National Association of Social Workers

Hurricane Response Improves in 2008

Gulf Coast Communities Embrace Lessons Learned from 2005's Katrina

Getting help to the people who needed it greatly improved since the lessons learned in 2005.

By Paul R. Pace, News Staff

Illustration: John Michael Yanson

The 2008 hurricane season proved to be the second most destructive on record, behind only 2005's historic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Many Gulf Coast communities were still recovering from the after-effects of Hurricane Katrina when Hurricanes Ike and Gustav made landfall over the summer. Community leaders, social workers and first responders once again were put to the test as millions of residents were ordered to evacuate. After the storms, news reports revealed more than 200 deaths were blamed on the two hurricanes. Tens of thousands of residents had lost their homes and damage estimates reached $54 billion. But there was good news to report, social work leaders pointed out. This time, getting help to the people who needed it had improved greatly since the lessons learned in 2005, they said.

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From January 2009 NASW News. © 2009 National Association of Social Workers. All Rights Reserved. NASW News articles may be copied for personal use, but proper notice of copyright and credit to the NASW News must appear on all copies made. This permission does not apply to reproduction for advertising, promotion, resale, or other commercial purposes.