Post-Flood Recovery of Cities : New Orleans and Prague

In the aftermath of natural disaster, a speedy and efficient recovery is crucial for socio-economic redevelopment. Political actors have at their disposal a variety of instruments, which can either support rapid and effective rebuilding through making clear and credible commitments to rules of the game or slow recovery through creating regime uncertainty and paralyzing for-profit and social entrepreneurs. New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and Prague after the “flood of the millennium” provide contrasting examples of political and policy responses to significant natural disasters. This chapter contrasts the policy options which characterized public response to each of these disasters and suggests lessons for future disaster response