Punctuated Equilibrium, Agenda Setting, and Advocacy Coalition Frameworks in Post-Disaster Housing Response to Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina severely impacted the most vulnerable and socioeconomically marginalized urban communities of the Gulf Coast region. A gap in the academic literature exists regarding post disaster relief and housing needs of people displaced as a result of natural or human- caused disasters. The purpose of this study was to specifically look at post Hurricane Katrina housing in a large urban setting to evaluate whether needs were met and how state government agencies responded specifically to housing displaced people. This study relied on three theoretical frameworks: Baumgartner and Jones' punctuated equilibrium, Kingdon's construct of agenda setting, and Sabatier's advocacy coalition framework. A case study following Yin's methodology was employed to specifically examine one Gulf Coast housing and finance agency and evaluate the consequences of policy decisions made after Hurricane Katrina made landfall. Fifteen elected officials, policy makers, and civic leaders participated in this study. Secondary documents, primarily public information documents, were also included in the analysis. Key findings conclude that disaster vulnerability and fiscal recovery are directly related to pre-existing socioeconomic conditions, infrastructure, wealth, education, and access to information. Interestingly, there was little evidence that the LHFA policy makers considered access to essential services or existing areas of concentration of poverty when determining where to house displaced disaster victims. The implications for positive social change resulting from this research include a better understanding of the link between pre-existing social conditions to post disaster recovery as well as specific recommendations for better public-private partnerships to aid those displaced as a result of a critical incident.