Hurricane Season

New Orleanians talk about hurricanes a lot, which is no surprise given our history with major storms and how they have shaped both our community and identity. At Tulane, lessons learned from our experiences with hurricanes have informed our academics and research, enhanced our sense of community, and refined our ability to manage disasters—not just storms, but global pandemics.

The fact is, Louisiana isn’t the state most likely to be hit by a hurricane—that would be Florida. It isn’t the second-most likely, either—that would be Texas. Even if you looked at major cities, New Orleans isn’t the most likely to see a storm; that honor goes to Miami. If you were ranking cities most likely to see a Category 4 or Category 5 storm, New Orleans comes in fifth—even after Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

However, New Orleans’ intense focus on hurricanes drives much of Tulane’s research. We study the effect of hurricanes on health disparities in local communities, coastal erosion, and second-order environmental impacts, including social and economic problems, as well as the psychology of trauma and resilience. We explore methods to mitigate damage and construct buildings that can better withstand extreme weather. We have found ways to maintain the cultural memory of communities forever altered by disaster. Tulane has become a leader in flooding and coastal erosion research—critical global lessons as the entire world grapples with the realities of climate change.

With our strategic investments in energy capacity and operational enhancements, Tulane is home to perhaps the most resilient power grid of any university in the country. When hurricane season begins every June, we review our emergency plans and procedures and enhance our storm preparations. We pay attention to weather forecasts and messages from state and local officials. Most of all, we focus on the safety of our students by hardening campus, making plans for sheltering in place and ensuring all students, faculty, and staff have personal plans to evacuate the city if that becomes necessary. These shared experiences draw us closer together. As the storm passes and recovery begins, we are still united by the memory of facing a challenge as a team. This helps build trust, understanding, and better cooperation.

Our experience with hurricanes also helped Tulane respond to COVID-19, pivot quickly to virtual learning in early 2020, and develop systems and solutions to bring students back to campus the following fall. When Hurricane Ida hit New Orleans in 2021, Tulane’s battle-tested planning and preparations helped students evacuate safely, continue learning with minimal disruption, and ultimately return to campus. The knowledge and response strategies we apply to hurricane season help us adapt to whatever challenges may lie ahead.

We can’t predict if, when, or how New Orleans will be affected by the 2024 hurricane season or other unforeseen challenges. But because of our history and experience, we can better assess risk, maintain clear lines of communication, prepare for different contingencies, and find ways to improve our response the way we always do—not for one’s self, but for one’s own.