Hurricane Katrina Flashcards
How much did hurricane katrina cost USA?
$200 billion
How large was the area it affected?
90,000 square miles
How many times did it make landfall?
3
Which part of USA was most notably affected by katrina?
New Orleans
Where did katrina form?
About 200 miles south east of the Bahamas
When did katrina form?
23rd August 2005
What did katrina form as?
A tropical depression
Name 3 features of a tropical depression
- low pressure system
- thunderstorms
- wind speed between 25-35mph
How hot was the ocean when katrina formed?
26.5*C
What type of winds spiralled into the storm? Why was this?
Trade winds spiralled into the storm due to the rotation of the earth
What are trade winds?
Wind blowing towards the equator
Which tropic was katrina formed close to?
The Tropic of Cancer
What formed the storm clouds?
Evaporated ocean water, warming and rising
Why were trade winds absorbing moisture from the ocean?
Pressure was very low, sucking in air from the trade winds to spiralling winds that absorb moisture from the ocean
When did bands of storm clouds begin to wrap around the North side of the storms circulation centre?
Early morning hours of 24th of August
What were the constant wind speeds of katrina?
40mph
When did katrina hit Florida?
25th August
What happened when katrina hit Florida?
It strengthened and became a moderate category 1 hurricane
Name 2 impacts when katrina hit Florida
- flooding
* casualties
How many people died when katrina hit Florida?
2
What happened to katrina as it passed over land? Why?
It weakened because it lost its power source, the warm water as it is over land
Why did the storm intensify when back over the sea? When did this happen?
Moist air cools and condenses releasing energy
This happened on the 26th August 2005
When did katrina become a category 5 hurricane?
28th August 2005
How fast were winds blowing when katrina was at its peak?
175mph
What was the pressure when katrina was at its peak?
902mb
When did katrina hit New Orleans?
6.10am on 29th August 2005
Where in New Orleans did katrina hit?
The eastern edge
What category hurricane was katrina when it hit New Orleans?
Category 3
What scale measures the intensity of hurricanes?
Saffir Simpson
What is the nhc?
National hurricane centre
What did the nhc do?
Tracked the storm and issued warnings
What does USA have to track hurricanes?
Sophisticated monitoring systems like satellites and hunter planes which fly into storms
How did US coast guards make preparations?
- called in reserves
* recalled aircraft to base
When did president bush declare state emergency?
27th August 2005
What did the national weather service do?
Predict devastating damage on 28th August
When were evacuation orders given out to New Orleans? For how many people?
28th August for 1.2 million people
How many people per hour evacuated New Orleans?
18,000 per hour
Where were emergency centres set up for those who couldn’t/chose not to evacuate?
Louisiana superdome
Name 6 primary impacts of hurricane katrina
- 125mph winds up to 120 miles from the centre of the storm
- heavy rain: 250mm
- 3 million lost electricity
- housing was flooded
- roads damaged
- 2 major bridges collapsed
Name Secondary impacts
- 1836 died of drowning
* public transport out of action
Why was response more difficult?
Widespread flooding
Why was there an increased risk of disease?
The water supply was contaminated and many were stranded with no food or water
How did volunteers help?
•provide emergency housing
How many people were rescued in total? Who by?
50,000 by air, police, helicopter and army
How many national guard helped preserve law and order, rescue and clean up?
58,000
How much money was authorised for aid victims by U.S. Government?
$62 billion
What were provided to live in?
Caravans
How many countries pledged financial aid to USA?
70
What plans were put in place after katrina?
Plans to strengthen flood defences in New Orleans
