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SSRC's "Understanding Katrina: Perspectives from the Social Sciences" (Public List)
A collection of essays published shortly after Hurricane Katrina and the resulting calamity for the region and country. The essays explore a wide range of topics:
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Structures of vulnerability, including the race, class, gender, and age of those suffering most
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Political projects that have distorted the pursuit of "homeland security"
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Bias that has sent federal resources disproportionately to rural areas and suburbs rather than cities
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Media coverage of the disaster
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Response from the American public
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Philanthropic and charitable responses
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The physical infrastructure on which cities depend (and its vulnerabilities)
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The relationship between the Iraq War for disaster preparedness and recovery
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Problems of oil dependency and related infrastructures
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Environmental policy and global warming, wetlands management, etc.
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Costs of “privatization” and cuts in government capacity
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Leadership at every level
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Law enforcement and public order
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Predicting "emergencies" and responding to predictions
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The economic implications of catastrophic events
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Comparisons: to the recent Asian tsunami, to 9/11 in New York, to earlier hurricane disasters in the U.S., etc
Persons
Research Resources
Book Chapters
- J. Steven Picou (ed.), David Overfelt (ed.), David L. Brunsma (ed.), Russell Dynes, Havidán Rodríguez. "Finding and Framing Katrina: the Social Construction of Disaster." In The Sociology of Katrina: Perspectives on a Modern Catastrophe. D. L. Brunsma, D. Overfelt, and J. S. Picou (ed.) Rowman and Littlefield, 2007.
Online Articles
- Marita Sturken. Weather Media and Homeland Security: Selling Preparedness in a Volatile World. 2006/06/11.
- Julie Sze. Toxic Soup Redux: Why Environmental Racism and Environmental Justice Matter after Katrina. 2006/06/11.
- David Alexander. Symbolic and Practical Interpretations of the Hurricane Katrina Disaster in New Orleans. 2006/06/11.
- Elizabeth Fussell. Leaving New Orleans: Social Stratification, Networks, and Hurricane Evacuation . 2006/06/11.
- Dorian T. Warren, Dara Z. Strolovitch, Paul Frymer. Katrina's Political Roots and Divisions: Race, Class, and Federalism in American Politics. 2006/06/11.
- Tricia Wachtendorf, James M. Kendra. Improvising Disaster in the City of Jazz: Organizational Response to Hurricane Katrina. 2006/06/11.
- Enrico Quarantelli. Catastrophes are Different from Disasters: Some Implications for Crisis Planning and Managing Drawn from Katrina. 2006/06/11.
- Jeanne S. Hurlbert, Valerie Haines, John Beggs. Bridges Over Troubled Waters: What are the Optimal Networks for Katrina’s Victims?. 2006/06/11.
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