Katrina cottage facts for kids

Katrina cottages are special small houses. They were designed and built in the United States after Hurricane Katrina hit in August 2005. These cottages were created because the temporary trailers given to flood victims by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) were not very good. The cottages are made to be stronger and more permanent homes. They can also handle tough weather, especially in the Gulf Coast area. Some cottages are even built on stilts. This helps protect them from floods, especially in places like southern Louisiana and Mississippi, which are often close to sea level.

What Are Katrina Cottages?

Katrina cottages look like regular homes, but they are smaller. Their size helps keep costs down and makes them easier to build quickly. Many cottages have one bedroom and a design like a "shotgun house." This means the rooms are lined up one after another. They also often have a front porch. This porch helps make the house more stable against strong winds.

How Are They Different from Trailers?

Even though Katrina cottages are smaller than some trailers, they are much stronger. They are built with heavier materials that can stand up to strong winds. Regular mobile homes have lighter walls that might break in a storm. Katrina cottages are designed to be safer and last longer than temporary trailers.

Who Designed Katrina Cottages?

One of the most famous designs for these cottages came from Marianne Cusato. Her original "Katrina Cottage" design made the name popular. In 2006, her design won the first annual People's Design Award from the Cooper-Hewitt Museum. This museum is part of the U.S. Smithsonian Institution.

Where Can You Find Them?

As more people learned about these cottages, many new designs were created. The home improvement store Lowe's even sells special kits. These kits include the plans and all the materials you need to build a Katrina cottage.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) started a program to help families in Mississippi. About 900 families were offered these cottages. Some local government leaders were not sure about having small, permanent homes. However, Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour encouraged them to accept the cottages. He explained that the cottages were much safer than trailers during strong winds or floods.