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Breach of Faith: Hurricane Katrina and the Near Death of a Great American City
Title: Breach of Faith: Hurricane Katrina and the Near Death of a Great American City
Date: July 11, 2006
Author: Jed Horne
Institution: N/A
Bibliographic Entry: Horne, Jed. Breach of Faith: Hurricane Katrina and the Near Death of a Great American City. New York: Random House, 2006.
Electronic Link: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400065523
Key Words: Hurricane Katrina
Summary of Key Issues, Points, Conclusions:
This book depicts the destruction of Hurricane Katrina, as it shifted from a natural disaster to a man-made catastrophe following failed levees and lack of federal relief.
New Orleanians rich and poor, black and white, who couldn’t or wouldn’t leave initially were under mandatory evacuation, as 80 percent of the city was under water within a day. Rising waters chased men and women into snake-filled attics and onto the roofs of their houses. Heroes in swamp boats and helicopters braved wind and storm surge to bring survivors to dry grounds. Mansions and shacks alike were swept away by waters. Corpses drifted in the streets for days, and buildings absorbed toxic chemicals. When the floodwaters finally were pumped out, the city had turned into a ghost town.
Horne brings readers into the private worlds and inner thoughts of storm victims from all walks of life: politicians, thieves, nurses, urban visionaries, grieving mothers, and entrepreneurs. Also discussed is the vicious blame game played by government officials that further hampered the relief operation. This politicization set the tone for the ongoing reconstruction effort, surrounded by racial and class tensions.
All in all, Katrina was a catastrophe deeply rooted in the politics and culture of the city of New Orleans, and one of the worst disasters of our time.
Name of Researcher: Alison Stevens
Institution: Integrative Center for Homeland Security, Texas A&M University
Date Posted: May 7, 2007