Hurricane Katrina Flashcards
Tropical storm case study (10 cards)
When
August 2005
Where
Formed over Bahamas
Moved NW, strengthened towards Gulf of Mexico
Rainfall over Louisiana
Storm surge in Mississippi
Disaster
200km/h high winds
200-250 mm rainfall
8.5m high storm surge in Mississippi
80% city of New Orleans flooded
Economic Impacts
230,000 jobs
Industry disruption
- Oil: 30 oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico damaged /destroyed
- Shipping: Gulfport in Mississippi
$5 bill lost logging income due to forest damage in Mississippi
Total cost: $100 billion
Social Impacts
1800 killed
300,000 homes
Thousands displaced
3 million lost electricity
1-10 bridge collapse lead to main route closure in New Orleans
5 people died due to water supply pollution
80 schools destroyed/damaged in New Orleans - education disruption
Environmental Impact
Coastal habitat damage - sea turtle breeding beaches, salt marshes
Coastal conservation damage - Breton National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana
Oil spills in Louisiana due to refineries damaged by floods
Mit/Preparation
Sophisticated monitoring system prediction
National Hurricane Centre in Florida issued warnings for Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama
Preparation: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
US Coast Guard positioned helicopters and boats
Organised teams and supplies e.g mortuary teams
Mandatory (compulsory) evacuated ~80% of New Orleans pre event
Response/Relief
Louisiana Superdrome sheltered 26,000
50,000 rescued
$4 billion donation to provide victims aid
Mitigation post Katrina
US Army Corps of Engineer: $14.5 billion project
- West Closure Complex: $1.1 billion pump
- levees improvement - for category 5
- 350 miles hurricane border
- advanced computer modelling and monitoring
