Storm Hazards Case Studies

Question 1

Describe the locations of Hurrican Katrina and Cyclone Nargis

Answer 1

Katrina - SE USA - Louisiana and Mississippi

Nargis - SE Asia - Myanmar

Question 2

What was the date of each of the storm events?

Answer 2

Katrina - 29th August 2005

Nargis - 2nd May 2008

Question 3

What was the category of each storm?

Answer 3

Katrina - 5

Nargis - 4

Question 4

What proportion of New Orleans was flooded and why?

Answer 4

80% - the storm surge overwhelmed the levees around the city

Question 5

How many people died in Hurricane Katrina compared to Cyclone Nargis?

Answer 5

Katrina - 1836
Nargis - 140,000
Over 75 times less

Question 6

How many people were left homeless after Katrine struck compared to Nargis?

Answer 6

Katrina - 60,000
Nargis - 3.2million
Over fifty times less

Question 7

How many people were left without electricity after Katrina struck?

Answer 7

Three million

Question 8

How many thousand school were destroyedd in Myanmar compared to New Orleans?

Answer 8

Katrina - 18

Nargis - 4000

Question 9

What percentage of health facilities were destoyed by cyclone Nargis?

Answer 9

75%

Question 10

What were some long term health problems associated with Cyclone Nagris

Answer 10

Diseases such as dysentery and diarrhoea spread due to contaminated water and poor sanitary conditions

Question 11

How many people lost their jobs as a result of hurricane Katrina?

Answer 11

230,000

Question 12

How many people lost their livelihoods as a result of cyclone Nargis?

Answer 12

Millions - fishing and farming indisturies - boats were destroyed and rice paddy fields were damaged

Question 13

What was the total cost of Katrina compareed to Nargis?

Answer 13

Katrina - $100billion

Nargis - $10billion

Question 14

Which industries were most affected by Katrina?

Answer 14

Oil idustry - 30 platforms destroyed amd damaged in the Gulf of Mexico
Shipping industry- ports in Mississippi damaged
Logging industry- 5000km2 of forest destroyed

Question 15

What was the long term affect ob farmin in Myanmar?

Answer 15

Soil was washed away and eroded

Soil affected by Salinization (increased salt concentration)

Question 16

Outline the impact of Katrina on coastal habitats

Answer 16

Sea turtle breeding ground destroyed

Salt marshes flooded

Question 17

Why will the extensive damage to mangrove forest have significant long term impacts on Myanmar?

Answer 17

Because they usually act as a flooding and soil erosion barrier from coastal processes

Question 18

Why did people in the USA have prior warning of where and when a storm was likely to hit?

Answer 18

The USA have top technology to track the storm

Satellite and radar

Question 19

Why were many people in Myanmar unaware of the seriousness of the storm?

Answer 19

The country has no monitoring centre for the storm or technology
Many people did not know how to prepare or respond despite Indian weather warnings

Question 20

How did Myanmar’s evacuation plans compare to the USA’s?

Answer 20

Myanmar had no plans whereas mass evacuation orders were made in New Orleans resulting in the evacuation on 80% of the population

Question 21

How many people were rescued by emergency services in the USA?

Answer 21

50,000

Question 22

Which country benefited the most from short term aid?

Answer 22

The USA.
$4billion was collected by charities from the public and the Federal Emergency Management Agency paid out $85billion.
Myanmar initially refused to accept foreign aid

Question 23

Which country suffered the worst social impacts of the storm and which suffered the worst economic impact?

Answer 23

Social - Myanmar - most amount of deaths, loss of schools, homeless stats
Economic - USA - $100billion costs - 1/4million people unemployed as a result of the hurricane

Question 24

How high were each of the storm surges?

Answer 24

Katrina - 8.5m in Mississippi

Nargis - 5m