Social Risk Management - Reducing Disparities in Risk, Vulnerability and Poverty Equitably

Medicine and Law, Vol. 27, pp. 109-118, 2008

10 Pages Posted: 20 Aug 2008

See all articles by Jennifer Prah Ruger

Jennifer Prah Ruger

University of Pennsylvania - School of Social Policy & Practice; University of Pennsylvania - Perelman School of Medicine

Date Written: August, 19 2008

Abstract

Hurricane Katrina, which struck the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005 and took 1,000 lives or more, was the third deadliest storm to hit the United States, falling behind only the Galveston Hurricane of 1900 and the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane. It is New Orleans' worst natural disaster in its nearly 300-year history. The storm left hundreds of thousands without access to shelter, food, water, clothing and basic sanitation. The human suffering and health consequences are immeasurable. Dissatisfaction with the federal, national and local governments' planning and response is widespread. Many believe that the system discriminated cruelly by race and class against those in greatest need. The storm revealed serious flaws in disaster relief and preparedness structures, which require major reform. As an alternative, this article proposes a social risk management system to provide both universal risk protection and an efficient, more equitable approach to managing and reducing disparities in vulnerability. While one must realize that incremental rather than comprehensive reform of the system is most likely and most politically feasible, Katrina's horrific consequences and revealed inequities necessitate an alternative model.

Keywords: Risk management, human rights, disaster, Hurricane Katrina

JEL Classification: I31

Suggested Citation

Prah Ruger, Jennifer, Social Risk Management - Reducing Disparities in Risk, Vulnerability and Poverty Equitably (August, 19 2008). Medicine and Law, Vol. 27, pp. 109-118, 2008, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1239982

Jennifer Prah Ruger (Contact Author)

University of Pennsylvania - School of Social Policy & Practice ( email )

3701 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6214
United States

University of Pennsylvania - Perelman School of Medicine

423 Guardian Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19104
United States

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