The Hurricane Katrina Reader

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. Hurricanes Rita and Wilma followed. The nation watched as thousands of people fled their homes, huge sections of New Orleans disappeared under floodwaters, and deep-rooted social inequities were exposed.

The American Planning Association and its members worked to help the displaced and to share the news that good planning could aid in the recovery and rebuilding.

"Communities cannot afford to forgo good planning in the rush to rebuild," APA Executive Director Paul Farmer told congressional subcommittees. "Now is the time to consider all of the planning questions to ensure communities of lasting value are rebuilt."

This reader brings together articles from APA publications, policy statements, messages from APA leadership, and reports from APA community planning teams. It's a snapshot of the past and a resource for future planning.

Click on a section below to access documents from each APA source:

Reports and Analysis
Full reports from APA and AICP teams on the ground, an excerpt from a PAS Report on Planning for Post-Disaster Recovery and Reconstruction, materials from a workshop on Planning for a Disaster Resistant Community, and a policy statement coauthored by APA's Planning and the Black Community Division.

APA's Response
Messages from APA's Board, President, and Executive Director. Congressional testimony from APA and a transcript of an online Q&A about planning's role and response.

APA Publications
Articles from Planning magazine, Journal of the American Planning Association, The Commissioner, Zoning Practice, PAS Memo, Planning & Environmental Law, and Practicing Planner.