Hurricane Katrina

Question 1

Damage

Answer 1

$81 billion

Most costly ever US

20x Cyclone Nargis

Question 2

Death toll

Answer 2

1830

Mayor ordered evacuation - predicted 8m Storm surge and much of New Orleans below S.L

Lower death toll and 80% Greater New Orleans area flooded

Question 3

Economic

Answer 3

30 oil platforms

9 oil refineries

Production -25%

Question 4

Environmental

Answer 4

25 litres oil and flood waters polluted with raw sewage and pesticides pumped into Lake Pontchartrain during clean up

5300km2 forest destroyed

20% marshes inundated, destroying breeding grounds

Question 5

Occurrence

Answer 5

Formed Bahamas 23rd Aug 2005

Landfall Florida 25th = weakened

Intensified Gulf of Mexico = Cat 3/5

Final landfall Louisiana/Mississippi border Cat 3

Winds 280mph
902mb

Question 6

Management and responses

Answer 6

National response plan = initial response is local government responsibility until resources are exhausted&raquo_space; appeal

FEMA delivered supplies/dealt with dead

Coast guard reached more than 1/2 of those stranded

30th Aug: Secretary of Department of Homeland Security took over federal state/local operations = $62.3 billion aid

Significant international aid - more than 70 countries pledged donations

Question 7

Evaluation of management and responses

Answer 7

July 2006 still housing shortage

Poor/black worst affected and left in low-lying

Media: looting/stranded/thirst/exhaustion

White dominated government??

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