Hurricane Katrina, 2005 (HIC) Flashcards
What category was this hurricane?
Category 5.
Where did it start + its journey?
Tropical storm formed over Bahamas on 23rd August. Moved northwest, strengthening as it passed the warm water at the gulf of Mexico. It hit Louisiana and Mississippi on 29th August, where it was a category 5 hurricane.
How high was the storm surge at Mississippi?
8.5m
What were the wind speeds at Louisiana?
200km/hr (around 124mph).
Were people impressed with the government’s response?
No, they were too slow - although they evacuated lots of people, many of the poorest and vulnerable were left behind, specifically black residential areas.
How many deaths occurred?
1,836
How many homes were destroyed?
Over 300,000.
What were some of the effects of the hurricane?
- Total damage of hurricane was around $300 billion.
- 5 people died from contaminated water as it had sewage and chemicals in it.
- 230,000 jobs lost.
- Diseases such as cholera spread in the affected areas due to low hygiene and contamination.
- There was looting of homes and businesses as people got desperate.
- Flooding damaged the oil refineries in Louisiana which caused oil spills. This damaged the environment and also caused the petrol prices to rise in the USA and UK.
- Flood levees surrounding New Orleans burst due to the heavy rainfall, and the water flooded 80% of the city.
What were some of the responses to the hurricane?
- 3 days before the storm hit, the National Hurricane Centre issued a hurricane warning to Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
- New Orleans ordered mandatory evacuation.
- Emergency shelters: Louisiana superdome in New Orleans sheltered 26,000 people.
- Over 70 countries pledged monetary donations and support.
- Charities collected $4 billion of donations to provide aid for the victims.
- US Coast Guards positioned helicopters and boats around the area likely to be affected to allow evacuation.
