Hurricane Katrina Flashcards
When did Katrina occur ?
23-31 of August 2005
Started in Bahamas
Which area did Katrina damage the most ?
New Orleans
Lying on gulf coast of USA
How many Atlantic hurricanes has there been since 1924?
33
Category 5
Why was New Orleans vulnerable ?
Levee system failed. Location. After math due to lack of leadership. People didn’t evacuate - fatalistic. Severity of storm. Shrinkage of soils.
Why was the shrinkage of soils bad ?
It meant 50% of land was below sea level.
Winds
Reached 175 mph
So haiyan had stronger winds
Why did levee system fail ?
Not been constructed to modern standards.
But the severity of storm also to blame
After 24 hours 80% of area was underwater
How was New Orleans represented in media ?
As a disaster waiting to happen
Why did the aftermath of storm cause more devastation ?
Lack of leadership.
Evacuation only initiated 19 hrs before landfall.
How many DIDNT evacuate?
130,000
Social primary
60,000 people stranded in New Orleans.
Coast guard rescued 33,500 people.
Most people fled in private cars and school buses
Primary economic
Transported destroyed
Flyovers collapses from flooding and pressure
Environmental primary
Water polluted with sewage and oils
Crops / habitats destroyed
Secondary social
Looting
1 million refugees
Traumatised
Racial tensions as many people were black African Americans
Secondary economic
Destroyed 30 oil platforms
Tourism reduced
Financial cost $200 billion
