Hurricane Katrina

Question 1

How and where was Hurricane Katrina formed?

Answer 1

It was formed as a depression over the Bahamas, where the sea temperature is high, providing the necessary energy for the storm to intensify. The environments Katrina encountered had low wind shear, allowing it to maintain it’s strength.

Question 2

Describe Hurricane Katrina’s path.

Answer 2

• 23rd-25th August: Formed near the Bahamas, gaining strength and moving towards the Gulf of Mexico.
• 29th August: Katrina touches down near Buras-Triumph in Louisiana, as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained wind of up to 205 km/h.
• The hurricane then moved northward and caused widespread destruction along the Gulf Coast including coastal areas of Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Question 3

Describe the failure of New Orleans’ levee system during Hurricane Katrina.

Answer 3

The New Orleans levee system was only designed to be able to withstand a Category 3 hurricane, but by the time Hurricane Katrina reached the Gulf of Mexico it was already Category 5. Even when the storm had mellowed out to a Category 3 upon reaching New Orleans, the storm surge and heavy rainfall overwhelmed the levee system and inundated several areas of the city.

Question 4

Describe Hurricane Katrina’s primary hazards.

Answer 4

• Strong winds that reached 205 km/h at landfall, causing widespread damage to buildings, infrastructure, vegetation, homes, businesses and public facilities.
• Storm surge that reached up to 8.5 metres, inundating coastal regions as well as parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, leading to significant flooding, property damage and loss of life.
• Torrential downpour as it moved across the Gulf Coast, with some areas receiving over 25 cm of rain within 24 hours, resulting in widespread inland flooding and the overwhelming of drainage systems.

Question 5

Describe Hurricane Katrina’s social impacts.

Answer 5

• It resulted in the tragic loss of over 1,200 lives, as many were unable to evacuate or faced challenges in accessing rescue and relief efforts.
• However, it also exacerbated existing social inequalities. Low-income communities were disproportionately affected due to factors such as lack of transportation and inadequate disaster preparedness.

Question 6

Describe Hurricane Katrina’s economic impacts.

Answer 6

-Many businesses, both small and large, were destroyed or severely damaged by the hurricane and subsequent flooding, resulting in job losses, reduced economic productivity and long-term economic setbacks for the affected regions.
- The extensive damage also put a significant financial strain on individuals, businesses and insurance companies. The magnitude of the losses exceeded the coverage limits of many insurance policies, resulting in financial hardships for individuals and businesses.

Question 7

Describe Hurricane Katrina’s environmental impacts.

Answer 7

• The hurricane’s storm surge and wave action contributed to coastal erosion, which had long term impacts on the stability of coastal ecosystems and the protection of inland areas from future storms.
• The flooding caused by the hurricane resulted in the contamination of water sources with sources with pollutants, including sewage, chemicals and toxins. This contamination posed risks to human health and the environment, requiring extensive clean-up and remediation efforts.

Question 8

Describe Hurricane Katrina’s political impacts.

Answer 8

• The response of the local, state and federal governments to Hurricane Katrina faced significant criticism for being slow, inadequate, and mismanaged. The perceived failures in disaster preparedness and response led to public outrage and calls for accountability and reform.
• The response to the hurricane also played a role in changes in political leadership at various levels of government, as the perceived mishandling of the crisis led to resignations and changes in key positions, reflecting the public’s demand for greater accountability and competent leadership.

Question 9

List short-term responses to Hurricane Katrina.

Answer 9

• Establishing of temporary shelters to provide displaced residents immediate refuge.
• Initiation of evacuation efforts to move residents out of vulnerable locations.
• Mass care facilities were set up to provide food, water, and essential services to evacuees.
• Local, state and federal agencies collaborated to coordinate the deployment of resources, including personnel, equipment and supplies. Emergency operations centres were activated to facilitate communication and ensure efficient response and recovery efforts.

Question 10

List long-term responses to Hurricane Katrina.

Answer 10

• Housing assistance programs were established to support residents in rebuilding or relocating to safer areas.
• Initiatives were undertaken to stimulate economic recovery and promote business revitalisation in affected regions, involving providing financial assistance, tax incentives, and resources to support the re-opening of businesses and the creation of new employment opportunities.
• Significant policy reforms were prompted at various levels of government, which aimed to improve disaster preparedness, response coordination, and communication systems. Lessons learned from the hurricane informed updates to emergency management plans and protocols.