Not only New Orleans, but also an area of approximately 283,000 km2 —slightly smaller than Great Britain — was affected. The physical damage and the human misery that succeeded Hurricane Katrina have resonated as a national disaster that have had international impacts.

New Orleans´ location on the Mississippi River delta requires a specifi c approach in response to the characteristics of the enormous, but shrinking delta, subsiding soil, and the location in an area of high hurricane probability.

This presentation will address the impacts of Hurricane Katrina on the Mississippi River delta, coastal wetlands and the City of New Orleans as well as progress and challenges in rebuilding the city, the region, and its communities.

Issues presented will include coastal wetland restoration, flood protection, debris removal and management, environmental contamination, urban design, sustainable architecture, and environmental justice.

About Douglas Meffert
Professor Douglas Meffert is the Deputy Director of the Tulane/Xavier Center for Bioenvironmental Research where he holds the Eugenie Schwartz Professorship in River & Coastal Studies.

He is Program Director for RiverSphere, a facility on the Mississippi riverfront for knowledge, technologies, learning, and exhibition on the River. He serves on a number of environmental and river-related boards and committees and currently chairs the Sustainability Subcommittee of the Bring New Orleans Back Commission, charged with developing and implementing the plan for New Orleans´ recovery following Hurricane Katrina.