Hurricane Season: How do the states cope?

Hurricane Katrina devasted the state of Louisiana when it hit in 2005 killing 1,836 and causing $90.9 billion worth of damage. However, the states of Florida, Maine, Louisiana and Texas brace themselves every year for Hurricane Season and this week it got under way, with the category 4 Hurricane Bill passing by Bermuda.

So how do these states brace themselves annually for a potentially catastrophic natural disaster?

Apart from clearing the roads and battering down the hatches, there's not much you can do apart from sit it out. As such, everyone in the area is told to prepare themselves for the onslaught of Mother Nature.

The Hurricane Preparedness website states that, "history teaches that a lack of hurricane awareness and preparation are common threads among all major hurricane disasters. By knowing your vulnerability and what actions you should take, you can reduce the effects of a hurricane disaster.

The website underlines the importance of being informed and prepared and suggests creating a 'family plan' and a disaster supply kit.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) meanwhile collaborates with state, local, and federal partners to increase preparedness and coordinate response and recovery in the case of a hurricane or disaster.

However, it is the aftermath where the state's infrastructure is really tested. This year, sees the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's landfall and in that four years, shockingly little has been done to aid Louisiana's recovery.

Not just that but states services have fallen dramatically, not to mention the population. According to Census information, over 143,000 people left the city after Katrina. Meanwhile, over 128,300 residents are still unemployed, whilst another 27,000 who applied for federal assistance in house repairs and rebuilding have still yet to receive anything. New Orleans' education system has been crippled with over 30,000 children not returning to public schools, reducing the number of children by 50 percent.

These statistics show the devastation that a hurricane can cause - despite four year passing, over 31 percent of addresses in the city are still unoccupied due to flood damage.

Whether 2009 will see a hurricane with the devastation of Katrina is unlikely, but considering the amount of rebuilding the state of Louisiana still needs, then perhaps the resources can be directed to New Orleans.

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