Building Resilience: Lessons from New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and I.I.I. CEO Sean Kevelighan

The Importance of Social Resilience

During the 2019 Joint Industry Forum, Sean Kevelighan, CEO of the Insurance Information Institute, and Mitch Landrieu, former Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana and two-term New Orleans Mayor, discussed the critical role of social resilience in disaster preparedness. Landrieu emphasized the necessity of quick communication after a disaster, a lesson he learned while leading New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina. According to a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, effective communication can reduce the time needed to recover by up to 30%.

Collaborative Leadership in National Politics

The conversation then shifted to national politics, where Landrieu highlighted the importance of partnership and collegiality, qualities he felt were missing during the government shutdown. He cited the collaborative rebuilding efforts from neighborhoods to local governments as a key factor in the lengthy rebuilding period after Hurricane Katrina. A report by the Brookings Institution shows that cities with strong collaborative leadership structures recover 25% faster from disasters.

Focus on Infrastructure

When asked about his priorities if he were president, Landrieu quickly responded that infrastructure would be at the top of his list. Witnessing the failure of the levees during Hurricane Katrina, he saw firsthand the devastating impact of poor infrastructure. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, the U.S. infrastructure received a grade of D+ in 2021, indicating a pressing need for improvement. Building resilience ensures that all parties are better prepared to respond when disaster strikes.

In conclusion, the discussion underscores the importance of social resilience, collaborative leadership, and infrastructure in disaster preparedness. Readers are advised to stay informed about their local infrastructure and to participate in community resilience initiatives.