Hurricane Katrina: A Decade Later GW Experts Available to Discuss


July 15, 2015

On Aug. 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. The storm resulted in flooding, costly repairs and criticism of the federal government’s response to the crisis. Experts from the George Washington University are available for comment and analysis on the recovery 10 years later.  
 
To schedule an interview with the experts below, contact Kurie Fitzgerald at [email protected] or 202-994-6461.
 
GW’s Flash Studio, a state-of-the-art broadcast studio, is available for remote, live or taped television and radio interviews. The studio is operated in partnership with VideoLink.
 
Joseph Cordes is a professor of economics, public policy, public administration and international affairs. He is an expert on Federal Emergency Management Agency, barrier islands and coastal shore projections. 
 
Joseph Barbera is co-director of the Institute for Crisis, Disaster and Risk Management and associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering. He is an expert on emergency response and recovery. He has studied Katrina extensively, and was an emergency response expert witness at two hospitals in New Orleans following the hurricane. 
 
To interview the following experts from GW’s Milken Institute School of Public Health, please contact Kathy Fackelmann at [email protected] or 202-994-8354.
 
Sabrina McCormick is an associate professor of environmental and occupational health at Milken Institute School of Public Health. She can talk about how climate change will lead to an increase in extreme weather events, including hurricanes. She can also talk about using social media to gather information during natural disasters, which helps experts size up and handle a crisis quickly.
 
Rebecca Katz is an associate professor of health policy and emergency medicine at Milken Institute School of Public Health. She can comment on the importance of having emergency preparation systems in place to help protect the public when a hurricane or another disaster strikes. She can also comment on the increased threat of infectious diseases or other health problems that come along with natural disasters. 
 
-GW-