The upside of Katrina
By Wade KwonHurricane Katrina caused more than $80 billion in damage and killed nearly 2,000 people. Hundreds of thousands of refugees swarmed the surrounding states, many never to return home.
While Mississippi and Louisiana suffered tremendous losses, Alabama was spared the worst of the destruction.
Is it possible that this Category 5 hurricane had an upside for the state?
It was a year ago today that Katrina tore apart New Orleans and obliterated virtually everything in its path in southern Mississippi. In the Alabama coastal town of Bayou La Batre, shrimp boats were flung into the trees.
While Mississippi had more than 200 deaths and Louisiana had more than 1,500 deaths, Alabama had only two. Mobile, Gulf Shores and Dauphin Island had the most visible damage, but Ivan had already given the area a beating the year before.
More than 25,000 refugees came to Alabama, and more than 20,000 decided to stay, including 3,000 in Birmingham and 5,000 in Mobile. We met a few as Boutwell Auditorium became the processing center for the Red Cross. What seemed like chaos to us actually took care of thousands looking for loved ones, shelter, food and relief checks in a short period of time.
Reports from Louisiana and Texas detailed the havoc of cities and towns struggling to absorb the influx of strangers. Crime, traffic and civility all took a toll early on.
Alabama received close to $1 billion in aid. While the Federal Emergency Management Agency still remains under scrutiny for its lax response and misspent relief checks, the state has managed to recover while other states continue to wait for vital dollars.
And while New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco and President Bush will be remembered for ineffective leadership, Alabama’s Gov. Riley turned crisis into can-do, organizing volunteer and relief efforts quickly.
Even in this election year, Riley has said little about his role in guiding Alabama and its new refugees post-Katrina, moving ahead on other successful ideas such as the tax holiday for back-to-school shoppers. The hurricane was merely a reminder showing quiet leadership vs. deliberate mismanagement at the federal level.
If Katrina has a benefit for Alabama, it’s in even better preparation for the next disaster, as Riley has ordered stockpiling of supplies in key areas. It’s in the strength of those who have decided to make Alabama their permanent home.
The focus will rightly be on the struggles of Louisiana and Mississippi then, now and to come. Alabama can breathe easier that its Katrina burden was lighter and that its response was savvier in the wake of the nation’s worst natural disaster.
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Also:
- Dre is asking for your help in gathering supplies and funds for ongoing Katrina relief efforts. Give because it’s easy; give because it’s right. 5 tonight at WorkPlay.
- The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute is holding a timely town hall meeting on Katrina’s one-year anniversary. 6 tonight.
- How Katrina broke our hearts
Wednesday, August 30, 2006, 6:12 am
Wade… loved the analysis. It’s spot on!
Wednesday, August 30, 2006, 9:27 pm
Thanks. I forgot to mention businesses such as Confederate Motorcycles relocating from New Orleans to Birmingham as another positive outcome.