Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Hurricane Katrina

On 2005August 29, Baton Rouge was impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Although the damage was relatively minor compared to New Orleans (generally light to moderate except for fallen trees), Baton Rouge experienced power outages and service disruptions due to the hurricane. In addition, the city is providing refuge for residents from New Orleans. Baton Rouge will serve as a headquarters for emergency coordination and disaster relief in Louisiana.

Related Topics:
2005 - August 29 - Hurricane Katrina - New Orleans

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The City of Baton Rouge executed massive rescue efforts for those who evacuated the New Orleans area. Schools and convention centers such as the recently completed River Center opened their doors to refugees, and churches around the city were sometimes serving two hot meals per day for whoever could come.

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As a result, by Wednesday, August 31, news channel WAFB in Baton Rouge had reported that the city's population had more than doubled since the mandatory evacuation had been issued. That day, Mayor-President Kip Holden was expected to host a conference to discuss how to effectively enroll refugee children in the Baton Rouge public school system.

Related Topics:
August 31 - WAFB - Kip Holden

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As the city is more inland compared to New Orleans, many have speculated that the population of the Baton Rouge area will increase dramatically in the near future as many New Orleans residents and businesses will move inland in fear of more hurricanes and possible further consequences.

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A recently closed public school was reopened to full capacity within two weeks of the hurricane. All available housing and hotel rooms were occupied as of September 12. The real-estate market has experienced dramatic business; any property placed on the market can sell within hours due to extreme demand. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4237744.stm

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