Today exactly twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina landed in the south of the United States. The lessons of Katrina are now more relevant than ever due to climate change. But the current US government seems to forget them.
It is August 29, 2005. Shortly after 9 a.m., the dams around New Orleans break. The American city is flooded for 80 percent. Some people are stuck on the roof of their house for days. Others are too late and drown in the rapidly rising water.
And Katrina does not only cause damage in New Orleans. The hurricane races through parts of the American states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. With almost fourteen hundred dead and about $ 100 billion in damage, Katrina enters the books as one of the most devastating natural disasters in American history.
The disaster also became notorious due to large -scale government failure. There was confusion, indecision, lack of communication and too little emergency aid. Katrina made it clear that the US was not ready for a disaster of that size. And that while it was warned in advance.
“In the years before Katrina, the Bush government had cut back on the maintenance of federal dikes,” anthropologist Andrew Littlejohn told NU.nl. “Those were exactly the dikes that it went in 2005.” In the years that followed, therefore, a lot of attention was paid to infrastructure, Marleen De Ruiter also sees. She herself did a lot of research into the impact of Katrina.
Dikes were reinforced, new projects started and entire coastal areas were tackled, says Littlejohn. Marsh areas, ditches and canals were also tackled to prevent surplus water from flowing into inhabited areas. Since then, many areas in the south of the US have been a lot more disaster -resistant.
Lessons by Katrina are more relevant than ever
Twenty years after the devastating hurricane, the lessons of Katrina are more relevant than ever, De Ruiter and Littlejohn say. “Recent research shows that crisis managers find it difficult to fight disasters that are larger than we have ever experienced,” says De Ruiter. “While climate change increases the chance of such unprecedented disasters.”
In addition, climate change increases the chance of several natural disasters shortly in succession, De Ruiter explains. At the beginning of this year, heavy rainfall after the devastating forest fires in the US state of California, for example, caused mud flows that destroyed entire neighborhoods. Disasters will become more complex and will follow each other faster, she expects. “That is a huge challenge for disaster relief.”
But the attention to disaster relief is relaxed, both experts see. This week, employees of the most important American disaster relief organization FEMA warned that the government is not doing enough disaster relief. A ‘new Katrina’ can happen again, the staff wrote in an open letter.
US President Donald Trump cuts heavily on FEMA and even played with the thought of completely dismantling the organization. “That would be unheard of with other governments,” says Littlejohn. “There is a lot to criticize at FEMA, but it is going very far to completely dismantle it.”
Trump opened the attack on climate science
Littlejohn sees that with the arrival of Trump “the tide around disaster relief is starting to turn”. Louisiana recently pulled the plug from a billion -dollar project that was central to plans to make the coastal area future -proof. That decision by Governor Jeff Landry is seen as a break with the scientifically substantiated and impartial coastal policy that the state has been conducting since Katrina.
The role of Trump’s return in the White House cannot be underestimated. His government is skeptical about climate science and cuts considerably on it. “Not only on the scientists, but also on the organizations that map risks and predict the weather,” says Littlejohn.
One of the organizations in which Trump has cut considerably is the National Oceanic and Athmospheric Administration (Noaa). Noaa is responsible for climate research and weather forecast, including hurricane forecasts. De Ruiter: “There are worries that some of the lessons are forgotten that we learned from Katrina.”
Moreover, climate policy often breaks down at more local levels of decision -making. The coastal areas are regularly protected with the help of innovation. But those green solutions often clash with interests of other groups, such as the fishing industry. Even though the solutions have a lot of scientific support, Littlejohn adds.
The fishing interests also played a role in the decision of Governor Landry to delete the billion -dollar project to restore the coast last month, The Washington Post recently wrote. Littlejohn: “You could also say that damage to the coastal area is harming fishing because large pieces of nature are being destroyed.” But in practice the short -term interests are often leading.
Not to exclude new Katrina
Governments are not sufficiently preparing for scenarios in which large disasters follow each other quickly, says De Ruiter. “We already see that in different places in the US, but also in other parts of the world.” Stacking disasters makes it more difficult for people to recover from the impact. But lessons from the past have not yet been learned, she says.
Moreover, a ‘new Katrina’ cannot be excluded. “But my biggest concern is not that the dikes break through again,” says Littlejohn. “The scenarios that keep me awake at night are about the underlying problem: climate change.” He says that large amounts of land are already being swallowed up by rising sea level at the moment.
“People literally lose the land on which they stand,” he continues. “The rich, beautiful and biodiverse environment of the American south coast is under pressure. That is a very real threat.”
Exactly Twenty Years ago, Hurricane Katrina Made Landfall in the Southern United States. The Lessons of Katrina Are Now More Relevant Than Ever Due to Climate Change. But The Current American Government Seems to Be Forgetting Them.
It is August 29, 2005. Shortly After 9:00 AM, The Leveres Around New Orleans Break. The American City is 80 percent under water. Some people are stuck on the roof of their house for days. Others are too late and drown in the rapidly rising water.
