TFAH Reflections on the 20-year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina
This week marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and devastated communities in Louisiana, especially New Orleans and its surrounding areas, Mississippi, and other Gulf Coast states, including Alabama and Florida. Tragically, nearly 1,400 lives were lost in the storm. Entire areas were destroyed. Some neighborhoods, which are mostly historically Black or low-income, still haven’t fully recovered from the disaster. This somber milestone should serve as a reminder for government at every level to make necessary and consistent investments in the nation’s emergency preparedness capabilities. Extreme weather events have increased in frequency and intensity since the Category 5 storm ripped through the Gulf Coast in 2005. The lasting and often disparate impacts on the health, economy, and ecology of the region are a call to action that we must be better prepared for future emergencies.
We recognize that many jurisdictions have improved their public health infrastructure and preparedness over the last two decades, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response, and other federal agencies. TFAH’s annual report, Ready or Not: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism, has chronicled this progress. But we’ve also found more work is needed to ensure every community is prepared. Furthermore, much of the progress that has been achieved is now at risk due to proposed cuts in federal support for the public health workforce and outbreak prevention and preparedness programs.
The loss of entire swaths of neighborhoods due to extreme weather events is unacceptable. This is a shared responsibility. The federal government has an important leadership role to play in emergency readiness and response. Federal, state, and local governments should collaborate with each other and with trusted local organizations and leaders to safeguard every community.
Hurricane Katrina showed us that our most under-resourced communities must be a focus of and have a role in emergency planning. Failure to do so will not only exacerbate health and economic disparities but will also have a ripple effect on the entire community’s ability to thrive.
TFAH’s Ready or Not report outlines specific policy recommendations for strengthening the nation’s preparedness. We encourage policymakers to act on these recommendations and make the necessary investments to safeguard our communities.
