The effects of Hurricane Katrina on food access disparities in New Orleans

Am J Public Health. 2011 Mar;101(3):482-4. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2010.196659. Epub 2011 Jan 13.

Abstract

Disparities in neighborhood food access are well documented, but little research exists on how shocks influence such disparities. We examined neighborhood food access in New Orleans at 3 time points: before Hurricane Katrina (2004-2005), in 2007, and in 2009. We combined existing directories with on-the-ground verification and geographic information system mapping to assess supermarket counts in the entire city. Existing disparities for African American neighborhoods worsened after the storm. Although improvements have been made, by 2009 disparities were no better than prestorm levels.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cyclonic Storms*
  • Ethnicity / statistics & numerical data
  • Food Supply*
  • Humans
  • Louisiana
  • New Orleans
  • Poisson Distribution
  • Socioeconomic Factors