Post on 24-Dec-2015
The Remaining
Vulnerabilities of Post-
Katrina New Orleans:
How Urban Sustainability
Efforts Must Evolve
December 13, 2012
Stephanie Heath, Matt PolandEllie Tumbuan and Karina Zhang
Ove
rvie
w
Hurricane Katrina’s Effects
Intergovernmental Relations
Civic Engagement Environmental
Planning Urban Planning Conclusions
Hurr
icane
Katr
ina’s
Eff
ect
s
Impacted nearly 93,000 square miles
Flooded 80% of New Orleans
Total of 1.5 million people displaced between Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama
$108 billion in total damage to U.S.
Inte
rgove
rnm
ent
al R
ela
tions
U.S. H.R. Findings: Lack of coordination in
declaring mandatory evacuation between federal, state and local authorities
Police lost all control and couldn’t coordinate with other law enforcement
Medical care and evacuation coordination failed
State and local govt. chose inappropriate shelters
Red tape for requesting help caused confusion and delay
Inte
rgove
rnm
ent
al R
ela
tions
Implicit Suggestions: Consistent protocol across all levels
for declaring mandatory evacuation Planning the law enforcement
response in coordination with state and national actors; determine in advance who is in charge and responsibilities of each entity
Interagency planning between New Orleans hospitals, the Veteran’s Administration (VA) and state officials to determine: Clear roles and responsibilities Where resources can be obtained How to coordinate ongoing
communication during a crisis Coordination with private air
transport
Inte
rgove
rnm
ent
al R
ela
tions
Implicit Suggestions: Establishment of a regional
shelter database and thoroughly vetted choices laid out in the local emergency response plan.
Local officials in the disaster response plan should know the procedures for requesting aid in advance and also establish working relationships in advance with the Louisiana State Emergency Operations Center and FEMA.
Inte
rgove
rnm
ent
al R
ela
tions
Other Suggestions:Using “contingency
federalism” as a guide – vertical and horizontal relationships that allow for flexibility and quick action when necessary
Strong mutual aid agreements with other states
Inte
rgove
rnm
ent
al R
ela
tions
What has New Orleans done to improve intergovernmental relations?Has an Office of
Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness
Community Emergency Response Teams exist (without any details)
???
Civ
ic
Engagem
ent
Aft
er
Katr
ina
Unified New Orleans Plan (UNOP)
5 months of planning, funded by Rockefeller Foundation, Greater New Orleans Foundation & Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund
Solicited citizen feedback on:
(1) Future flood safety,
(2) Rebuilding safe & stable neighborhoods,
(3) Affordable housing,
(4) Public services
Civ
ic
Engagem
ent:
U
NO
P P
roce
ss
4 rounds of interactive meetings in 13 districts
Community Congress I: Hastily planned, poorly attended
Community Congress II: Well attended by 2,500 New Orleanians
Community Congress III: January 2007, presented UNOP (by this time, 4,000 total citizens across different cities in the region have participated in the CCs)
January 31, 2007: UNOP is submitted to NOLA Planning Commission
Civ
ic
Engagem
ent:
Reco
mm
endati
ons
1. Funding - Civic engagement must be funded for long term sustainability (nonprofit sector is optimal)
2. Reactive efforts --> Institution building for civic engagement orgs, venues
3. Reorient "Preparedness" to "Resilience" and "Most Vulnerable" to "New Majority" - ensure permanent inclusion of all groups
4. Recognition of Social Capital's role in resilience
Envi
ronm
enta
l Pla
nnin
g:
Curr
ent
Sit
uati
on
The restoration of New Orleans can become another disaster waiting to happen or a model of true model of sustainable development Sea level is rising Precipitation patterns are
changing Intensity of hurricanes Energy costs are on the
rise City is continuing to sink
Envi
ronm
enta
l Pla
nnin
g:
Leve
es
and t
he W
etl
ands
The very technology (the levee system) that was created to protect New Orleans from devastation backfired: Levees have contributed to
the erosion of wetlands This has removed a crucial
buffer that once protected the area from hurricanes
Biologists call the wetlands the fastest disappearing land mass on the planet
This is due partly to levees and partly to man
Envi
ronm
enta
l Pla
nnin
g:
Import
ance
of
Wetl
ands
Wetlands rank with rainforests in eco-logical importance: They harbor plants and wildlife
and function as natural sponges to buffer the coastlines
Louisiana Coast Area - Project for the wetlands surrounding New Orleans
This plan would have helped reverse the trend of continued wetland loss
Plan is in jeopardy due to shifting priorities
Focus is on rebuilding levees and pumps instead of restoring wetlands
Envi
ronm
enta
l Pla
nnin
g:
Natu
ral C
apit
al
Part of a healthy local economy should be providing “natural capital” for the well-being of people: Storm and flood protection Soil formation Nutrient cycling Recreation and aesthetic
services Mississippi delta- includes
New Orleans and is one of the most concentrated areas of natural capital in North America
Envi
ronm
enta
l Pla
nnin
g:
Reco
mm
endati
ons
Environmental considerations for rebuilding New Orleans in a sustainable way: Let the water decide – avoid abrupt
boundaries between deep water systems and uplands.
Restore natural capital and use resources that already exist
Use the highest standards of high-performance green buildings and a car-limited urban environment with high mobility for everyone
Rebuild the Mississippi basin to minimize coastal pollution and the threat of another catastrophic flood in the city proper
Farming practices will need to be shifted and adapted to be more sustainable
Rebuilding the “capital” of the city
Urb
an P
lannin
g:
Befo
re K
atr
ina New Orleans did not
have a comprehensive plan and the zoning ordinances were outdated
Uncertainty and unpredictability of natural disaster are the biggest obstacles in planning
Urb
an P
lannin
g:
Str
ate
gie
s Protect – Using sustainable and storm resistant design
Accommodate- Raising floor levels in buildings
Retreat – Relocating development to safe areas
Urb
an P
lannin
g:
Gre
enin
g t
he
Cit
y The Holy Cross Project
Urb
an P
lannin
g:
Eva
cuati
on P
lan
Lesson from History: There will be people that are left behind and need rescue and services
Lesson from Hurricane Katrina: Low income families and disabled individuals are the most at-risk groups
Recommendations: Educate the public, with special
attention paid to the most at-risk communities
Utilize public employees as disaster workers by providing emergency management trainings and assigning tasks with clear instructions
Designate appropriate shelter locations
Ensure adequate food, water and medicine supply for emergency use
Ove
rall
Ass
ess
ment
and C
oncl
usi
ons
UNOP never finalized or posted
No readily available citywide strategic plan or emergency preparedness plan
Very little information about emergency preparedness publically available overall
Ove
rall
Ass
ess
ment
and C
oncl
usi
ons
New Orleans should: Work on improving
intergovernmental relations using “contingency federalism” concept
Fund civic engagement and change reactive efforts --> institution building
Preserve/restore “natural capital”
Urban Planning – Protect (storms), Accommodate (higher) and Retreat (relocate)
Create a citywide strategic plan that is publically available and includes regular progress towards goals
The Remaining
Vulnerabilities of Post-
Katrina New Orleans:
How Urban Sustainability
Efforts Must Evolve
December 13, 2012
Stephanie Heath, Matt PolandEllie Tumbuan and Karina Zhang