This is an opportunity to examine two astounding hurricane seasons affecting the United States: 2005, and 2017. Hurricane Katrina hit the New Orleans area in August, 2005.. While these events were certainly natural disasters, there was certainly a human element in all of them. This gives me an opportunity to see how you write.
Below, I provide for you some resources – videos and articles – and you may feel free to dig deeper, to find other sources to help tell your story. If you find additional sources, please check for the credibility and legitimacy of those sources, to ensure they are reputable, and are not ‘fake news.’ If the videos don’t play for you on the first try, copy and paste the links into new tabs; or, switch internet browsers (I prefer Chrome – it seems to work well). You might take a moment to make sure you have the most up-to-date version of the browser you use. They are free downloads.
You may choose from the following: A) Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans, in 2005 (a story that is still relevant today) For each choice, watch the videos in the links provided, and take some notes, and read the articles I have posted. I will also list a few writing prompts below for each choice. You do not have to answer all of the prompts! I just gave them to you to stimulate your thought process.
Please write at least two (2) pages (at least 500 words), with complete sentences, and cogent paragraphs with appropriate details (double-spaced, 12-point font, preferably Times New Roman). I encourage you to dig a little deeper, if you have to, to get answers and understanding from other sources, if necessary. If you use other sources than those listed above, please cite the sources. Please write in your own words – do not cut and paste from sources! Paraphrase the thoughts of others. While you may express an opinion in this paper, please do not write excessively in the first person (“I think,” “I believe,” etc.)
To Submit Your Writing -There is only one submission required; it is electronic. You must submit (upload) your writing to a link for Turnitin that I will create in the Writing Assignments folder, on or before the due date. Your Turnitin submission should only include the body of your writing (no rubric, no title page – but, of course, on the top, make sure your name and you section number are in a header. Turnitin will only accept Word or pdf formats. If you cited sources other than the videos and articles I provided you for this assignment (some of you may have dug a little deeper!), then do include a sources cited page in the back. I reserve the right to not accept any assignments with Turnitin scores of 35% or higher. That implies: You copied and pasted one-third of your content.
So, have at it, and tell me a story! See your choice below.
A) Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans, 2005 – Still a very relevant story, 16 years later
1) Please go to the following link, and watch this program (take notes while watching): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KH8rhkIoY8&t=6s
2) Then, watch this program (take notes while watching – NOTE – Criminology majors may have particular interest in this show): https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/law-disorder/
3) Then, watch these two short videos on Hurricane Katrina New Orleans recovery, 10 years later, in 2015 (keep in mind that it is now 2020, so Katrina hit New Orleans 15 years ago): http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/new-orleans-post-katrina-flood-defenses-strong-enough/
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/writer-jesmyn-ward-reflects-survival-since-katrina/
Here are some writing prompts to get your writing ‘juices’ flowing. You don’t have to answer all of them. Choose the issues that interest you.
Why is New Orleans so vulnerable to flooding? Discuss how the city developed, what innovations allowed it to expand, the role of wetlands, etc.
Discuss the preparations and planning that scientists and city officials collaborated on prior to the Katrina disaster. What was the main scientist’s perception of how the predictions were perceived by city officials? Discuss the ‘close call’ that New Orleans had in 2004, with one particular hurricane.
When Katrina came ashore near New Orleans, what happened when storm surge hit the canals and levees? Provide details (which levees, which canals, why engineers think they failed, etc.). Which neighborhoods were hit the hardest?
Briefly describe the human scenario in the days after Katrina hit the New Orleans area. Was there clarity from Mayor Nagin and Governor Blanco regarding ‘martial law?’ What kind of clarity was there with respect to the use of deadly force? What kind of ‘culture’ was said to exist in the New Orleans Police Department?
Describe the two incidents in the days after Katrina in which it was discovered that New Orleans police officers lied. What were the legal outcomes of the police officers involved in these incidents? Note: Since the ‘Law and Disorder’ show, some sentences have been reduced, and some retrials have been declared, so you might have to do searches for the latest information.
What should be done to ensure that a better physical and social infrastructure be in place before the next big hurricane strikes a major U.S. city?
Sixteen years later, after watching some of the PBS 10th anniversary Katrina videos, and reading some of the articles, what have you learned about the recovery of New Orleans, with respect to some of these issues:Infrastructure improvements to prevent flooding, housing, medical care, income inequity, personal trauma, etc.
