On 25 August, a hurricane named Katrina hit the Gulf Coast of the USA. By

5 September 2005, the city of New Orleans was empty, thousands of people had died, hundreds more were missing and countless homes had been destroyed. Five years on, First News examines how the region is recovering after unimaginable devastation.

Five years on

Five years later, New Orleans and other affected areas still bear the scars of hurricane Katrina. In the parts of the city that were hit worst, streets are still a mess of tangled debris. Shops and houses across the city lie empty and boarded up, their owners either unable or unwilling to return, and still 900 families are living in temporary housing provided by the US government.

 Brighter future

However, there are reasons to hope for a brighter future in the region. The US government, charitable organisations and private companies have been working hard to rebuild the area, while also providing support for residents, and they are starting to make an impact. Last year, it was thought that 75% of the population had returned to New Orleans. New people are arriving too, attracted to the area by the great demand for engineers and other workers needed to help with the reconstruction.

Rebuilding

The process of rebuilding will also have a lasting positive effect. It is said that new building projects are taking into account more green issues than ever before, creating a blueprint for all future housing design. Important repair work is also being done to the city’s flood defences to stop any flooding like that experienced after hurricane Katrina from happening again. And, with so much building and repair work to do, New Orleans is one of the few places in the USA where lots of jobs are available after the global financial crisis.

Strong effects

Some say, however, that by far the most important effects of hurricane Katrina were felt far away from New Orleans. The US government, based in Washington DC, was heavily criticised by people who thought they were too slow in providing aid after Katrina hit. They say that the US government’s quick and generous response to the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti in January this year shows how much they learned from the tragic events of August 2005.

Moving on

Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the USA and, understandably, the road to recovery is long and progress is slow. However, five years later, it seems that whether in New Orleans or elsewhere in the USA, those affected are beginning to move on from hurricane Katrina. The Gulf Coast will never be free from the threat of hurricanes, but at least some lessons can be, and have been, learned to better deal with any future disasters that may strike.