And Katrina is not only causing damage in New Orleans. The Hurricane Rages Through Parts of the American States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. With Almost Fourteen Hundred Deaths and Approximately 100 Billion Dollars in Damage, Katrina Goes Down in the Books As One of the Most Devastating Natural Disasters in American History.
The Disaster was also notorious for Large-Scale Government Failure. There was Confusion, Indecision, Lack of Communication and Insufficient Emergency Aid. Katrina Made It Clear That the Us was not ready for a disaster of that magnitude. And that was Despite Prior Warnings.
“In The Years Before Katrina, The Bush Administration had Cut Back On The Maintenance of Federal Dikes,” Anthropologist Andrew Littlejohn Tells Nu.nl. “Those Were Exactly the Dikes That Gave Way in 2005.” In the years that followed, there was Therefore a Great Deal of Attention for Infrastructure, Marleen de Ruiter also Sees. She herself did a lot of research Into the Impact of Katrina.
Dikes Were Strengthed, New Projects Were Started and Entire Coastal Areas Were Tackled, Littlejohn Says. Marsh Areas, Dittches and Canals were also tackled to prevent excess water from flowing into inhabited areas. Since then, many areas in the southern us have Become a lot more disaster resistant.
Lessons From Katrina Are More Relevant Than Ever
Twenty years after the Devastating Hurricane, The Lessons of Katrina Are More Relevant Than Ever, Say de Ruiter and Littlejohn. “Recent research shows that crisis managers find it diffress to combat disasters that are larger than we have ever experienced,” Says de Ruiter. “While Climate Change is Increasing the Chance of Such Unprecedented Disasters.”
Moreover, Climate Change Increases The Chance of Multiple Natural Disasters in Quick Succession, De Ruiter Explains. At the Beginning of this Year, Heavy Rainfall After the Devastating Forest Fires in the American State of California, For Example, Caaated Mudslides That Destroyed Entire Neighborhoods. Disasters Are Becoming More Complex and Will Follow Each Other More Quickly, She Expects. “That is a huge challenge for disaster management.”
But Attention to Disaster Management is Weavening, Both experts See. This Week, Employees of the Main American Disaster Relief Organization Fema Warned That The Government is Doing Too Little About Disaster Management. A ‘New Katrina’ Could Just Happen Again, the Staff wrote in an open letter.
US President Donald Trump is making major cut to fema and equally toyed with the idea of ​​dismantling the organization altogether. “That would be unheard of with other governments,” Says Littlejohn. “There is a lot to criticize about fema, but it goes too far to dismantle it is complete.”
Trump Launched an Attack on Climate Science
Littlejohn Sees That With Trump’s Arrival “The Tide Around Disaster Management is Beginning to Turn.” Louisiana Recently Pulled the Plug On A Multi-Billion Dollar Project that was Central to Plans to Make the Coastal Area Future-proof. That decision by Governor Jeff Landry is Seen as a break with the scientifically substantiated and impartial Coastal Policy that the State Has Pursued Since Katrina.
The Role of Trump’s Return To The White House Should Not Be Underestimated. His Government is Skeptical about Climate Science and is Making Major Cuts There. “Not only on the scientists, but also on the organizations that map risks and predict the weather,” Says Littlejohn.
One of the Organizations in which Trump has made significant cuts is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa). Noaa is Responsible for Climate Research and Weather Forecasts, Including Hurricane Forecasts. De Ruiter: “There are groups that some of the lessons we learned from katrina are being forgotten.”
MoreOover, Climate Policy Often Fails at More Local Levels of Decision Making. There, Coastal Areas Are Regularly Protected with the Help of Innovation. But Those Green Solutions of Clash With the Interests of Other Groups, Such as the Fishing Industry. Just though the solutions have a lot of scientific support, littlejohn adds.
Fishing interests also played a role in Governor Landry’s Decision to Scrap the Multi-Billion Dollar Project to Restore the Coast Last Month, The Washington Post Recently wrote. Littlejohn: “You could also say that damage to the coastal area is Harming Fisheries, because Large Pieces of Nature Are Being Destroyed.” But in practice, short-term interests of Take Precedence.
New Katrina Cannot Be ruled out
Governments are insufficiently preparing for scenarios in which major disasters follow each other quickly, says de ruiter. “We are already seeing that in Various Places in the US, but also in Other Parts of the World.” The Accumulation of Disasters Makes It More Difficult for People to Recover from the Impact. But Lessons From the Past Have Not Yet Been Learned, She Says.
A ‘New Katrina’ Cannot Be Ruled Out Either. “But My Biggest Concern is not that the Dikes Will Break Again,” Says Littlejohn. “The scenarios that keep me awake at night are about the underlying problem: climate change.” He says that Large Amounts of Land Are Already Being Swallowed Up by Rising Sea Levels.
“People are literally losing the ground they are standing on,” he continues. “The Rich, Beautiful and Biodiverse Environment of the American South Coast is under pressure. That is a very real threat.”