hurricane katrina

Hurricane katrina -  New orleans - August 29th 2005

why was New orleans at risk?

• It was already below sea level
• Had the missipi river running through it
• situated on the gulf of mexico
• The levee and flood wall  holding back water from the missipi river was weak, the water was emptied into New orleans- Poor maintainence and structure, only capable of withstanding a category 3 storm
• The missisipi wetland (delta) was being destroyed due to oil extraction. Coukd not absorb the flooding by Katrina.
•  Global warming is leading to a rise in sea temperatures and thus more storms

Primary impacts;

• 1464 people died
• 1 million homless
• jobs and homes destroyed
• by 28th, 80% of the population had evacuated
• Looting in poor black communities
• Communication…