Hurricane Katrina


After 58 Years, a Shot at Olympic Gold

By Patrick J. Sauer |  Aug 1, 2008

John Dane III is a lifelong sailor and has made millions as founder of the nation's largest mega-yacht builder. But in August, at the age of 58, he'll be mak...  Read story

Hiring Down at Small Businesses

By Angus Loten

Oct. 4, 2005 --After six months of solid job growth, hiring by small businesses dropped off in September in the wake of Katrina and Rita, ...  Read story

Consumer Confidence Plunges In September

By Angus Loten |  Sep 16, 2005

September 16, 2005 --Consumer confidence plummeted this month as Hurricane Katrina kept record-high energy costs soaring, a survey showed ...  Read story

Construction Costs Headed Upward

By Daniel Del'Re |  Sep 14, 2005

Sept. 15, 2005 --Prices of construction materials and components remained stable in August, but economists and builders fear that Hurrican...  Read story

Service Sector Growing, Poll Shows

By Angus Loten |  Sep 7, 2005

September 7, 2005 --Service sector gains in production, new orders and employment continued in the weeks before Hurricane Katrina despite ...  Read story

Katrina Strains Businesses Outside Its Path

By Daniel Del'Re |  Sep 2, 2005

September 2, 2005 --Montgomery, Alabama's 6,000 hotel rooms have been full since Sunday, but evacuees fleeing Katrina's destruction contin...  Read story

CEOs Bullish Despite Katrina

By Allen P. Roberts Jr. |  Sep 23, 2005

Sept. 23, 2005 --Even as much of the Gulf Coast lay wrecked by Hurricane Katrina, America's business leaders sounded an optimistic outlook...  Read story

Businesses Prepare for Another Big Storm

By Allen P. Roberts Jr. and Angus Loten |  Sep 20, 2005

September 20, 2005 --Even before Florida Governor Jeb Bush declared a state of emergency, Desmond Falla had already made the decision to s...  Read story

Factory Orders, Construction Spending Up in August

By Angus Loten |  Oct 4, 2005

Oct. 4, 2005 --Increased demand for a variety of goods in August, along with a renewed boom in housing and record-high construction spendi...  Read story

Hiring Down at Small Businesses

By Angus Loten |  Sep 19, 2006

Oct. 4, 2005 --After six months of solid job growth, hiring by small businesses dropped off in September in the wake of Katrina and Rita, ...  Read story

Leading Indicators Fall in September

By Angus Loten |  Oct 20, 2005

Oct. 20, 2005 --With a pair of Gulf Coast storms driving energy costs up and consumer confidence down, the index of leading economic indic...  Read story

Jobs Down Less Than Expected After Storms

By Angus Loten |  Oct 7, 2005

Oct. 7, 2005 --Fewer jobs were lost last month than expected in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, though unemployment reached its highes...  Read story

Rebuilding the Gulf Coast Brick by Brick

By Angus Loten |  Dec 2, 2005

Dec. 2, 2005 --A new federal job re-training program is offering Gulf Coast hurricane victims a chance to help rebuild their shattered com...  Read story

Even with Insurance, Gulf Coast Businesses Still Struggle

By Angus Loten |  Jan 17, 2006

Jan. 17, 2006 --It took nine weeks, but ...  Read story

Independent Gas Stations Cleared of Price Gouging

By Angus Loten |  May 23, 2006

A Federal Trade Commission report blames refinery disruptions for high prices after Hurricane Katrina.  Read story

Gulf Coast Businesses Slow to Claim Loans

By Angus Loten |  May 31, 2006

Less than half of the businesses approved for post-Katrina loans have cashed in so far.  Read story

Lawsuits Could Lead to Higher Insurance Costs

By Angus Loten |  Jul 10, 2006

Property owners and insurance companies are battling over the definition of "damage" in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.  Read story

Katrina Verdict Could Impact Insurance Costs for Businesses

By Angus Loten |  Aug 16, 2006

A U.S. District judge ruled that flood damage is not covered by standard policies.  Read story

New Center to Help Businesses Hit by Katrina

By Angus Loten |  Oct 3, 2006

The Urban Entrepreneurship Partnership Gulf Coast will provide training and access to capital for minority business owners.  Read story

