Informing Redevelopment After Hurricane Katrina

The Role for Community-Based Research

 

 

Research Agenda

 

Participants in the community-based research meeting held at Southeastern Louisiana University (October 7, 2005) were asked to individually and collectively identify research topics in need of attention. These items were discussed and synthesized. They are listed below in summary form.

 

 

Systemic issues that led the natural disaster to become a social disaster.

 

Organizational and institutional response/non-response to the disaster.

 

The needs and interests of "invisible" and "voiceless" groups.

 

Livelihood strategies among the poor pre- and post-disaster.

 

Health and mental health impacts of the disaster.

 

Available and needed social, health and mental services.

 

Impacts of disaster on youth, especially young children.

 

Schools and their resources - Students, teachers, infrastructure, supplies.

 

Social-psychological and academic impacts of relocation on students.

 

The state of the cultural economies before and after the disaster. Possibility of redevelopment.

 

Agriculture, forestry and fishing issues - Impacts and outlook for the future. Production, processing and marketing.

 

Physical and environmental issues - Contamination, disposal of debris, solid and toxic waste, etc. Relation to environmental justice concerns.

 

Out- and in-migration of evacuees. Who left? Who will return? Where will others go?

 

Role of nonprofit and faith-based organizations in addressing immediate relief needs and redevelopment.

 

Strategies for maximizing local power and involvement in clean-up and redevelopment efforts.

 

Worker pay and safety as part of clean-up and redevelopment.

 

Federal and state appropriations for clean-up and redevelopment.

 

Decision making for redevelopment - What process is/should be used? Who participates? Who decides? Who benefits?

 

Global implications of the disaster and its aftermath.