Hurricane Katrina

• Where is New Orleans?

  New Orleans is a city in southeast Louisiana, USA
• What caused Hurricane Katrina and where and how did it develop over time? When did it reach land?

  Hurricane Katrina was caused by a tropical depression near the Bahamas. It began as a tropical storm, which passed over Florida before developing into a Category 5 Hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico, due to the high sea temperature of 27 degrees C. It reached Louisiana on 29th August 2005
• Give 3 basic facts about the impact of the Hurricane

  1836 people died, over a million made homeless, 2/3 of New Orleans underwater
• What 3 groups of people were affected?

  Poor people, working people and MEDCs.
• How were poor people affected?

  23% of New Orleans was in poverty, so many people did not have safe housing and had no access to transport to evacuate. The poorest area of New Orleans, the Ninth Ward, was worst hit because it was right next to the Industrial Canal, which overflowed so that water rose to 12ft in some parts of the neighbourhood.
• How were working people affected?

  Unemployment increased by 6% across the whole state of Louisiana. This meant that less tax was paid, hindering the recovery of the 150 billion dollars worth of damage
• How were people in MEDCs affected?

  30 platforms were damaged and 9 refineries closed, so oil production decreased and global prices of petrol rose.
• What does FEMA stand for?

  Federal Emergency Management Agency
• Give details about evacuation as a response to the hurricane

  Evacuation was made mandatory on the 28th, however there lots of traffic congestion and many people did not have access to transport. The Superdome in New Orleans was opened as a last resort, and sheltered 26000 people from the storm.
• Give details about how the government responded

  The government sent 50 billion dollars of aid. However, FEMA was inefficiently managed and said that the volunteer firefighters had to be trained before entering New Orleans, which delayed help. Many people accused the government of racism as many people stranded in New Orleans were African American.
• Give details about the response of the National Guard

  The National Guard rescued 33,000 people from New Orleans and helped to maintain law and order because there were thefts, looting and assault crimes
• Why was New Orleans particularly vulnerable?

  Insufficient flood defenses such as levees (which were breached in 53 places), 80% is below sea level and the city is surrounded by the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi river and Lake Pontchartrain.