Download Case Study Hurricane Katrina

Case Study: An extreme weather event: the causes, effects on different groups of people,
and responses to the hazard.
Hurricane Katrina – Tropical Storm, August 2005
Causes
A Low Pressure weather event, Category 4 storm, Winds up to 147mph
Warm, moist air derived from with sea surface temperatures 27°C and above, sea had been warmed by the summer
sun.
Warm air rises rapidly causing evaporation and condensation of water, creating large storm clouds.
Air gets pulled in so winds near the ocean surface blow in from different directions, converging and causing air to spiral,
rise and storm clouds to form.
The low pressure caused a storm surge (a sea level rise) of 8 metres.
New Orleans lies below sea level and is protected by levees. These were unable to cope, and the water flooded the city
(80% of the city, up to 6 metres high)
Effects on Different Groups of People (Local residents, low income residents, business owners, tourists)
1500 died
$300 billion of damage to the area
Evacuation order given. Many of the poorest people remained in the city, unable to afford transport out of the city.

The Superdome stadium, housed 26,000 people. Conditions were unhygienic, toilets overflowed and there was a
shortage of food and water.

Looting was commonplace throughout the city. (Business owners lost stock and income as stores were closed.)

High cost to repair the damage after the storm.

Tension was high and many felt vulnerable and unsafe – the army were called in to protect people and property.

Cotton and sugar-cane crops were flattened further up the state.

1 million people were made homeless.

Oil facilities were damaged and as a result petrol prices rose in the UK and USA.
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 (army) was mobilised to restore and maintain law and order in what became a hostile
and unsafe living environment.
The superdome (stadium) was opened to house stranded residents and tourists. When this became
unsafe and overcrowded, buses were provided and took people to Texas.