Hurricane Katrina Flashcards
Where and when did hurricane Katrina take place?
23rd August - 31st August 2006
South Florida, Cuba, Louisiana, Mississippi, Gulf of Mexico, Alabama
Total number of deaths?
1,833
Main cause of death?
drowning in storm surge
Which category?
Wind speed?
Cat 5
175mph
Cost of damage?
c. $150 billion
Primary economic effects?
Forest land destroyed ($5 billion)
Port of New Orleans closed
Oil facilities damaged
Secondary economic effects?
Fall in trade, business and tourism
Insurance companies stopped insuring home owners in the area (or increased insurance premiums)
Forestry workers unable to work
Oil prices rose in UK and USA
Primary social effects?
People traumatised
1 million people made homeless
Food shortages
No clean water
1800+ died
Infrastructure destroyed
80% of population of Louisiana fled
Secondary social effects?
looting
No electricity for several weeks
People relied on bottled water
Primary environmental effects?
Storm surges caused beach erosion Land destroyed 80% of .........? city under water Water contaminated Oil spills Offshore islands destroyed Forests destroyed
Secondary environmental effects?
Toxic chemicals in water
Animals/marine life killed
Beaches covered in oil
Habitats lost
Immediate response?
Most aid came from within America
US government gave the region $50 billion in aid
UK government sent food aid
India sent tarps, blankets, hygiene kits
Response badly coordinated - George Bush was criticised
Long-term response?
Flood walls replaced/strengthened
Rebuilding New Orleans (mainly Port and central business district)
Eventually rebuilding of homes, but many still abandoned/not rebuilt today.
