Hurricane Katrina Case Study

Question 1

General Facts

Answer 1

• 2005, category 5 on Saffir Simpson scale
• Most costly event in US history
• New Orleans most affected city

Question 2

New Orleans

Answer 2

• High poverty
• High crime
• 3 metres below sea level
• Older city, houses made of wood

Question 3

Impacts of Katrina

Answer 3

• 3 levees broken, 80% of city flooded
• City in chaos, crime takes over (social fallout)
• Evacuation to the Superdome, crimes continued there
• $200bn damages
• 1800 dead, 1 million displaced

Question 4

Responses

Answer 4

• Immediate responses were poor - poor governance
• Took days for military to restore order
• George Bush stayed on holiday

Question 5

Recovery

Answer 5

• Levees reinforced
• Dozens of countries (Mexico, UK, etc) contributed aid
• 4 years after event, some people still living in trailer homes