No Direction Home: The Inequality of Forced Displacement among Hurricane Katrina Survivors

Lisa K. Zottarelli, Texas Woman's University

The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of social inequality in the immediate evacuation context and emergency resettlement due to the pending landfall event and the longer term and more complex resettlement necessary in light of the wide spread infrastructure devastation. The data for this study were collected as a part of a two-stage survey conducted by the Gallup Organization in September/October 2005 and August 2006. Data collected one month after Hurricane Katrina is analyzed for patterns of inequality in the timing and support for the evacuation. Data collected one year after Hurricane Katrina is analyzed for the relationship between inequality and the longer-term aspects of displacement including number of times moved, distance moved, and expectations of return for those who have resettled away from their community of residence at the time of Hurricane Katrina.