hurricane katrina (HIC)

Question 1

key facts

Answer 1

reached cat 5 on aug 28th, wind speeds 175 km/hr
dropped to cat 4 on aug 29th, wind speeds 145 km/hr
sea surface temperatures = 28 degrees
wind pressure dropped to 918 mb
hit New Orleans, Florida, Mississippi

Question 2

risk and vulnerability

Answer 2

New Orleans sinking
NO sits on Mississippi River

Question 3

effects

Answer 3

1800 deaths (social)
600200 residents fled in total - Texas had largest influx on evacuees (social)
Quebec Province oversaw 175mm of rain in one day - caused excessive flooding (env, social)
$81 billion total damage cost (economic)
New Orleans levees failed causing flooding (env, social, pol)
Bioxi reported largest storm surge ever at 10m
huge implications for small towns - Plaquemines and Slidell experienced storm surge

Question 4

aid

Answer 4

houston astrodome gathered 25000 people
superdome became overcrowded, led to huge surge in rapes, thieving, suicides
Red Cross set up 275 shelters

Question 5

political implications

Answer 5

government were criticised for slow response to impacts from storm
people died unnecessarily, a lot of people suffered
highlighted racial divide in America: white and wealthy had better chance at evacuation

Question 6

political implications

Answer 6

government were criticised for slow response to impacts from storm
people died unnecessarily, a lot of people suffered
highlighted racial divide in America: white and wealthy had better chance at evacuation