Sociology
The Sociology of Disasters and the Unequal Distribution of Vulnerability
Quick fact
In post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, the neighborhoods that flooded were disproportionately African American and low-income—areas that had been historically neglected in terms of infrastructure and flood defenses. This wasn't an accident of weather; it was the outcome of decades of social and political decisions.
Why this is interesting
We often say disasters are 'natural,' but when a hurricane hits, why do some neighborhoods recover quickly while others struggle for years?