Critical facts concerning the Gulf Coast’s recovery:
“Hurricane Katrina was the single most catastrophic natural disaster in U.S. history.”
(FEMA, By the Numbers One Year Later)
Physical Area Impacted by Katrina: 90,000 square miles, roughly the size of Great Britain
Number Displaced by Storm: Approximately 1.3 Million
Initial Estimates of Cost to Rebuild New Orleans: $200 billion*
*A widely cited underestimated value, the real cost is probably much higher.
Direct Economic Impact of Katrina in Louisiana Alone: $120 Billion
Federal Funds Allocated to Redeveloping the Gulf Coast: $107 Billion
Proportion of Funds Actually Spent: Less than Half ($44 Billion)
Proportion of Funds Allocated to Levy Reconstruction: 4% ($4.3 Billion)
Proportion Allocated to Mobile Homes: 7% ($7.5 Billion)
Funds Received by the City of New Orleans: $220 Million
One year Later: Number of People Living in Mobile Homes (113,000); Number of Displaced Who Have Not Returned Home Yet (289,000); School Buildings Open in New Orleans (29%); Homes with Electricity (60%); Unemployment Rate Among Evacuees (23%)
