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Media Advisory

Friday marks the third anniversary of when Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the Gulf Coast, causing widespread destruction to sections of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The RAND Gulf States Policy Institute has several experts available to discuss the progress made in the past three years, and longstanding and newly emerging issues the region needs to address.

Melissa Flournoy, director, RAND Gulf States Policy Institute. Topics: What progress has been made over the past three years, as well as the top issues facing the region as it moves past the immediate recovery phase to addressing long-standing problems in education, health care, economic development and transportation.

Rick Eden, senior research analyst. Topics: The Road Home program in Louisiana, which was designed to distribute $8.1 billion in federal block grant funds to Louisiana residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. RAND’s study of the program found design flaws that prevented grants from being distributed in a timely manner. How can government agencies better design programs like these to assure that they meet their goals?

Greer Sullivan, health liaison. Topics: Serious and longstanding health problems in Mississippi that preceded the hurricanes; disparities in health indicators between whites and African-Americans; and the need for health improvement interventions to be conducted in close collaboration with specific communities. What are successful approaches for academic-community collaboration to improve health?

To arrange an interview:

Contact the RAND Office of Media Relations, (703) 413-1100, x5117 or (310) 451-6913, or send an email to media@rand.org.

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