Maps track growth in post-Katrina New Orleans
By Hilary Powell
Since Hurricane Katrina swept through New Orleans in 2005, causing several hundred thousand people to evacuate, there have been varying reports on just how many people have returned to the city.
The Greater New Orleans Community Data Center has come up with a visual way to display population indicators, or ways to estimate how many people are living in the city.
One map uses color coding to show how many households are receiving mail. This mailing list data represents the number of residential addresses per block where the post office knows someone actually picks up the mail.
In April, the Center issued a press release stating that the city population had reached 71.8 percent of the pre-Katrina population, up from 49.5 percent in August 2006.
The map and related spreadsheet break down residents actively receiving mail within the city’s 6 parishes.
Another map uses home rebuilding grants to estimate how many residents have returned to salvage their properties.
The Web site’s data expert indicates the population estimates are constantly shifting. A map story form allows for the information to be constantly updated, as well as visually engaging.
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