S. is imported through or fished out of the Gulf. Katrina struck right at the peak of harvesting season. At the same time, Louisiana is the nation's top oyster producer, and wholesalers are waiting in fear to see if the beds have been damaged" ("Katrina's Impact"). Therefore, food and agriculture may also show signs of economic fallout for years to come. Much of this remains to be seen, as all the damage has still not been assessed in all areas. The hurricane also destroyed billions of board feet of hardwood in the states, which will also have an affect on the forestry industry. About 10% of Mississippi jobs are in this area, and this will create higher prices for many building materials and other wood products like paper, too (Editors). Thus, the economic affects are quite widespread and could last for decades in some Southern states and in some industries. In addition, any exports that do make it out of port will cost more to the importers because of higher energy and shipping costs, and will mean less profit to the growers for the very same reasons.

Has anything positive come out of the Katrina disaster? Perhaps there is a bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Construction, already at an all time high in America, is booming even more as rebuilding in the Gulf Coast region begins. Clearly, there is plenty of rebuilding to be done throughout the Gulf Coast region. While some building materials may boast higher price tags, many others may actually drop in price because of the great demand. However, the gains made in construction may be lost due to rising fuel costs and another big element of the picture that is often forgotten - insurance premiums. Experts estimate the damage is at least $40 billion dollars in the area, and the insurance payout may be as high as $26 billion, the highest in U.S. history ("Katrina's Impact"). That boils down to higher insurance premiums for everyone in the country. Another expert notes, "In a research report from Merrill Lynch, David Rosenberg says that while rebuilding could add $40 billion...

Rebuilding may be a boom in some areas, but overall, it seems that prices for most products will go up, and Americans will be feeling the pinch in their wallets for quite a while.
In conclusion, the U.S. economy is already showing the affects of hurricane Katrina in many ways. As with most natural disasters, many people will suffer long after the storm is gone. The city of New Orleans may never be the same, and it will certainly take years for her tourist and other economies to return to normal. Throughout the country, there are many signs that Katrina will affect the economy for years to come. That of course does not take into account the human cost of the hurricane. People died, but many more people have left New Orleans never to return. That will affect the economies of the many different cities and towns where they resettle, too. The U.S. economy took a blow when hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. It will take time, patience, and lots of money to rebuild and get back to normal. The costs will be astronomical, and they will probably continue for years to come. The U.S. economy is going to suffer from the affects of hurricane Katrina, it just remains to be seen just how much it will suffer.