Public Policy Case Study: Hurricane Katrina

Where was Clint Smith born and raised?

• Houston, Texas

• Chicago, Illinois

• Mobile, Alabama

• New Orleans, Louisiana

What was Clint Smith excited about as he was about to start his final year of high school in 2005?

• Graduating and going to college

• Homecoming, prom, and Friday Night Football games

• Winning a state championship as the captain of his school soccer team

• All of the above

When did Hurricane Katrina make landfall in New Orleans?

• August 23, 2005

• August 28, 2005

• September 2, 2005

• October 1, 2005

After evacuating to Houston, what did Clint watch on TV that made him realize the extent of the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina?

• The grocery store where his family used to shop

• The church they used to attend

• The school he used to go to

• All of the above

According to the transcript, what percentage of the city of New Orleans was underwater within days of Hurricane Katrina?

• 50%

• 60%

• 70%

• 80%

What was one of the key reasons many of the poorest residents of New Orleans could not evacuate before the hurricane?

• Lack of transportation

• Lack of money or places to stay outside of New Orleans

• Mobility issues

• All of the above

What happened when some residents tried to walk across the Crescent City Connection bridge to nearby suburbs?

• They were met by armed police officers who forced them to turn back

• They were welcomed with open arms by the suburban residents

• They were able to safely evacuate

• The bridge collapsed, trapping them

According to the transcript, what percentage of the flooding during Hurricane Katrina was caused by the failure of the city's flood walls and levees?

• 25%

• 50%

• 66%

• 100%

How did the federal government's response to Hurricane Katrina differ from its response to hurricanes in predominantly white cities?

• The response was quicker and more effective

• The response was slower and less coordinated

• There was no difference in the response

• The federal government did not respond at all

What were some of the political consequences of the failures during Hurricane Katrina?

• Increased trust in the government

• Strengthened political leadership

• Heightened criticism and scrutiny of government agencies

• Improved disaster response strategies