Hurricane Katrina

Question 1

Timeline of events

Answer 1

August 23rd 2005 - Embryonic depression over bahamas
24th August - became tropical storm
25th August - reached Florida - Hurricane strength over the Gulf of Mexico intensified to category 5 moved up into America
Dissipated - August 30th 2005

Question 2

Level of development in affected countries

Answer 2

Mostly MEDC - Bahamas, South Florida, Cuba, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama

Question 3

Key facts

Answer 3

Highest winds - 175mph
Fatalities - 1836
Damage - $300 billion
Category 5 hurricane

Question 4

Short-term impacts

Answer 4

Flooded Levee system in New Orleans - 80% of city flooded
11 countries + 11 cities badly affected
3 million left without electricity
High rise buildings with much damage to windows
Streets + bridges washed away
Looting of shops for food and water
Major environmental beach erosion

Question 5

Long-term impacts

Answer 5

30 oil rigs damaged or destroyed prices rise to $60 a barrel
Famous New Orleans French Quarter seriously damaged
Trouble for major insurance companies due to a hurricane
Forest industry - Losses $5 billion - 1.3 million acres of forest destroyed
Unemployment risen

Question 6

Short term responses

Answer 6

Round the clock rescue efforts from air crew
11 cities evacuated
Louisiana superdome sheltered 26000
Coast guard rescued 33000
India sent tents, blankets, hygiene kits
Military presence

Question 7

Long-term responses

Answer 7

220 miles of flood walls + levees replaced
Congress produced $16.7 billion to rebuild damaged housing
IUD and FEMA arranged for 10000 houses to be replaced
$1.3million invested into improving hurricane forecasting