The Impact of a Migration Shock on Tenant Satisfaction: The Case of Hurricane Katrina and Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Abstract

The damage inflicted by Hurricane Katrina resulted in a massive displacement of residents, in particular from New Orleans, Louisiana.  Initially, many of these evacuees moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the closest major town that escaped significant hurricane damage. Using comments posted on the United States’ largest consumer comment website for apartment residents, this study tracks the self-reported residential satisfaction of tenants in Baton Rouge before and after the massive migration of refugees from nearby coastal areas.  Although this migration resulted in a dramatic drop in residential satisfaction, within nine months satisfaction levels had rebounded substantially.