Hurricane Katrina: Perceptions of Older People in a Community Accepting Displaced Victims Yoshinori Kamo, Tammy L. Henderson, & Karen A. Roberto The Annual Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America Nov. 22, 2010, New Orleans, LA

Major Issues Katrina landfall in August 29, Baton Rouge (70 mi NW): a premiere destination for displaced persons from New Orleans to flee. Changes in perceptions of older people in the receiving community. Are they justified by demographic data? Changes in the attitudes of older people toward newcomers. Did it change the community itself? What determines the perceptions and attitudes? Policy implications

Table 1. Characteristics of the Sample (N=85) MeanS.D. Female Black Age Education Married Income Health MeanS.D. Disorder (T2) Crowding (T2) Disorder (T1) Crowding (T1) Acceptance Disapproval

Table 2. Perception of Change Before Katrina (Time 1) & immediately after (Time 2)

NOTE: Scores indicate “1=none” to “5=a great deal.” *** p<.001, ** p<.01, * p<.05, # p<.10 (or p<.05, one-tailed) ItemsT1T2Diff.N Your neighborhood Baton Rouge, in general *84 Traffic *87 # people in grocery stores, restaurants, etc ***85 # people in public places, such as parks Access to facilities such as gyms/recreation centers *66

NOTE: Scores indicate “1=none” to “5=a great deal.” *** p<.001, ** p<.01, * p<.05, # p<.10 (or p<.05, one-tailed) ItemsT1T2Diff.N Litter, trash, & clutter **85 Security in stores **80 Visibility of police on the highways, neighborhoods, etc #79 Violent crimes Crimes such as theft & vandalism

ItemsT1T2Diff.N Drug trafficking Gang activity Rent, housing prices Wait time for doctor dentist, etc Wait time for auto/house hold repair services Mail service **84 NOTE: Scores indicate “1=none” to “5=a great deal.” *** p<.001, ** p<.01, * p<.05, # p<.10 (or p<.05, one-tailed)

ItemsT1T2Diff.N Cell phone service ***56 Insurance premiums *70 Difficulty in getting homeowner’s insurnc Wait time to S.S, Medicare, etc Other NOTE: Scores indicate “1=none” to “5=a great deal.” *** p<.001, ** p<.01, * p<.05, # p<.10 (or p<.05, one-tailed)

Figure 1. Total Population Change in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge Metropolitan Areas

Source: US Census Bureau (2010)

Figure 2. Changes in Crimes in Baton Rouge

Sources: Federal Bureau of Investigation (2010), Baton Rouge Police Department (2010). NOTE: The number of each crime was converted to its ratio to the 2005 figure in respective crime.

Table 3. Perception of Other People Since Hurricane Katrina (N=88)

NOTES: Scores indicate “1=a lot less” to “5=a lot more.” *** p<.001, ** p<.01, * p<.05, # p<.10 (or p<.05, one-tailed), for the difference between the mean value and 3.0. Since Katrina, I am:Mean Suspicious of others3.40** Trusting of others2.86 Reserved with others3.08 Tolerant of others3.38** Fearful of others3.25# Patient with others3.69*** Frustrated with others3.02 Friendly to others3.81***

Table 4. Estimated Regression Equations for Older Residents’ Perceptions of Changes in Baton Rouge

NOTE: * p<.05, # p<.10 (or p<.05, one-tailed) Dep. Variables Social Disorder (N=85) Crowding (N=85) Change between before Katrina & Weeks following HK Now Weeks following HK Now PredictorsbBetab b b Female African American #.245 Age

Dep. Variables Social Disorder (N=85) Crowding (N=85) Education Married Income * Health * # Constant R2R NOTE: * p<.05, # p<.10 (or p<.05, one-tailed)

Table 5. Estimated Regression Equations for Older Residents’ Acceptance and Disapproval of Newcomers

Dep. Variables Acceptance (N=85)Disapproval (N=85) PredictorsbBetab b b Female.754 * * # African American * Age Education Married NOTE: * p<.05, # p<.10 (or p<.05, one-tailed)

Income Health Disorder #.298 Crowding Constant R2R NOTE: * p<.05, # p<.10 (or p<.05, one-tailed)