The Empty Chair Is Not So Empty: Ghosts and the Performance of Memory in Post-Katrina New Orleans

2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 102-115
Author(s):  
Helen Jaksch
Keyword(s):  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Everyday Object ◽  
The Everyday ◽  
Empty Chair

The empty chairs found in photographs taken in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina are unfillable voids. This major natural disaster transforms the everyday object of the chair, magnified by the medium of photography, into an extraordinary place full of potentiality for the performance of memory, for haunting, and for ghosts.

Effect of Hurricane Katrina on the Incidence of Acute Coronary Syndrome at a Primary Angioplasty Center in New Orleans

2009 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 144-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Gautam ◽  
Jonathan Menachem ◽  
Sudesh K. Srivastav ◽  
Patrice Delafontaine ◽  
Anand Irimpen
Keyword(s):  
Natural Disasters ◽  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Preventive Health Services ◽  
Primary Angioplasty ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Tobacco Abuse

ABSTRACTBackground: In August 2005, New Orleans was hit by Hurricane Katrina, the costliest natural disaster in US history. Previous studies have shown an increase in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the immediate hours to weeks after natural disasters. The goals of our study were to detect any long-term increase in the incidence of AMI after Katrina and to investigate any pertinent contributing factors.Methods: This was a single-center retrospective cohort observational study. Patients admitted with AMI to Tulane Health Sciences Center hospital in the 2 years before Katrina and in the 2 years after the hospital reopened (5 months after Katrina) were identified from hospital records. The 2 groups (pre- and post-Katrina) were compared for prespecified demographic and clinical data.Results: In the post-Katrina group, there were 246 admissions for AMI, out of a total census of 11,282 patients (2.18%), as compared with 150 AMI admissions out of a total of 21,229 patients (0.71%) in the pre-Katrina group (P < 0.0001). The post-Katrina group had a significantly higher prevalence of unemployment (P = 0.0003), lack of medical insurance (P < 0.0001), medication noncompliance (P = 0.0001), smoking (P = 0.001), substance abuse (P = 0.03), first-time hospitalization (P < 0.001), local residents rather than visitors affected (P < 0.0001), and people living in temporary housing (P = 0.003).Discussion: The role of chronic stress in the pathogenesis of AMI is poorly understood, especially in the aftermath of natural disasters. Our data suggest that Katrina was associated with prolonged loss of employment and insurance, decreased access to preventive health services, and an increased incidence of AMI. In addition, it appears that chronic stress after a natural disaster can be associated with tobacco abuse and medication and therapeutic noncompliance.Conclusions: We found a 3-fold increased incidence of AMI more than 2 years after Hurricane Katrina. Even allowing for the loss of some local hospitals after the disaster, this represents a significant change in overall health of the study population and supports the need for further study into the health effects of chronic stress. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2009;3:144–150)

scholarly journals Chapter 3

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-64
Author(s):  
Adele Baruch ◽  
Daniel Creek
Keyword(s):  
Social Networks ◽  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Informal Networks ◽  
Traumatic Memories ◽  
History Of ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Right ◽  
Special Circumstances

The special circumstances related to helping in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina—both a natural disaster and a man-made catastrophe—are explored. Stories of individual, formal, and informal networks of helping, alongside stories of exploitation and despair, were shared by participants. Significant to the history of the aftermath of Katrina was the eventual formalizing of some of the informal helping networks, such as the establishment of a musician’s village and performance center in the 9th Ward of New Orleans. The theme of “doing the right thing” echoed throughout our participant interviews, as did “the chance to move beyond angry.” Stories of helping appeared to provide examples of hope to the citizens affected by the storm, as well as encouragement towards purposeful action. The stories of helping, along with participation in altruistic social networks, appear to provide a pathway to the recollection and transformation of traumatic memories.

scholarly journals The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 170-172
Author(s):  
Angela Khristin Brown
Keyword(s):  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Negative Response ◽  
The Political ◽  
Historic Site

Huricain Katrina was a natural disaster that had a negative response on the political, economical, sociological and evironmental affects in America. In light of what happened, the levies should be rebuilt to become more secure, land sites should be cleaned up and small shops, restaurants and an historical museum should be made to perserve New Orleans culture. Many contributions should be made to recreate the atmosphere that was lost by Hurricane Katrina by many toursist who would visit this historic site to have a memorable experience of New Orleans culture.

