Understanding the impacts of Hurricane Katrina
Public health is research that protects communities
2025 marked the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and some of the most critical questions surrounding the storm's impact still yet to be fully answered.
Yet, we have also learned a great deal. Tulane University's Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine has engaged in multiple studies to look at and address the many impacts from the storm in the two decades since levee failures decimated New Orleans and storm surge slammed large swaths of the Gulf Coast.
Kativa Nola took a closer look at Vietnamese-American families and how their cultural bonds and community structure accelerated their recovery, while the Gulf Coast Child and Family Health Study (GCAFH) took a broader sample to document recovery efforts among larger populations utilizing FEMA.
DNORS (Displaced New Orleans Residents Study) examined migration patterns and mental health impacts, while New Nola analyzed unequal repopulation in the New Orleans area.
A decade after the storm, several families were still having trouble transitioning to new communities or back home, documented by Katrina@10 and others. The Center for Studies of Displaced Populations along with texts such as Mark VanLandingham's "Weathering Katrina" helped further that knowledge.
We know that more loosely tied communities had a harder time coming back. We know working families were hit hardest economically. We know that the storm affected development in children and led to higher rates of asthma and behavioral issues. And we know that for families that did return, they often encountered gaps in coverage from missing medical providers.
Our Work
News & Impact
The Data Center released its New Orleans Index at 20 series, a collection of in-depth analyses examining the city’s progress and challenges in the two decades since the storm. Three Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine faculty members contributed to this important project, designed to inform policymakers, civic leaders, and residents, the series highlights the ways disaster recovery, resilience, and equity continue to shape the region.
Faculty & Community
Center for Studies of Displaced Populations
The Center for Studies of Displaced Populations, established in 2016, supports several studies focused on individuals and families in transition. The principal one is "Demographic and Health Disparities in Recovery from Hurricane Katrina: KATRINA@10".
Academics
The Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine' MPH program in International Health and Sustainable Development (IHSD) is designed to make graduates attractive for employment at international non-governmental organizations, public-private partnerships, and non-profit research and consultancy firms. The curriculum offers a balance between structure and flexibility so that students can fulfill their unique academic needs with coursework that can adapt to important emerging areas in the field.
