Emerging Researchers National (ERN) Conference

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When The Water Becomes Unbalanced: A Study of Crime and Social Disorganization Post Natural Disaster

Undergraduate #319
Discipline: Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences
Subcategory: Social Sciences/Psychology/Economics

Keiara Smith - Dillard University
Co-Author(s): Eartha Lee Johnson, Dillard University, New Orleans, LA


The purpose of this research is to investigate the affect natural disasters have on crime rates. This study has measured the rates of crime before and after Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, and the Asian Tsunami in Thailand. This journal will serve as an analysis of how reconstruction can affect major cities post Natural Disaster. It is hypothesized that crime rates increase post natural disaster when adequate government and social services are not provided for victims of natural disasters who cannot elsewise provide for themselves. It was observed that people become more likely to commit crimes when resources necessary for survival are not accessible. People are typically in a state of distress after a natural disaster strikes. When there is no way for people to provide for themselves societal norms are no longer relevant. It is a matter of death and survival.

Funder Acknowledgement(s): Mellon Foundation

Faculty Advisor: Ruby Broadway, N/A

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This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) under Grant No. DUE-1930047. Any opinions, findings, interpretations, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of its authors and do not represent the views of the AAAS Board of Directors, the Council of AAAS, AAAS’ membership or the National Science Foundation.