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CIAO DATE: 10/5/2006
Katrina and Rita Impacts on Gulf Coast Populations: First Census Findings
William H. Frey, Audrey Singer
June 2006
Abstract
In the late summer of 2005, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita wrought severe damage along much of the Gulf Coast, stretching from Alabama westward to Texas, with perhaps the most devastating consequences for the greater New Orleans area.
Since Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005, a wide range of think tanks, university researchers, journalists, and public agencies have attempted to assess its impact on the population of this region (see references for a broad round-up of these assessments). These researchers have addressed questions around how the hurricanes affected the population sizes of impacted areas, and to what degree they disproportionately affected particular segments of the population. On the latter question, some studies have suggested that, especially in New Orleans, the physical and human devastation generated greater out-migration of minorities, the economically less well-off, and those in inferior housing.
