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Hurricane Katrina And The Impact On Real Estate Prices
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina's wide path of destruction, the real estate market will be affected perhaps in ways not fully understood or expected. If recent hurricane recovery history holds true there will be several good things to come out of all destruction. Let's hope so as those who live in the Delta region have suffered immensely. In September 1989, a strong category 4 hurricane by the name of Hugo made landfall in the Charleston, SC area. Up to that time it was the strongest hurricane to hit the U.S. mainland since Camille whacked the Gulf coast in 1969. The damage from Hugo was extensive with entire forests wiped out and fishing villages and seaside resorts heavily damaged. Dire predictions of the storm's negative effect on the local economy were made. I know, because I was living in the nearby town of Goose Creek when Hugo roared through; I witnessed a sustained and lengthy recovery effort for many months thereafter. These were some of my personal observations of that hurricane's impact on the housing market: 1. Housing stock destroyed. Yes, the number of mobile homes, apartments, and single family homes damaged or destroyed by Hugo was large. What had been a fairly open pre-hurricane housing market quickly tightened up as the vacancy rate plunged to near zero as all available, undamaged property was suddenly snapped up. Rental rates, which had been on the low side, suddenly shot up and stayed up even as the housing stock was replenished over the next year. The net effect of Hugo was that older, substandard housing was replaced by more modern housing built with the latest building code requirements included. Rental rates rose accordingly to reflect the improvements. 2. Insurance payments. Although the property I was living in did not sustain much damage, some of the homes in our neighborhood did. Within days of the storm's wake insurance agents were canvassing neighborhoods, filing claims, and issuing checks on the spot. The quick move of the insurers allowed people to run out and make needed repairs quickly. Oftentimes, the amount of the check more than covered actual damage thereby allowing homeowners to make both structural and aesthetic improvements to their properties. These improvements were credited with fueling the subsequent surge in local home prices. 3. Government assistance. FEMA cut its teeth on Hugo. Originally, much criticism was levied FEMA's way because of the agency's slow response to the disaster. It took several more disasters after Hugo before FEMA's response time improved. Still, where private insurance companies left off, FEMA stepped in by cutting checks that allowed people to rebuild. Essentially, FEMA stepped in to help the uninsured or under insured recover. Plenty of homes that had been substandard before Hugo were replaced by homes that met current [and stricter] housing codes. The impact on the housing market was felt as this rising tide of support effectively lifted housing prices. Every particular storm's impact on a local economy is different. Unfortunately for residents in the Delta region, Katrina blew through after a particularly rough hurricane year in 2004. No, FEMA isn't broke but the financial stress on insurance providers cannot yet be measured. Unlike with Hugo, where the recovery effort started immediately after the storm left, the Delta region is still in rescue mode and waiting for the waters to recede. I fully expect that it'll be weeks before any sustained recovery effort can be launched and even then it will be a long, drawn out process as insurance claims are filed, local building codes are re-examined, and the most important part - people - decide whether they want to rebuild in damaged communities or move away. South Florida recovered fairly quickly after Hurricane Andrew devastated Homestead in 1992, but many central and panhandle communities in Florida are still reeling one year after a series of hurricanes tore up their homes in 2004. Again, much will depend on individual families willingness to rebuild and that is the untold story lying in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Matthew Keegan is the owner of a successful article writing, web design, and marketing business based in North Carolina, USA. He manages several sites including the Corporate Flight Attendant Community and the Aviation Employment Board. Please visit The Article Writer to review selections from his portfolio.
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Morgan Real Estate Market Report (June) highlandscurrent.org Corcoran McEnearney Announces Evan Lacopo to Lead the Number One Real Estate Office in Alexandria, Virginia Alexandria Living Magazine Licking County real estate transfers for June 30-July 4 range from $200,000-$14.6 million The Newark Advocate Banner Real Estate Group Breaks Ground on 334-Unit The Faywell Multifamily Development in The Heart MultifamilyBiz Bridgemarq Real Estate Services® Declares Dividend Yahoo Finance SRS Real Estate Partners Arranges $4.53 Million Ground Lease Sale of Walmart Property in Deltona, FL citybiz Moon Becomes Next Real Estate Frontier, NAR Reports Higher Foreign Investment In US Huntsville Business Journal Gravelle advises on current real estate market in Grant County Columbia Basin Herald CBRE Announces Strategic Leadership Appointments Across U.S. & Canada Advisory Business Boston Real Estate Times Mapletree Sells Sun Belt Warehouse Portfolio to EQT Real Estate for $241M Commercial Observer Operation Pawssible: Greenbrier Humane Society gets a boost from local real estate company Mountain Messenger GenesisM Breaks Ground on 154,000-Square-Foot Biomanufacturing Facility in Bedford, MA Boston Real Estate Times Frederick Ford, real estate executive and first Black Union League Club president, dies at 98 Chicago Tribune AGC MA Announces 5th Annual Building Advancement Externship to Bridge Educators with STEM Construction Careers Boston Real Estate Times What's the most expensive property sold in Rhode Island? 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Urban Land Magazine Top Stocks for Real Estate Investment Elite AI Stock Forecasts - Massive wealth growth Jammu Links News SRS Real Estate Negotiates $4.5 Million Sale of Walmart-Anchored Property in Metro Orlando Shopping Center Business Miami-Dade’s self-storage surge a boom for real estate IslanderNews.com Hunt Companies Acquires Controlling Interest in Carter, Strengthening Real Estate Development Platform Business Wire Stage Point Europe Launches Its RWA Token $SPET, Setting it up as a Bridge Between Crypto and Real Estate Morningstar Vend Leans Into Verticalisation As Real Estate Revenue Grows 11% In Q2 onlinemarketplaces.com Is Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Inc. a good long term investment - Explosive market performance Jammu Links News New plans unveiled for Water Street’s second phase Tampa Bay Times Vendor & Real Estate Partners Dollar Tree Development Services Offers Online Early Assistance for Commercial Real Estate Projects Prince William County Government (.gov) Real Estate Transfers ~ June 25, 2025 The Bedford Citizen Drake Real Estate Partners closes largest fund yet after pivoting to institutions Private Equity Real Estate | PERE Cary Grant’s widow has listed the estate they shared for $77.5M — featuring a complete overhaul New York Post Real estate sales in Jefferson, Bullitt and Oldham counties for Jan. 2-5, 2025 - The Courier-Journal Real estate sales in Jefferson, Bullitt and Oldham counties for Jan. 2-5, 2025 The Courier-Journal Wood County Recorder reports on second quarter real estate activity BG Independent News CCI Real Estate Obtains $67M in Construction Financing for Mixed-Use Community at University of Georgia REBusinessOnline |
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