Hurricane: Katrina

Question 1

Where was Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 1

Southeast USA

Question 2

In what direction did Katrina go?

Answer 2

Northwest

Question 3

Where did Hurricane Katrina strengthen?

Answer 3

Over the Gulf of Mexico

Question 4

What were the Hurricane Katrina windspeeds?

Answer 4

200km/h

Question 5

What was the rainfall in Lousiana? (mm) (Hurricane Katrina)

Answer 5

200-250mm

Question 6

How tall was the storm surge in Mississippi? (m) (Hurricane Katrina)

Answer 6

8.5m

Question 7

Economic impacts of Hurricane Katrina?

Answer 7

230,000 jobs lost from damaged businesses,
Disrupted industry- 30 oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico=disrupted oil industry.
Gulfport in Mississippi was damaged= shipping industry down
5300 km2 of forest lost in Mississippi= $5 billion income from logging lost
Total cost of damage= $300 billion

Question 8

Social impacts of Hurricane Katrina

Answer 8

1836 people killed.
300,000 houses destroyed, hundreds of thousands homeless.
3 million people without electricity.
I-10 bridge collapsed- the main route out of New Orleans.
Water supplies polluted with sewage and chemicals.
5 people died from contaminated water.
18 schools in New Orleans were destroyed and 74 were badly damaged

Question 9

Environmental impacts of Hurricane Katrina

Answer 9

Coastal habitats and sea turtle breeding beaches badly damaged.
Breton National Wildlife Refuge (BNWR) was destroyed.
Flooding caused oil refineries in Lousiana to spill.
Salt marsh flooding= loss of habitat

Question 10

Preparing for Hurricane Katrina

Answer 10

On August 26th, the National Hurricane Centre (NHC) issued a warning of hurricane Katrina heading for Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
This warning helped the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency:
-The FEMA organised supplies and teams e.g. mortuary teams with refrigerated trucks to deal with bodies.
-In New Orleans, 80% of residents were evacuated.

Question 11

Responses during and after Hurricane Katrina

Answer 11

The US Coast Guard positioned helicopters and boasts in the most affected areas.
The Louisiana Superdome shelter 26,000 people during Katrina.
The Coast Guard, police, fire service and army rescued 50,000 people.
Charities collected over $4 billion from the public to provide aid (e.g. food) to victims.