Disaster Realities in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina: Revisiting the Looting Myth

Abstract

This report presents preliminary findings derived from quick response fieldwork conducted by a team of Disaster Research Center (DRC) researchers who traveled through sections of Louisiana and Mississippi from September 20 through September 30, 2005. Funding for this trip was provided by a grant from the Natural Hazards Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder and internal DRC funds. Issues regarding instances of looting or appropriating behavior that occurred in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina are discussed.