Hurricane Katrina Flashcards
Where and when it formed
200 miles SE of Bahamas
Route it took
NW over southern tip of Florida into Gulf of Mexico (warm water strengthened it)
When it hit
Morning of 29th August
Conditions
200km/h wind
200-250mm rainfall in Louisiana
8.5m storm surge in Mississippi
Deaths
1,800
Houses destroyed
300,000
Extent of flooding in New Orleans
80% was flooded
People without electricity
3,000,000
Damage caused to
Roads
Coastal Habitats
Water supply (was polluted with sewage an chemicals)
Jobs lost
230,000
Total cost of damage
$150bn
% decrease in New Orleans population from 2005 to 2021
17%
% decrease in New Orleans population from 2005 to 2006
54%
Extent of evacuation of New Orleans
70-80% evacuated before the hurricane reached land
Where was there a state of emergency
Louisiana and Mississippi
Measures taken after state of emergency declared
Set up control centres
Set up emergency shelters
Stockpiled supplies
Number of people coastguard, police, fire service and army rescued
50,000
Charities used donations to
Provide aid, such as millions of hot meals
Amount donated by US gov for rebuilding of homes and infrastructure
$16bn
US army recommendation for building in low lying areas
Rebuilt on stilts or not at all
Amount spent by US gov on repairing and improving flood defences
$14.5bn
Rescue and recovery efforts hampered by
Lack of co-ordination and disagreements between local, state and national officials
New Orleans only had a temporary coalition to deal with Hurricane Katrina causing
Ineffective, temporary, and inefficient evacuation and provision of resources
Ranking of New Orleans median income among metropolitan areas
Eight lowest, so many people were unable to evacuate on their own
Flaw of the evacuation
Made no provisions to assist the elderly, disabled or homeless evacuate
