Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina

1. An extreme weather event; causes, effects on different groups of people and responses to the hazard

   • Effects on People
     • people sought refuge in the Superdome stadium
     • Conditions were unhygienic, and there was a shortage of food and water.
     • 1 million people were made homeless.
     • about 1200 people drowned in the floods.
     • oil facilities were damaged as a a result petrol prices rose in the UK and USA
     • 1,500 deaths in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida
     • Costs of about $300 billion
     • Thousands of jobs lost and millions and millions of dollars in lost tax incomes
     • Agricultural production was damaged by flooding. cotton and sugar-cane crops were flattened
   • Responses
     • There was much criticism of the authorities for their handling of the disaster.
     • Although many people were evacuated, it was a slow process and the poorest and most vulnerable were left behind
     • $50 billion in aid was given by the government
     • The UK government sent food aid during the early stages of the recovery process
     • The National Guard was mobilised to restore and maintain law and order in what became a hostile and unsafe living environment

2. How Hurricanes Form.

   • Hurricanes need a lot of heat and a sea surface temperature (at least 26 degrees) to form.
     • Explaining why they usually occur over tropical seas.
   • They also need to be between 5 and 20 degrees north or south of the equator.

3. Formation of a Hurricane

   • 1. warm air rises quickly, causing towering clouds, heavy rainfall and intense low pressure
   • 2. the low pressure sucks in air, causing very strong winds which spiral - anti-clockwise in the northern hemisphere - around the centre of the low, at speeds of around 120km/h (75mph)
   • 3. the cloud brings heavy rain, thunder and lightening.
   • 4. in the centre is the eye of the hurricane
   • 5. often there will be no cloud in the eye and much calmer conditions.
   • 6. the eye is formed because this is the only part of the hurricane where air is sinking.

4. Facts

   • Katrina was a catagory 4 storm
   • storm surges reached over 6 metres in height
   • New Orleans was one of the worst affected areas because it is below sea level and protected levees. the defences were unable to cope with the strength of Katrina
   • Despite an evacuation order, many of the poorest people remained in the city

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