Rained-On Ground Hardens: Part II

On 29 August 2005, a category 4 hurricane with the now-retired name of Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of the United States, particularly affecting the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. While the storm itself was destructive, what made it devastating was the failure of the levee system protecting the city which is below sea level. Around 80 percent of the city ended up under water, some of that up to 20 feet deep. The infrastructure damage was profound, but the human toll even more heinous: 1800 deaths, most witnessed by their loved ones.

While many people were able to escape before the storm, those of lower socioeconomic status – largely low-income Black citizens – were stuck in the city and unable to go anywhere but the Convention Center and Superdome. Others were trapped on their own roofs, city bridges, or places like hospitals or nursing homes which were unable to be evacuated in time. In the end, the percentage of people who experienced post-traumatic stress disorder was 20 to 35 percent.

The inability to return to the city fractured the main social structures of the survivors. For those experiencing transgenerational trauma such as Black Americans, the trauma of a natural disaster can lead to a difficult if not impossible recovery. The loss of Black New Orleans culture, community, and identity added another level of devastation to a very close-knit minority group.