CASE STUDY - Tropical storm hazard: Hurricane Katrina

Question 1

Describe the location of the storm.

Question 2

Describe the tropical storm hazards of Hurricane Katrina.

Question 3

What made New Orleans physically vulnerable to tropical storms?

Answer 3

• Relies on a 560km levee system built to withstand a category 3.
• The Mississippi gulf outlet acted as a funnel for the storm surge, increasing its height by 20% and doubled in size.
• Over 50% of the land is now below sea level

Question 4

What made New Orleans vulnerable to tropical storms in terms of human factors?

Answer 4

• Relies on a 560km levee system built to withstand a category 3.
• 35% of black households in the area do not have a car.
• 28% of people in New Orleans live in poverty.

Question 5

How prepared were the people of New Orleans?

Answer 5

• Evacuation plan drawn up by the state authorities only 19 hours before Katrina’s landfall.
• Repair work from previous earthquake only 60-90% completed.
• People in poorer regions forced to stay with public transport failing to meet demands.

Question 6

What were the social impacts of Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 6

• Over 1 million people became refugees who were registered in all 50 states
• 110,000 houses flooded and 55,000 badly damaged
• 5m people were left without power and it took almost 2 months for people to be reconnected.

Question 7

What were the environmental impacts of Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 7

• 80% of New Orleans was flooded.
• Saltwater intrusions contaminate fresh water sources.

Question 8

What were the political impacts of Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 8

• Superdome evacuation centre not prepared with enough food and water for 23,000 people.

Question 9

What are the short term responses of Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 9

• 80% of New Orleans was evacuated.
• $51.8 billion allocated from the Federal Funds.
• Over 4200 Red Cross staff and volunteers aided in helping affected areas.

Question 10

What are the long term responses of Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 10

• Raised the levees and floodwalls to withstand a category 5 storm
• Land zoning to clear neighbourhoods and create parks in low lying areas.
• Slow response from FEMA