There is No Such Thing as a Natural Disaster: Race, Class, and Katrina [Paperback]

Gregory Squires (Editor), Chester Hartman (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415954878 | ISBN-13: 978-0415954877 | Publication Date: August 23, 2006 | Edition: 1

There is No Such Thing as a Natural Disaster is the first comprehensive critical book on the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans. The disaster will go down on record as one of the worst in American history, not least because of the government’s inept and cavalier response. But it is also a huge story for other reasons; the impact of the hurricane was uneven, and race and class were deeply implicated in the unevenness.

Hartman and. Squires assemble two dozen critical scholars and activists who present a multifaceted portrait of the social implications of the disaster. The book covers the response to the disaster and the roles that race and class played, its impact on housing and redevelopment, the historical context of urban disasters in America and the future of economic development in the region. It offers strategic guidance for key actors - government agencies, financial institutions, neighbourhood organizations - in efforts to rebuild shattered communities.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"There is No Such Thing As a Natural Disaster takes a comprehensive and critical look at the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Katrina." -- Shelterforce

"This book covers the roles that race and class played in the response to Hurricane Katrina, the storm's impact on housing and redevelopment, the historical context of urban disasters in America, and the future of economic development in the New Orleans region. The authors assemble two dozen critical scholars and activists who present a multifaceted portrait of the implications of the disaster. The book also offers strategic guidance for key actors in efforts to rebuild shattered communities, including government agencies, financial institutions, and neighborhood organizations." -- Natural Hazards Observer, July 2007

About the Author

Chester Hartman, an urban planner and author, is Director of Research of the Poverty & Race Research Action Council in Washington, DC.

Gary Squires is Professor and Chair of the Sociology Department at George Washington University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 328 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (August 23, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415954878
• ISBN-13: 978-0415954877
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #672,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A "scholarly book?" - Not Hardly., November 4, 2006

By 

clickz4 "clickz4" (Metairie, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: There is No Such Thing as a Natural Disaster: Race, Class, and Katrina (Paperback)

I'm astonished that this is billed as a scholarly work when it gets so many basic facts wrong.

The book is correct that the "impact of the hurricane was uneven" by race. Multiple studies done in the year since Katrina have all shown that it was white people -specifically elderly white people- who where disproportionately affected by the storm. You would think a "scholarly work" would know that.

(Unlike what CNN tells you) more white people died per capita than blacks. (google is your friend) The reason is simple. The "lower 9th ward" is relatively small neighborhood and most of its citizens where in the Superdome. The section of town called Lakeview however is far larger and populated (well, was populated) by a large number of elderly white people. Many of these people had medial conditions or simply could not drive the 6+ hours to safety so they took their chances. These people died by the hundreds.[again, you can google all of this]

Further the book bashes, "George W. Bush's America and more specifically the Republican-dominated South."

Ok... New Orleans has a Democrat mayor and has for decades. There are no Republicans on the city council. We have a Democrat Governor and we've only had one Republican Senator since Reconstruction. - And this book wants to blame Katrina on Republican domination? It's fantasy, pure fantasy.

And if you think I'm shilling for Republican's, I assure you I am not. If you want to know the true story of Katrina, I would HIGHLY recommend "Disaster: Hurricane Katrina and the Failure of Homeland Security"

It is highly critical of the Bush administration -even if- Bush proper actually did a good job before, during and after the storm. (You have to read the book, Bush really did OK, many of his people should be hung however.) And the book also makes Blanco (a Dem) look much better than any of us locals thought of her.

The story of Katrina is amazingly complex. If you think -and want to continue to believe- that it only hit black people, then this book is for you. If you want to believe it is all the Democrats' fault, I'm sure you can find a book out there to confirm that. If you want to believe it is all Republicans' fault, this book should be on your short list.

If you want amazingly accurate information however, read "Disaster: Hurricane Katrina and the Failure of Homeland Security."

This book however should be in the fiction section. 10 minutes with google will debunk the whole "scholarly work" billing.

6 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A persuasive accounting of the social and political disaster in New Orleans, December 26, 2006

By 

Sally OConnor - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: There is No Such Thing as a Natural Disaster: Race, Class, and Katrina (Paperback)

The central message of this book is the central message of Katrina. Social and political forces, not natural forces, accounted for the devastation and unequal impact of that devastation on New Orleans and the Gulf region. Failure to maintain the levees, the concentration of poverty, and racial segregation of neighborhoods are the primary causes of the damage of the storms and the disproportionate costs that poor people and people of color paid. This book closely examines the wide ranging challenges now facing New Orleans in a series of essays written by leading scholars and activists. The call for a more transparent, democratic approach to planning is critical for New Orleans and for metropolitan areas across the country that, in fact, are dealing with many of the same challenges. The introductory chapter by the editors alone is worth the price of admission.

11 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Misleading Title, November 4, 2006

By 

David E. Hogan (Oklahoma City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: There is No Such Thing as a Natural Disaster: Race, Class, and Katrina (Paperback)

If you are looking for a book with insight as to actual response and mitigation for Disasters this is not your book. Dr. Hartman is well versed in City and Regional Planning (with a degree from Harvard) and years of real experience in this area. Dr. Hartman is also an accomplished author, including some other works that have provoked controversy. However, the title of this book is a little misleading. This is more of an examination of the social-political issues surrounding the Katrina event in New Orleans, with a decidedly singular point of view. If you are interested in the debate regarding social justice it will be worth the read. If you are looking for some real data on the Katrina response and events, don't look here as that is not the intent of the book.