald|Sun Herald]]''.<ref name="Pulitzer PS">{{cite web | author = The Pulitzer Board | title = 2006 Pulitzer Prize Winners – Public Service | year = 2006 | access-date = November 15, 2008 | url = http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2006,Public+Service | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081219132758/http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2006,Public+Service | archive-date = December 19, 2008 | url-status = live}}</ref> The newspaper's coverage was carried for days only on NOLA's blogs, as the newspaper lost its presses and evacuated its building as water rose around it on August 30. The site became an international focal point for news by local media, and also became a vital link for rescue operations and later for reuniting scattered residents, as it accepted and posted thousands of individual pleas for rescue on its blogs and forums. NOLA was monitored constantly by an array of rescue teams—from individuals to the Coast Guard—which used information in rescue efforts. Much of this information was relayed from trapped victims via the SMS functions of their cell phones, to friends and relatives outside the area, who then relayed the information back to NOLA.com. The aggregation of community journalism, user photos, and the use of the internet site as a collaborative response to the storm attracted international attention and was called a watershed moment in journalism.<ref name="OJR NOLA">{{cite web|first=Mark |last=Glaser |title=NOLA.com blogs and forums help save lives after Katrina |date=September 13, 2005 |publisher=Online Journalism Review |access-date=August 2, 2006 |url=http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050913glaser/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720085133/http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050913glaser/ |archive-date=July 20, 2006}}</ref> In the wake of these online-only efforts, the Pulitzer Committee for the first time opened all its categories to online entries.<ref name="Pulitzer speech">{{cite web | first = Paul | last = Steiger | title = Remarks at Pulitzer Prize luncheon | date = May 22, 2006 | access-date = November 15, 2008 | publisher = The Pulitzer Board | url = http://www.pulitzer.org/2006_luncheon_steiger | author-link = Paul Steiger | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090110190421/http://www.pulitzer.org/2006_luncheon_steiger | archive-date = January 10, 2009 | url-status = live}}</ref> As the U.S. military and rescue services regained control over the city, there were restrictions on the activity of the media. On September 9, the military leader of the relief effort announced that reporters would have "zero access" to efforts to recover bodies in New Orleans. Immediately following this announcement, CNN filed a [[lawsuit]] and obtained a temporary [[restraining order]] against the ban. The next day the government backed down and reversed the ban.<ref name="Media Ban">Staff Writer. [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/LAW/09/10/katrina.media/ "U.S. won't ban media from New Orleans searches"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050918060917/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/LAW/09/10/katrina.media/ |date=September 18, 2005}} ''CNN'' September 11, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> In September 2022, the Associated Press issued a style guide change to Katrina stating that reporters when writing about the storm in New Orleans should note that “…levee failures played a major role in the devastation in New Orleans. In some stories, that can be as simple as including a phrase about Hurricane Katrina’s catastrophic levee failures and flooding….”<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 27, 2022 |title="Hurricane Tropical Guide". AP Stylebook The Associated Press. |url=https://apstylebook.com/hurricane-ian-test |website=The Associated Press}}</ref> ===Retirement of name=== {{See also|List of retired Atlantic hurricane names}} Because of the high death toll and widespread property destruction along the U.S. Gulf Coast, the name Katrina was retired from the [[Atlantic hurricane naming lists]] in April 2006 by the [[World Meteorological Organization]]. The name will never again be used for another tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin. It was replaced with Katia for the [[2011 Atlantic hurricane season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2607.htm|title=Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan, and Wilma "Retired" from List of Storm Names|access-date=April 12, 2024|date=April 6, 2006|publisher=NOAA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224105328/http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2607.htm|archive-date=December 24, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.preventionweb.net/files/1533_entirenhop06.pdf|page=3{{hyphen}}8|publisher=[[NOAA]] Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research|location=Washington, D.C.|title=National Hurricane Operations Plan|date=May 2006|access-date=April 12, 2024|archive-date=January 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119200543/https://www.preventionweb.net/files/1533_entirenhop06.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> === Studies concerning post-Katrina victims === An article published in the ''Community Mental Health Journal'' from January 2016 revealed information about a recent study on the psychosocial needs of Hurricane Katrina evacuees that temporarily resided in Dallas, Texas. More than one-fourth of the sample met the criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD). About one-third of the individuals received a referral to mental health services for meeting symptom criteria for incident MDD and PTSD.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=King|first1=Richard V.|last2=Polatin|first2=Peter B.|last3=Hogan|first3=David|last4=Downs|first4=Dana L.|last5=North|first5=Carol S.|date=January 1, 2016|title=Needs Assessment of Hurricane Katrina Evacuees Residing Temporarily in Dallas|journal=Community Mental Health Journal|volume=52|issue=1|pages=18–24|doi=10.1007/s10597-015-9938-5|issn=1573-2789|pmid=26507550|s2cid=9817578}}</ref> In a study published in ''[[Maternal and Child Health Journal]]'', five to seven years after the disaster, 308 New Orleans pregnant women were interviewed about their exposure to Katrina. Researchers found that there were associations between experiencing damage during Katrina and birthweight, thus researchers concluded that natural disasters may have long-term effects on pregnancy outcomes. Furthermore, it was concluded that women who are most vulnerable to disaster may be more vulnerable to poor pregnancy outcome.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Harville|first1=Emily W.|last2=Giarratano|first2=Gloria|last3=Savage|first3=Jane|last4=Barcelona de Mendoza|first4=Veronica|last5=Zotkiewicz|first5=TrezMarie|date=November 1, 2015|title=Birth Outcomes in a Disaster Recovery Environment: New Orleans Women After Katrina|journal=Maternal and Child Health Journal|volume=19|issue=11|pages=2512–2522|doi=10.1007/s10995-015-1772-4|issn=1573-6628|pmc=4596760|pmid=26122255}}</ref> From a September 2015 journal of ''Current Psychology'', a study examined the attitudes of older, long-term residents of Baton Rouge, Louisiana toward displaced newcomers to their community. After using multiple tests, analyses, and descriptive statistics, the study suggested residents grew to become more patient, tolerant, and friendly towards newcomers. The study also suggests, however, that residents felt more fearful and suspicious of the evacuees, as well as the fact that they were being taken advantage of more.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Kamo|first1=Yoshinori|last2=Henderson|first2=Tammy L.|last3=Roberto|first3=Karen A.|last4=Peabody|first4=Kimberly L.|last5=White|first5=Jamikka K.|date=August 2, 2015|title=Perceptions of Older Adults in a Community Accepting Displaced Survivors of Hurricane Katrina|journal=Current Psychology |volume=34|issue=3|pages=551–563|doi=10.1007/s12144-015-9356-4|s2cid=146488181|issn=1046-1310|doi-access=free}}</ref> Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. 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