More Green, Less Grief? Post-Katrina Reconstruction in New Orleans

Date of Award

2010

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Brain, David

Keywords

City, Environment, Disaster

Area of Concentration

Environmental Studies

Abstract

This thesis will explore, specifically in regards to the Lower Ninth Ward and New Orleans in the wake of Katrina, how construction of risk and pre-existing social/ environmental vulnerability leads to disaster, how cultural and social attachment necessitates the rebuilding of vulnerable cities, and how reconstruction can address vulnerability while preserving cultural-social importance. To achieve this, I use archival research on the subject, along with fieldwork and interviews with non-profit employees in New Orleans. How this reconstruction progresses will determine the future city. On the one hand, people are attached to the city because of its social and cultural history, so it is necessary to preserve aspects of New Orleans that continues this. On the other hand, without serious changes correcting vulnerabilities that led to Katrina, New Orleans may not survive the next big storm. How the city is rebuilt will be dependent on who is involved in reconstruction, as outsiders not from New Orleans coming in to help out will have a different image of the city and vision for what should be rebuilt than locals who are rebuilding their home. Thus reconstruction must balance different visions of the meaning and value of the city.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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