Factors Affecting Business Recovery Immediately after Hurricane Katrina

TLDR

The study examined factors influencing business recovery 6–8 months after Hurricane Katrina. The authors surveyed 183 managers in Greater New Orleans, rating storm preparation, damage, problem severity, and performance. The study found that management‑controlled factors such as emergency plans, preparation, and staff communication had no effect on performance, whereas storm damage, post‑disaster problems, and population dislocation—particularly loss of customers and staffing—negatively impacted performance, and the authors discuss implications for disaster preparation.

Abstract

Factors contributing to business recovery 6–8 months after Hurricane Katrina were examined. Managers from 183 surviving organizations in the Greater New Orleans area rated the levels of storm preparation, amount of storm damage, severity of storm-related problems and organizational performance. Factors under management's control such as having an emergency response plan, storm preparation and effective staff communication had no real impact on organizational performance. Significant predictors with a negative impact on organizational performance included variables such as storm damage and post-disaster problems. Complications arising from extreme population dislocation, specifically loss of customer base and staffing issues, had the greatest impact on organizational performance. The implications for disaster preparation and management are discussed.