Religion, Rhetoric, and Social Change after Hurricane Katrina

2006 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Marie Arlinghaus
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Divine Retribution ◽  
Mississippi Gulf Coast ◽  
Newspaper Articles

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and in its aftermath, Americans were left asking why it had happened. This paper explores the discussions that occurred in newspaper articles, editorials, websites, and blogs in an attempt to distill the multiple interpretations people had of such a major natural disaster. Three major meanings emerge: that the hurricane was a type of divine retribution, that the hurricane was caused or its consequences exacerbated by human failings, and that the hurricane could serve as a catalyst for social change.

scholarly journals New Orleans: A Model 21st Century Cross-American Water City?

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Hoeferlin ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
Decision Making ◽  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
21St Century ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
Port City ◽  
New Governance

Much has been accomplished – and much debated– since Hurricane Katrina made landfall outside of New Orleans in 2005. There have been many successes – and many failures – in regards to the recovery, rebuilding and resiliency of the unique“Cross-American” port city. Social, economic and environmental justice issues have been brought to the forefront, in the wake of an unprecedented human-altered “natural” disaster. This paper will not attempt to regurgitate what has been critiqued and promulgated about New Orleans in relation to status quo rebuilding. Rather, the paper will focus on water management demands, efforts and proposals since the storm; and, how these water-centric efforts have challenged existing decision-making regimes, in turn advocating for new governance partnerships, funding streams and integrative design methodologies.

scholarly journals Examining the Aftereffects of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans: A Qualitative Study of Faculty and Staff Perceptions

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Joy J. Burnham ◽  
Lisa M. Hooper
Keyword(s):  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Natural Disaster ◽  
School Counselors ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
School Employees ◽  
Faculty And Staff ◽  
K 12 ◽  
The Impact

Researchers have reported how Hurricane Katrina has affected teachers who work with Kindergarten to Grade 12 (K-12), yet little is known about how the natural disaster has affected other important K-12 faculty and staff (e.g., coaches, librarians, school counselors, and cafeteria workers). Missing from the literature is the impact that this natural disaster has had on these formal (school counselors) and informal (coaches, librarians) helpers of K-12 students. Using a focus group methodology, the authors examined the aftereffects of Hurricane Katrina on 12 school employees in New Orleans, Louisiana, 18 months after the hurricane. Informed by qualitative content analysis, three emergent themes were identified: emotion-focused aftereffects, positive coping, and worry and fear. The implications for future research and promoting hope in mental health counseling are discussed.

Human-Environment Interactions: A Plea for the Humanities

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 210-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Tuana
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Global Community ◽  
Human Environment

Research on human-environment interactions often neglects the resources of the humanities. Hurricane Katrina and the resulting levee breaches in New Orleans offer a case study on the need for inclusion of the humanities in the study of human-environment interactions, particularly the resources they provide in examining ethics and value concerns. Methods from the humanities, when developed in partnership with those from the sciences and social sciences, can provide a more accurate, effective, and just response to the scientific and technological challenges we face as a global community.

Emotional Public: Treme as Post-Katrina Trauma Narrative

2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 27-49
Author(s):  
Outi J. Hakola
Keyword(s):  
Public Sphere ◽  
Hurricane Katrina ◽  
New Orleans ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
Emotional Reactions ◽  
Mediation Process ◽  
Collective Memories ◽  
Trauma Narrative

Cultural traumas are social, discursive and narrative processes where traumatic events, such as Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and their memories are described and interpreted. In fiction, in this case in HBO’s drama series Treme (2010-2013), trauma-related experiences are given meaning through narration, and in this mediation process collective memories are constructed. In this article, I analyze the ways in which the narration of Treme represents loss and remembering. I argue that by emphasizing sentimental nostalgia and the emotional reactions of the characters, the narration aims to create sympathy and empathy in the viewers, and in this way the drama series creates an emotional public sphere for the discussions over the rebuilding of post-Katrina New Orleans.

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