Historical baseline case study of unmet shelter and housing disaster needs throughout Texas: the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in Texas, 2005

ABSTRACT

Researchers have extensively studied disaster sheltering and housing; however, little research has empirically examined longitudinal patterns of how shelter and housing needs change during and after disasters. This study investigated types and timing of unmet shelter and housing needs during sequential hurricane disasters in Texas using Texas 2-1-1 Network’s real-time data of callers’ unmet needs throughout Texas’ 254 counties, including disaster areas as well as evacuation routes and destinations. Texas 2-1-1 has been used by disaster managers and communities state-wide for information and referral for non-emergency needs. The 5-month study period includes a baseline before Hurricane Katrina, evacuation and impact during each disaster, and short-term recovery afterward. Before and following these hurricanes, the most common types of unmet housing needs stemmed from financial issues related to rental housing. During disaster emergency phases, shelter-related needs were most common. Unmet needs related to homeowners were least frequent throughout the disaster phases. Unmet shelter needs had patterns differing by disaster phase compared to more subtle differences over time in renter and homeowner needs. This unique study provides practical information about vulnerable populations’ access barriers relating to housing needs and supports the theoretical model of disaster-related sheltering and housing using real-time data.

KEYWORDS:

• Housing
• shelter
• rental housing
• Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
• 2-1-1 Information and Referral

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate, 2008-2013 (PI: S. Bame). It was conducted in collaboration with Texas 2-1-1 I&R Network and Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS).

An earlier version of this paper is a part of Jee Young Lee’s dissertation at Texas A&M University.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Science and Technology Directorate, 2008-2013 [NA].

Notes on contributors

Jee Young Lee

Jee Young Lee, Ph.D., is a research associate of City and Regional Planning in Knowlton School of Architecture at The Ohio State University. Her research interests include housing, resilience, emergency response and recovery from a disaster, and environmental equality.

Sherry I. Bame

Sherry I. Bame, Ph.D., is Professor Emerita, Urban Planning Program at Texas A&M University. Her area of interest has been health planning and policy in the U.S., including environmental health and medical care systems. The last 15 years of her research has focused on disaster health/medical needs and access to services.