Hazardous Earth - hurrican katrina case study

Question 1

when did it happen

Answer 1

29th august 2005

Question 2

what happened

Answer 2

• katrina formed from a interactions from a tropical wave and from the remnants from a previous tropical depression
• katrina originated over the bahamas on august 23rd
• began as a very low pressure weather system which escalated to a tropical storm to a hurricane

Question 3

social impacts on new orleans

Answer 3

• over 800 deaths
• 95,000 residents lost their jobs
• 20 ft of water flooded new orleans

Question 4

social impacts overall

Answer 4

• redistributed 1 million people from the central gulf coast
• 300,000 homes destroyed
• 3 million left with no electricity
• 350,000 vehicles dropped into floodwater

Question 5

economic impacts

Answer 5

• caused more than 300 billion in damage
• impacted up to 19% of total US oil production
• 20 offshore rigs sustained significant damage
• crime increase and tourism decreased
• 1.3 million acres of forest land were destroyed costing 5 billion

Question 6

environmental impacts

Answer 6

• 575 reports of hazardous chemical spills
• 7 of these spills realised more than 7 million gallons of oil
• oil spills from 44 facilities - fish died from toxic chemicals
• damaged forced 16 national wild life refuges to close

Question 7

political impacts

Answer 7

• race and class was stipulated as most stranded people were african american
• governments criticised as there was a lack in management

Question 8

responses to katrina

Answer 8

• was coordinated evacuation but some decided to stay
• 60,000 people stranded in new orleans
• coast guard rescued more than 33,500 people
• 70 countries helped: kuwait - gave 500 million , india - gave tarps, blankets, hygiene kits
• indian airforce delivered 25 tonnes of relief supplies