Thesis Highlights

"Central City Storm Shelter"

Kelsie Donovan, 2022

"Central City Storm Shelter: Social Infrastructure for Disaster Relief + Recovery"

Nine days after Hurricane Ida, Richard Campanella wrote an article arguing for a new approach to the current evacuation system; storm shelters. A network of shelters has the potential to assist residents during a hurricane and aid in recovery efforts. The system should start with helping those who need it most, vulnerable people and neighborhoods of New Orleans.  

In 1935, the neighborhood of Central City was redlined by the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation, deeming it “hazardous” for banks and mortgage lenders to give out loans and invest in property. Since then, the area has endured disinvestment, discrimination, and high rates of poverty. In recent years, trends in gentrification and development have displaced long-term residents and culture bearers, the people that make Central City the neighborhood it is today. 

Despite all these challenges, there is still a strong sense of community and social connection in Central City, which is in large part due to religious institutions. Central City is home to the highest concentration of churches in New Orleans. These churches are a vital part of the social infrastructure of the neighborhood and have historically aided in responses to larger social needs. With the addition of intentionally designed storm shelters, these churches will transform from solely religious spaces to broader community hubs that reach a larger audience and aid in disaster relief and recovery. 

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