Drivers of Return Migration and Permanent Relocation Among Hurricane Katrina Survivors: A Qualitative Analysis

Hurricane Katrina displaced nearly all of New Orleans' 455,000 pre-Katrina residents. While several research teams have investigated the dynamics of return, few studies have employed a qualitative approach, which makes possible a more nuanced exploration of decision making using words and phrasing of those directly affected. Qualitative interview data from 50 participants were analyzed, including both New Orleans residents who had permanently relocated as well as those who had returned to the city by the 5-year anniversary of the storm. The results suggest broad domains of decision making: (a) post-Katrina housing affordability and cost of living, (b) family ties and social support, and (c) the pull of home and place attachment. These results have implications for future research, as well as for disaster preparedness planning and recovery.