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- Over 2 million people were directly affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
- Total damage from these two category 5 hurricanes is estimated at $91.2 billion dollars, making the 2005 hurricane season the costliest natural disaster period in US History.
- 800,000 people were forced to live outside of their homes.
- 90,000 people still live in 240 square foot trailers, usually with 3 people to a trailer.
- Additional thousands of people are living in their gutted-out houses, unable to afford to rebuild.
- 875 schools were damaged or destroyed.
- An estimated 400,000 jobs were lost.
- Most of the $151 million in federal aid for New Orleans was spent on the emergency response, including debris removal and temporary roofs for storm-battered buildings.
- Eighteen months after Katrina, less than half of New Orleans population has returned.
- Before Katrina, 53 percent of people in New Orleans were renters. Rents have increased 39 percent due to the increase in demand, leading to evictions and homelessness.
- Before the storms, 57 Habitat homes were constructed per year in the region. Now, 57 Habitat homes begin construction each month.
- The current pace of Habitat for Humanity Operation Home Delivery construction requires at least 1,000 volunteers per week.
For more information on the aftermath of the 2005 hurricanes, please see these sites:
“One Year After Katrina” – what some call the most comprehensive report on the state of the gulf.
The Recovery Divide – a 37 page report on Mississippi Children and Families affected by Katrina.
Listen and be inspired by a short news montage about the power of kids to help with rebuilding efforts.
Read about RandomKid's National Task Force to Rebuild the Gulf: Random Kids Changing the World!
Watch a news video by former CNN Anchor Daryn Kagan about RandomKid.
More on what Random Kids like YOU have done to help rebuild the gulf!
How you can help:
Buy a carabiner (a house shaped key chain). Support rebuilding.
Volunteer or donate to one of these organizations:
RandomKid has helped kids help others in all sorts of ways. To read about the impact these kids have made across the country and around the world, please visit our IMPACT page.
If you'd like to help with other cool projects kids are currently leading around the country, please check out our PROJECTS page.
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