Hurricane katrina

Question 1

what is some background information about the hurricane?

Answer 1

• first category 5 hurricane of the season
• windspeed of 280km per hour
• central pressure of 902mb
• 5th most intense atlantic basin hurricane on record

Question 2

what is the risk and vulnerability?

Answer 2

new orleanms lies on gulf coast of USA and is an area which can expect severe storms
occured in a very active season
150,000 decided not to evacuate

Question 3

what are the primary effects of the hurricane?

Answer 3

• complex system of flood dfeneces breached 80% underwater
• 110,000 of 180,000 houses were flooded and 55,000 to damaged to repair
• power and water supplies disrupted
• 5 million without power
• 1242 deaths
• many oil installations damaged causing the price of oil to rise

Question 4

what were the secondary effects of the hurricane?

Answer 4

1 million people became refugees
tourism revenue reduced
looters
financial cost of 200 billion

Question 5

what was the cause of the hurricane?

Answer 5

-developed on 23 aug over bahamas
-28th aug it was updated to a category 4 and was headed towards coast of Mississippi and Louisiana
-advanced warnings in place by 26th
hit lousiana on 29th

Question 6

what were the immediate responses?

Answer 6

• evacuation conducted however may refused to move
• many volunteers gave assistance to local residents
• USA had a military on scene response
• law enforcement and public safety agencies responded with manpower and equipment
• 70 countries pledged donations

Question 7

what were the long term responses?

Answer 7

• 62.3 billion on aid for the victims
• FEMA provided housing assistance to 700,000 applicants
• FEMA also paid for the hotel costs of 12,000 individuals
• 2 weeks after the storm more than half of the states were involved in providing shelter for evacuees
• as of march 2010 there was still 260 families living in FEMA provided accommodation