Open Access The Demographic Effects of Katrina: An Impact Analysis Perspective

Abstract: This paper examines the effect of Hurricane Katrina on the populations of 79 ZIP code areas in Louisiana (55) and Mississippi (24) devastated by the hurricane. We compare pre-Katrina population projections for 2007 with post-Katrina projections for 2007 and 2010 and estimate that Katrina reduced the area’s population by 311,150 people (21.2%) from the 1,464,280 expected in the absence of Katrina. We also find a striking difference between Louisiana and Missis-sippi. In the 55 Louisiana ZIP codes, the black population was reduced both absolutely and relatively more than the white population (loss of 150,032 blacks v. 107,845 whites, or 32.7 % v. 19.8%). In contrast, the white population in the 24 Mis-sissippi ZIP codes was reduced both absolutely and relatively more than the black population (28,812 whites or 10.3 % v. 5,003 blacks or 6.3%). Our analysis suggests that Katrina’s demographic effects are profound, and may persist well be-yond the 2010 U.S. Census. I