Solidarity and Charity as Drivers of Post-Katrina Recovery: the Case of Vietnamese Community of Versailles, New Orleans
Abstract as pdf
Corresponding Author:
Sergey Vedernikov
University of Freiburg Germany
sergey_vedernikov@yahoo.com
Author(s):
Hurricane Katrina of 2005 is the most devastating disaster to hit southern US states in decades. As the floodwaters have receded from New Orleans and rebuilding has begun, stories of community solidarity and survival have emerged.
One of the most fascinating instances is the case of a predominantly Catholic Vietnamese American community of New Orleans East. Practically unheard of before Katrina, the community of Versailles demonstrated a high rate of return and the rapid rebuilding [1]. This essay explores how shared experiences, the leadership role of the Catholic Church, and a certain level of disaster preparedness contributed to this community’s mobilization and empowerment. Solidarity among the members of community was a driving factor to act swiftly in the face of an approaching storm. After the disaster the community did not disperse. Its members stayed together and supported each other until returning to New Orleans.
This essay argues that the Vietnamese American community’s successful recovery after Katrina is rooted in its cohesion and intra-communal bonds enhanced by solidarity and collective memory. Charitable support from other Vietnamese communities and volunteers were contributing factors as well. The successful recovery of the community of Versailles ushered intercommunity networks that became powerful resources of cooperation during the post-disaster stage in the New Orleans East.
[1]
Henton, Lesley. “Strong Social Network Sped Recovery of Vietnamese Katrina Survivors.” Texas A&M Today [Texas A&M University], 13 Sep. 2012, www.today.tamu.edu/2012/09/13/strong-social-network-sped-recovery-of-vietnamese-katrinasurvivors- says-texas-am-prof. Accessed 25 Feb. 2019.
Disaster recovery in the long-term