Hurricane Katrina Flashcards
Time/ duration (8)
. August 2005
. Less than 8 hours over land, it quickly intensified as it reached the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico
Scale/ magnitude
Category 5
Location:
Hurricane Katrina was a tropical cyclone struck in the southeastern United States in late August 2005
Physical causes: (3)
. Katrina formed from a tropical wave and from a previous tropical depression
. In New Orleans, the levees where designed for category 3 hurricane but it was a Category 5 hurricane- due to broken levees
. New Orleans ( Mississippi ) was below sea level
Human causes:
. There was racial tension between the African Americans and the white Americans,therefore the response was slow ( African Americans where left behind)
Economic impacts: (1)-(1)
Short term
. Katrina destroyed 30 oil platforms
Long term
. $ 105 billion was sought by the bush administration for repairs
Social impacts: (3)
. 80% of the city of Orleans and large neighbouring areas became flooded
. Most transportation links where disturbed, and those who got affected by the hurricane before landfall became stranded with little access of food, shelter and basic necessities
. Racial tension
Environmental impacts:(2)-(2)
Short term
. The hurricane caused storm surges over 6 metres in height
. The storm surge caused beach erosion in coastal areas
Long term
. massive tree loss along the Gulf coast particularly in Louisiana’s pearl river basin
. Oil spills From southeastern Louisiana- 7 million US gallons, which destroyed ecosystems
Immediate responses: (2)
. The government provided $ 50 billion in aid
. The Uk government send food aid
Long term (2)
. The US internal federal aid supplied refrigerated trucks to go to New Orleans
. As of march 2010, there were still 260 families living in FEMA ( federal emergency management agency) and continued for more than 6 months after the storm
