Hurricane Katrina (2005) revealed critical vulnerabilities in higher education crisis management while demonstrating leadership's pivotal role in disaster response. Focusing on New Orleans universities like Tulane and Dillard, this study analyzes operational disruptions, infrastructure damage, and adaptive leadership strategies that maintained academic continuity. We propose the Comprehensive Emergency Management Model (NSLOW, 2024) integrating prevention, preparedness, response and recovery phases, emphasizing emergency planning, ICS implementation, and community collaboration. Comparative analysis of rejected alternatives (permanent relocation, full digital transition, institutional mergers) validates the model's effectiveness. The findings underscore the need for institutionalized preparedness, cross-sector cooperation, and resilience-building in higher education crisis management.

Crisis leadership;Emergency management in higher education;Hurricane katrina;Comprehensive emergency management model;Institutional resilience

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DOI： https://doi.org/10.62639/sspjiss15.20250203

Published： 2025