Recovery Efforts That Have Helped Rebuild Mississippi
The story of Katrina isn’t only one of damage and destruction; it’s also a story of hope, and finding strength through a life rebuilt. Although reconstruction continues today, several projects, from the dull and necessary to the hope-inspiring, have been restoring the infrastructure and lifestyle that was known before the storm.
Mississippi Cottages
Housing has been, and continues to be, a huge problem in Katrina’s wake. The ubiquitous FEMA trailer housed tens of thousands of Mississippians for years, but after the program was disbanded in 2009, many of these people still didn’t have many affordable housing options. Enter the Mississippi Cottage.
The cottages are quaint, storm-resistant, attractive, and affordable modular homes, meant to be a long-term solution for displaced Mississippians. The cottages were initially designed by Andres Duany, an urban designer and architect, who was in charge of creating an affordable housing design that would become the beginning of a rebuilt community, not an ugly reminder of destruction. Government agencies have picked up the Mississippi Cottage idea and made them part of the alternative and affordable housing initiatives available to those affected by Katrina.
Mississippi Homeowner Assistance Program
What about those individuals who weren’t in the coastal area and whose homes weren’t covered under flood protection? To aid those who needed help to rebuild their homes, the Mississippi Homeowner Assistance Program was created. Over 30,000 households have benefited from these grants, which allowed homeowners to repair the destruction to their homes and make them livable once again.
Rebuilt and Improved Infrastructure
Even for those who evacuated to other parts of the state during Katrina, the storm’s effects were still felt. In some areas, the strain on the local water supply and wastewater treatment meant that being stuck in an evacuation area was an uncomfortable and possibly unsustainable situation. In the aftermath of Katrina, a more efficient and reliable drinking water and wastewater system was implemented to be prepared for future evacuations.
Other improvements went to fix the emergency responder communication lines that did not function efficiently, or at all, during Katrina. The new system was tested during the BP oil spill of 2010 and has improved communications between state, local, and federal officials.
Sources:
The Katrina Cottage Story. (2006) Ben Brown. Mississippi Renewal Forum.
Mississippi Releases Hurricane Katrina Recovery Progress Report. (2010) GovMonitor.