Hurricane Katrina (HIC)

• Where did the Hurricane mainly impact?

  New Orleans in Louisiana.
• Describe the topography of New Orleans

  Mostly flat land only a few feet above sea level.

  22% is water body

  38% is wetlands
• What was the wind speed roughly?

  175mph with gusts of 215mph
• What was the perception of the hurricane?

  Hurricanes were expected in the area and residents understood the risk with staying in New Orleans

  Tradition of New Orleans was to ride the storm out
• How was the perception changed?

  People realised the vulnerability of New Orleans and increased attention in evacuation plans and preparedness plans.

  People began to take evacuation more seriously.
• Economic impacts

  $300 billion in damage

  Tourism dropped

  Hurricane affected oil and gas industry
• Social impacts

  1800 people died

  Levees and flood walls failed

  Residents stranded which increased tensions
• Environmental impacts

  Coastal erosion

  Habitats destroyed

  Toxic chemicals and waste leaked into water supplies
• Political impacts

  The disaster revealed deep racial and socioeconomic divides

  The leadership of New Orleans faced intense criticism for handling the situation
• Immediate responses

  1.7 million people evacuated within Louisiana and Mississippi

  National Guard asked for over 700 buses to help evacuate

  20-30% forced to stay
• Short Term Responses

  The Red Cross and other NGOs, offered shelters and medical aid.

  Army corps repaired the levee system allowing partial draining
• Long term responses: eco, soc, env, pol

  Rebuilding infrastructure such as homes

  Investment into the levee system however this took years had to over come political and financial challenges.

  Disaster highlighted inequality

  Thousands displaced for years and many relocated to other states.

  Improved evacuation plans and better transport systems

  Wetland restoration as it proved to be a natural buffer against storm surges.
• When was Hurricane Katrina?

  2005