Studies of the cultural dimensions of natural disasters have largely opposed the social world to the physical world. In such studies, the social world of humans constructs meaning against the implacable force of nature. In this paper, following the theoretical lead of ‘new materialists’ such as Bruno Latour and Daniel Miller, I argue that the physical world plays an integral role in the construction of meaning out of natural disasters. By focusing on the various cultural narratives surrounding Hurricane Katrina as well as the particular material genre of the house, I analyze the ways the human and physical worlds participate in the production of meaning. The specific materiality of the house in New Orleans is explored through three key stages of the Katrina disaster: the initial landfall and flooding, the first week of ostensible chaos, and the return of residents to their houses.
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