Lessons From Failure of the Flood Protection System for the Greater New Orleans Area During Hurricane Katrina

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bea
Keyword(s):  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Delivery System ◽  
Protection System ◽  
Flood Protection ◽  
Defense System ◽  
The Public ◽  
Flood Defense ◽  
Basic Approaches ◽  
Flood Protection System

This paper summarizes the key lessons that have been learned from the failure of the flood defense system for the greater New Orleans area during hurricane Katrina. This was a manmade disaster whose roots were firmly embedded in failure of the Technology Delivery System that had been charged with providing adequate flood protection for the public. Two basic approaches for going forward are explored. Recommendations for improvements in engineering criteria and guidelines and in the Technology Delivery System charged with providing acceptable flood protection are advanced.

Reliability Assessment and Management Lessons From Hurricane Katrina

2007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bea
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Reliability Assessment ◽  
Protection System ◽  
Flood Protection ◽  
Risk Assessment And Management ◽  
Flood Protection System

Hurricane Katrina disclosed a wide variety of flaws and defects that were embedded in the flood protection system for the greater New Orleans area (NOFPS). One of the primary reasons for this catastrophe was failure in risk assessment and management (RAM). Based on results from several extensive forensic studies, this paper details how RAM failed. Critical limitations in current RAM methodologies and results intended to help rehabilitate and further develop the NOFPS are highlighted. Recommendations are advanced to address these limitations.

scholarly journals Geotechnical reconnaissance of the Mississippi River Delta flood-protection system after Hurricane Katrina

Circular ◽  
2007 ◽  
pp. 27-34
Author(s):  
Ronaldo Luna ◽  
David Summers ◽  
David Hoffman ◽  
J. David Rogers ◽  
Adam Sevi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
Mississippi River ◽  
River Delta ◽  
Protection System ◽  
Flood Protection ◽  
Mississippi River Delta ◽  
Flood Protection System

scholarly journals Social patterns of natural disasters: The case of hurricane Katrina

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-215
Author(s):  
Mirko Filipović ◽  
Sonja Žakula
Keyword(s):  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Black People ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
The Public ◽  
Social Patterns ◽  
Political Economic

Public perception and imagination tend to view natural disasters and catastrophes as phenomena that impact everyone equally. However, they do not occur in a historical, political, economic or social vacuum. Every phase and aspect of a disaster - its causes, vulnerability, preparedness, aftermath, response, reconstruction, the scope of the disaster and the price paid in the end are, to a lesser or greater extent, socially conditioned. Natural disasters actually replicate and amplify existing social inequalities and their effects. Such was also the case with hurricane Katrina. Black people, the poor, the elderly... remained in sunken New Orleans because their economic and social exclusion diminished their possibility to escape the disaster (the same way it diminished their opportunity to escape poverty). Had Katrina been a mere accident of geography and ecology, it would have been possible to peacefully await the resolution of its aftermath. However, because the inequalities which Katrina made apparent have deep socio-historical roots, it was illusory to expect that they would be repaired by the public policies on offer. Because of this, Katrina remains a powerful reminder to those advocating for a more just and democratic society.

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