Hurricane Katrina

Case Study for Hazardous Earth: Extreme Weather - A HEDC/HIC.

-Tropical Cyclone.

(Edexcel B)

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Events/Impacts

Katrina was a category 4 storm when it hit New Orleans.

Storm surges reached 6 metres in height.

New Orleans was the most affected area as it’s below sea level. The levees (flood walls) were breached by the storm surge. Becuase they protected the city from the Mississipi River and Lake Ponchartrain, 80% of the city flooded when they broke.

1800 deaths (0.4% of pop.)

Economic cost was $100 billion. 

Shortage of food/water lead to looting (stealling from unguarded homes/businesses).

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Preparation

USA had good forecasting services (developed country), so they could monitor Katrina from the 23rd August and predict where it would make landfall.

Ordered evacuation of New Orleans - 80% left (poorest stayed- no vehicle).

25,000 left sheltered in the Superdome (American football stadium on higher ground). There was no drinking water or sanitation and the elders went untreated.

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Evaluate Responses

+80% evacuated (warning/tracking systems).

+Vast majority survived Katrina (only 0.5% of pop. died).

+Emergency shelters - Superdrome.

+$50 billion in aid was given by the government

-FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) were unprepared for the scale of destruction and number of people affected.

-Slow evacuation process, and the poorest/most vulnerablewere left behind.

-George Bush and government critisized for not doing enough before and after (providing relief).

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Extra

400,000 people living in New Orleans in 2016 compared to 500,000 pre-Katrina (10 years earlier).

Road Home Project (discriminatory)

-Based payouts on house value before storm.

-Black neighbourhoods were valued less, although the house values and construction prices were the same.

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