Katrina & Rita +10

Hurricane Katrina storm damage

On Friday morning, July 24 seven (one by phone) planners met at UNO for a kickoff meeting to discuss an appropriate format and content for commemorating the decade that has passed since the Katrina and Rita hurricane season of 2005. What have been the successes? Where have we failed and why?

After much discussion, the final consensus was that there is insufficient time to organize a formal event by the storm anniversary date of August 29th. Instead, the committee decided that focusing on preparing one or two sessions for the 2016 Annual Planning Conference in Houma was a more realistic goal. Potential topics include a review and assessment of recovery plans, a status update on efforts to re-establish the State Office of Planning, and how potential funds from the $8.6 billion BP oil spill settlement might leverage recovery efforts. The committee will meet again at a to-be-arranged time this fall.

If you have a contribution or would like to participate please contact Chapter President Lydia Jemison or Steve Villavaso, FAICP, Committee Chair.

Meeting Minutes.pdf - Thanks to Tim Jackson, AICP