1.3.3 Tropical Storms - Effects and Responses - Case Study

Case Study - Hurricane Katrina

The effects of Hurricane Katrina were severe, particularly in the New Orleans where wind speeds reached 150mph, making it a Category 5 and causing flood defenses to fail.

Primary Impacts

• 1800 died
• 300,000 houses were destroyed, leaving 1 million homeless
• Large areas were flooded, including 80% of New Orleans
• 3 million people were left without electricity
• 16 meter storm surge caused flooding and overtopping of the levees
• Bridges on the major US 90 highway were destroyed, making access into the city difficult
• 1.3 million acres of forest land were destroyed, costing about $5 billion

Secondary Impacts

1. Total cost of the damage was an estimated $150 billion
2. 230,000 jobs were lost from damaged businesses
3. Looting was rife, due to lack of food and supplies
4. The storm caused oil spills which resulted in over 26 million litres of oil being leaked
5. Water supplies were contaminated by sewage and chemicals
6. Airport was badly damaged, and roads were blocked by flood waters which made rescue efforts and deliveries of supplies difficult
7. Katrina destroyed 30 oil platforms which cost the country billions

There were immediate and long-term responses to these effects:

Immediate Responses:

1. 70-80% of New Orleans residents were evacuated before the hurricane reached land.
2. Mississippi and Louisiana declared states of emergency; they set up control centres and emergency shelters and assisted with search and rescue and aid delivery.
3. 30,000 army troops were stationed in the area to assist with relief.
4. International aid was sent; this included food, water, and medical supplies. The Red Cross provided 302 shelters for 100,000 people.
5. 20,000 people were evacuated, many to the Superdome, an indoor stadium.
6. The Federal Government and FEMA delivered 17 million MREs (Meals Ready to Eat).

Long-Term Responses:

1. The Senate passed a bill to deliver $6 billion in funds to repair storm-damaged sewage treatment and drinking water plants within 2 years.
2. Rebuilding of flood defenses costing $14.5 billion.
3. FEMA provided housing assistance (rental assistance) to more than 700,000 applicants.
4. Congress provided $17 billion to rebuild homes and infrastructure.
5. Thousands of homes rebuilt away from areas at risk from coastal flooding by storm surges.