Hurricane Katrina: 10 years later (2015)
Improving the Resilience of Roofing in the Gulf States
Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005, causing catastrophic damage across the Gulf Coast and becoming one of the costliest disasters in U.S. history. In the decade that followed, coastal communities in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi adopted stronger building codes, updated construction requirements, and improved regulatory oversight to better withstand future hurricanes.
Research & Analysis
This IBHS report examines how residential roofing regulations evolved during those ten years. Researchers evaluated building codes, contractor licensing, permitting, and inspection requirements across 40 Gulf Coast communities and compared post-Katrina practices with those in place before the storm. The findings highlight significant progress while identifying additional opportunities to improve roof performance and strengthen community resilience.
The report provides recommendations that support more durable residential construction and reinforce the importance of effective code adoption, enforcement, and resilient roofing practices in hurricane-prone regions.
To explore the full analysis and recommendations for improving roofing resilience along the Gulf Coast.
Download the Report: Katrina 10 Years Later
IBHS Members-Only Page: Katrina 10 Year Later Data Supplement
