Lessons Learned from Katrina...one year later

The one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina has brought about reflection and reconsideration of the many aspects which contributed to the disaster. Scientists and policy makers are gathering data to better understand the tragedy and work toward prevention of future disasters. Below are a list of new research and reflections on Hurricane Katrina one year later.

Retrospective Reports

• Hurricanes and the U.S. Gulf Coast: Science and Sustainable RebuildingThis AGU white paper discusses what Earth and space scientists know about the present and projected environment in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast areas affected by the hurricanes of 2005. The paper was written in an effort to bring science into the decisions made to rebuild and reconstruct the areas affected by the storms.
• Katrina: one year later. This website developed by National Public Radio explores several topics surrounding the return to and rebuilding of areas affected Hurricane Katrina.
• The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned This website holds the White House retrospective discussion of the Hurricane Katrina disaster. The document contains a letter from the President, information about the storm and sequence of events, a recap of the "week of crisis," lessons learned and ways in which Hurricane Katrina helped guide the transformation of US disaster preparedness.
• Protecting against the Next Katrina Wetlands mitigate flooding, but are they too damaged in the gulf? This Scientific American article discusses the feasibility of rebuilding the levees and infrastructure around New Orleans and the Gulf Coast regions affected by Hurricane Katrina

New Science

• Katrina's unique splay deposits in a New Orleans neighborhood This article discusses unique crevasse splay deposits deposited as a result of Hurricane Katrina storm surge.