University of New Orleans ScholarWorks@UNO University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations Dissertations and Theses Fall 12-18-2014 Fifty Years of Weathering the Storm: Are the Louisiana Gulf Coastal Parishes Prepared for Another Major Hurricane? Danielle L. Boudreau University of New Orleans, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td Part of the Anthropology Commons, Human Geography Commons, Nature and Society Relations Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Policy Design, Analysis, and Evaluation Commons, Public Policy Commons, Social Policy Commons, and the Urban Studies and Planning Commons Recommended Citation Boudreau, Danielle L., "Fifty Years of Weathering the Storm: Are the Louisiana Gulf Coastal Parishes Prepared for Another Major Hurricane?" (2014). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 1902. https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/1902 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by ScholarWorks@UNO with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights- holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UNO. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Fifty Years of Weathering the Storm: Are the Louisiana Gulf Coastal Parishes Prepared for Another Major Hurricane? A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of New Orleans in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Urban Studies by Danielle Boudreau B.A. University of Massachusetts, 2012 December 2014 Acknowledgements First and foremost, I would like to thank my committee, Dr. Francis Adeola, Dr. David Beriss, and Dr. David Gladstone. Your guidance helped to inspire and guide this study. Thank you to the Louisiana Parishes of Vermilion, Iberia, and St. Bernard, who eagerly provided information for this research, as well as good tidings. Their cooperation helped me to create a basis for my findings. To my family and friends who were patient throughout this process- your support is astounding and I could not have completed the study without you. Lastly, to the anonymous couple overheard in line of a French Quarter tour in 2008, who stated, “Everyone talks about New Orleans when it comes to Katrina, and how it devastated the city… what about those of us who lived in the surrounding areas who lost everything?” Your feelings are not unfounded. Perhaps this research will prompt a greater emphasis on the preparation for hurricanes in all coastal parishes of Louisiana. ii Table of Contents List of Tables and Figures ................................................................................................................... iv Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................... v Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................... vi Chapter 1 Purpose of the Study ........................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2 Review of the Literature ..................................................................................................... 13 Previous Investigations ................................................................................................................ 13 Disaster Incubation Theory ........................................................................................................ 17 Technical/Applied Literature .................................................................................................... 20 Chapter 3 Historical Background ................................................................................................... 23 Hurricane Betsy ............................................................................................................................... 23 Hurricane Camille ........................................................................................................................... 25 Hurricane Andrew .......................................................................................................................... 27 Hurricane Georges .......................................................................................................................... 28 Tropical Storm Allison .................................................................................................................. 30 Hurricane Ivan ................................................................................................................................. 30 Hurricane Katrina ........................................................................................................................... 32 Hurricane Rita .................................................................................................................................. 34 Hurricane Gustav ............................................................................................................................ 35 Hurricane Ike .................................................................................................................................... 36 Chapter 4 Methods ............................................................................................................................... 38 Chapter 5 Analysis and Results .............................................................................................................. 41 Chapter 6 Discussion and Conclusion ............................................................................................ 59 References .............................................................................................................................................. 67 Appendices ............................................................................................................................................. 72 Appendix A: Criterion Used from Disaster Accountability Project to Assess Parish Emergency Operations Plans ............................................................................. 72 Appendix B: Criterion Used to Assess Louisiana Long Term Recovery Plan ............... 74 Appendix C: Email Correspondence .......................................................................................... 75 Vita ............................................................................................................................................................. 80 iii List of Tables and Figures Table 1: Population of Coastal Parishes ......................................................................................... 4 Table 2: Storm Damages ....................................................................................................................... 5 Figure 1: Map of Louisiana Parishes ................................................................................................ 6 iv Acronyms DAP .................................................................................................. Disaster Accountability Project DHS ........................................................................................... Department of Homeland Security EOP ........................................................................................................ Emergency Operations Plan EOC ................................................................................................... Emergency Operations Center ESF .................................................................................................... Emergency Support Functions FEMA ............................................................................ Federal Emergency Management Agency FRP ................................................................................................................... Federal Response Plan GOHSEP ........... Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness LTCRP .............................................................................. Long Term Community Recovery Plan MRGO ................................................................................................... Mississippi River Gulf Outlet NFIP .................................................................................................. National Flood Insurance Plan NHC ............................................................................................................ National Hurricane Center NOAA ........................................................ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NRP ................................................................................................................. National Response Plan PPP/PCP ....................................................................................... Parish Pick-up/Collection Point v Abstract This thesis examines ten major storms that have affected Louisiana in the last fifty years, beginning with Hurricane Betsy in 1965. The goal is to determine if the nine coastal parishes are prepared