In the first decade of the new millennium, nothing shaped Louisiana quite as drastically as Hurricane Katrina.
The government’s failure to respond to Katrina emphasized the inadequacies of those responsible — former President George Bush, former Gov. Kathleen Blanco and FEMA director Michael Brown. Not one leader involved in the response is currently in office or, for that matter, made it out unscathed.
Damages caused by Katrina reached $81 billion dollars, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The population in Louisiana decreased by about 100,000 people, according to a comparison of the 2000 and 2010 censuses. Louisiana was only one of two states (the other being North Dakota) to decrease in population from 2000 to 2008, according to The Advocate.
In a literal sense, Katrina shaped the coastline – but not for the benefit of the state. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated 217 square miles of land were transformed to water by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which put the coastal land loss in 2005 at about 700 percent greater than estimated.
Both literally and figuratively, disasters like Hurricanes Katrina, Gustav and Rita, oil spills and corrupt politicians have shaped the Sportsman’s Paradise, and if unchecked, they threaten to damage our coastlines and cripple our economy permanently.
Macy Linton is a 19-year-old international studies freshman from Memphis, Tenn. Follow her on Twitter @TDR_Mlinton.
 
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