ABSTRACT
This chapter utilizes the case study of Hurricane Katrina to explore varying definitions of disaster recovery. We compare three recovery thresholds: (1) return to pre-disaster levels, (2) recuperation of incurred losses, and (3) return to a counterfactual trend. These definitions are illustrated with analyses of total employment in four Louisiana parishes impacted by Katrina. To estimate counterfactual trajectories of each parish, we employ the synthetic control method. This method results in an estimate of what total employment would have been had the hurricane not occurred. Results showcase differences in competing definitions, as well noteworthy variation across damaged communities. When controlling for housing damage, cross-community differences largely dissipate. Extensions may include applying this framework to a diverse group of impacted areas and using variation in recovery experiences to help identify factors that govern community resilience.
