Hurricane Katrina Flashcards
What year did this hurricane take place in?
2006
What country and city did this take place in?
USA, New Orleans
What category was this hurricane?
3
What speed were the high winds?
280km hr
How high was the storm surge?
8m (10 in some)
What costal flooding was there?
Low lying areas very vulnerable (most of New Orleans was 1m under sea level)
Old levees
How bad were the landslides?
There were no major landslides in USA
But Guatemala had major landslides
What were the other significant hazards?
Low lying land under sea level due to water pumped out
80% flooded
More storms flooded-Wilma
How many refugees were there?
1 million
How much warning was there?
19 hours to evacuate
150,000 left behind and moved into the Louisiana superbowl
Where did people take refuge?
Louisiana Super Bowl stadium
How many people died
1800
What support was there after the event?
US army, national guard, FEMA and eventually congress funds
How much did the hurricane cost?
US$200bn
What shock was there from the hurricane?
President bush and local gov helped out white people more-racist response
Many black people left due to the racist response
Bush under heavy criticism
What % of New Orleans is under sea level?
50%
How big was the area left with out power?
The same size as the uk
What are 5 secondary effects of the hurricane?
-600,000 people left the area
-oil price increased as the supply was interrupted
-looting, national guard was ‘ruthless’ ordered to deal with lawlessness and not distribute aid
-political issues as racist and classist response (most of urban poor were black)
-bush under criticism for arriving late and not helping enough
What are 5 primary effects of the hurricane?
-most stranded in cars surrounded by toxic flood waters
-area size of uk had no power and it took 2 months to be reconnected
-1 million made refugees
-1242 dead initially
-150,000 left behind due to their own will and moved to shelter in Louisiana superbowl
What are 5 short term responses of the hurricane?
-only 300 evacuated
-evacuation happened day before landfall
-plan drawn up 19 hours before landfall
-Red Cross helped many with food, water
-national guard brought medicine
What are 5 long term responses of the hurricane?
-$1.3b invested in public information and education systems
-congress agreed to $62b for rebuilding, debris removal and risk reduction
-400,000 people left New Orleans (wealthier black middle class did not return)
-66% black population fell to 59%
-amazing common decency seen by ordinary people and NGOs like churches and the Red Cross
What are 4 evaluation points of the hurricane?
-short term effects were terrible and army and supplies thrown at the problem
-largest airlift in US history moved people out the arena and sort of solved the problem
-reputation of George w bush reduced
-black/poor and rich divide showed itself again