Congress Closes Session with Flurry of Small-Business Bills

By Angus Loten |  Aug 6, 2007

Lawmakers passed legislation on disaster loans, health care, and energy before their summer recess.  Read story

Jobless Claims Surge

By Angus Loten |  Jan 31, 2008

Despite job gains at smaller firms, more workers are filing for unemployment benefits.  Read story

Report: SBA Unprepared for Katrina

Feb 15, 2007

Feb. 15, 2007 --  A lack of planning by the Small Business Administration led to costly delays in assisting Gulf Coast small...  Read story

House Committee Revamps SBA Disaster Loans

Mar 16, 2007

March 16, 2007 -- The House Small Business Committee has approved a package of bills aimed at improving the federal government's emergenc...  Read story

Businesses Affected by Katrina Receive Grants

Apr 20, 2007

April 20, 2007 -- As many as 200 small-business owners in Louisiana affected by Hurricane Katrina received up to $18,000 this week under ...  Read story

New Partnership for Disaster Response

Aug 29, 2007

On the second anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the Small Business Administration and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced a partnership aimed at improv...  Read story

The New Economics of Product Packaging

Mar 1, 2006

Renewed interest in a corn-based alternative.  Read story

Hurricane Katrina, Disaster/Emergency Response Article - Inc. Article

Sep 1, 2005

Recovery from a disaster involves a thorough understanding of the circumstances -- and help. To that end, Inc.com has assembled news stories and commentary o...  Read story

Did Hurricane Katrina Impact Your Business?

Sep 30, 2005

Inc.com wants to connect you with companies on the Inc. 500 list that can provide guidance as you recover from the 2005 hurricane season. If your business...  Read story

Consumer Confidence Plummets

Aug 28, 2007

Weaker business and labor market conditions in August drove down consumer confidence by the sharpest decline s...  Read story

Small Firms Miss Out on Gulf Coast Contracts

Aug 6, 2007

Two years after Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, federal agencies continue to award rebuilding contracts meant for local small businesses to large...  Read story

Business Donations for Hurricane Relief Reach $1 Billion

By Kevin Ohannessian |  Oct 27, 2005

Oct. 27, 2005 --An unprecedented level of contributions by American companies, from small businesses and big businesses alike, have been a...  Read story

SBA Administrator Defends Hurricane Aid

By Angus Loten |  Nov 11, 2005

Nov. 11, 2005 --Critics of the federal aid being given to small businesses along the Gulf Coast are simply expecting too much too soon, U....  Read story

Employment Flat in August

By Daniel Del'Re |  Sep 2, 2005

Sept. 2, 2005 --Few jobs were gained and lost in the general economy in August, but many small businesses were definitely hiring. ...  Read story

Staging a Turnaround?

By Angus Loten |  Mar 7, 2007

As head of the Small Business Administration, Steven Preston inherited a beleaguered federal agency. In an interview with Inc.com, he shares his plan to bett...  Read story

Gulf Coast Businesses Picking Up the Pieces -- Slowly

By Angus Loten |  Nov 4, 2005

Nov. 4, 2005 --Ralph Brennan counts himself lucky. In the two months since Hurricane Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast, he's kept two of his ...  Read story

Loan Deadline Extended for Gulf Coast Businesses

By Angus Loten |  Jun 2, 2006

Facing pressure from lawmakers, the SBA will give an extra month to businesses hit by last year's hurricanes.  Read story

"Juggle, Adapt, and Adjust"

Aug 18, 2006

Drew Ramsey Hubig's Pies New Orleans As told to Leslie Taylor Dre...  Read story

Democrats: Small-Business Outlook Worst in Eight Years

By Angus Loten |  Nov 17, 2005

Nov. 17, 2005 --With a perfect storm of rising interest rates, energy prices, and health care costs, the health of the nation's small-busi...  Read story

SBA Eases Disaster Loan Requirements

By Angus Loten |  Oct 17, 2005

Oct. 17, 2005 --The U.S. Small Business Administration is relaxing certain requirements to speed up the application process for emergency ...  Read story

Chain Stores Struggling After Storms

By Angus Loten |  Oct 6, 2005

Oct. 6, 2005 --Big chain stores nationwide increased sales last month by slashing prices in the aftermath of Katrina and Rita, a sign that...  Read story