1.3.14

Tropical Storms Case Study: Katrina - Effects

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The Effects of Hurricane Katrina

In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the US states of Mississippi and Louisiana. It was the 3rd deadliest hurricane in American history. New Orleans' flood defenses (levees) broke because they were badly designed, flooding the city.

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Primary effects

  • 1,836 people are thought to have died.
  • 154,522 houses were destroyed between 2005 and 2006.
  • The electricity supplies for over 3 million people were cut off. Many people sheltered at the Superdome stadium in New Orleans.
  • 80% of New Orleans was flooded with some parts 4.5 metres underwater.
  • Coastal habitats were damaged and bridges & infrastructure collapsed.
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Secondary effects

  • The population of New Orleans fell from 1.386 million to 1.04 million between 2005 and 2006. In 2014, the population was 1.25 million.
  • 2,400 businesses in New Orleans closed down or went bankrupt between 2005 and 2006.
  • Hundreds of thousands became homeless and sewers overflowed and entered water supplies.
  • The estimated total amount of damage was around $125 billion.

Jump to other topics

1The Challenge of Natural Hazards

1.1Natural Hazards

1.2Tectonic Hazards

1.3Weather Hazards

1.4Climate Change

2The Living World

3Physical Landscapes in the UK

3.1The UK Physical Landscape

3.2Coastal Landscapes in the UK

3.3River Landscapes in the UK

3.4Glacial Landscapes in the UK

4Urban Issues & Challenges

5The Changing Economic World

5.1The Changing Economic World

5.2Economic Development in the UK

6The Challenge of Resource Management

6.1Resource Management

6.2Food

6.3Water

6.4Energy

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