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MEDC: Local: Hurricane KatrinaFormed: August 23rd, 2005 (2005 Hurricane Season)

Dissipated: August 30th, 2005

Highest Winds: 175mph

Fatalities: 1, 836

Damage: $300billion (MetOffice)

Areas Affected: Bahamas, South Florida, Cuba, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Panhandle.

Flooded levee system in New Orleans, Louisiana; 80% of New Orleans was flooded. Much of this flooding was caused by failures in the city’s floodwalls.

Formed as a tropical depression, then to a tropical storm, then to a hurricane.

Category 5 hurricane.

Lost hurricane strength later in the storm, more than 150miles inland.

Round the clock rescue efforts from air crews.

3 million people left without electricity.

High-rise buildings with much damage to windows.

Gulf Coast

Eleven counties and eleven cities issues evacuation orders.

Public transport shut down.

80% of 1.3 million people evacuated.

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Greater New Orleans

Louisiana Superdrome sheltered 26, 000 people.

Mississippi

Streets and bridges washed away

90% coastal structures completely destroyed

First hit land in South Florida and Cuba as category one storm; 80mph winds; rainfall exceeded 14inches; storm surges of 3-5 feet.

Then hit Louisiana four days later; 125mph winds; category three storm; storm surges exceeding 14 feet;

Economic Effects

Katrina damaged or destroyed 30 oil platforms

Forest industry affected as 1.3million acres of forest lands destroyed; losses of upto $5billion.

Huge amounts of local residents left unemployed > fewer taxes paid to local government.

Before the hurricane, the region supported approximately one million non-farm jobs, with 600,000 of them in New Orleans.

Some insurance companies stopped providing insurance for homeowners in the area due to high costs.

Agricultural production was damaged by tornadoes and flooding. Cotton and sugar-cane crops were flattened.

Environmental Effects

Substantial beach erosion.

Chandeleur islands >

The US Geological Survey has estimated 217 square miles (560 km2) of land was transformed to water.

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Lost lands was breeding homes for animals such as marine mammals, brown pelicans, turtles, and fish, as well as migratory species such as redhead ducks. Over 20% of marshes permanently turned to water.

Damage forced the closure of 16 National Wildlife Refuges.

Flood waters which covered New Orleans were pumped into Lake Pontchartrain contained raw sewage, bacteria, heavy metals, pesticides, toxic chemicals and over 24million litres of oil.

Social Effects

Remaining residents of New Orleans began looting shops, many in search of food and water.

Shootings between police and residents lead to one fatality.

Responses

Federal Emergency Management Agency - logistical supply deployments, mortuary team with refrigerated trucks, housing assistance,

Coast Guard rescued more than 33, 000 stranded people.

Military presence.

Congress authorised $63billion for aid.

Countries offering money include: Cuba, Venezuela, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Australia and China.

India sent tarps, blankets and hygiene kits.

NGO responses

Red Cross, Oxfam, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity etc.

Corporate donations near $1billion.

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Number of housing units damaged, destroyed, or inaccessible because of Katrina: 850,791

Percentage of New Orleans’ pre-Katrina residents who have returned to the city: approximately 45

Depth of water covering parts of New Orleans: 20 feet

Square miles of coastal wetlands that were converted to open water after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: 118

In terms of energy, number of atomic bombs it would take to equal Hurricane Katrina’s power: 100,000

Gallons of water the New Orleans water system loses each day due to breaks caused by Katrina and an under funded repair budget: 85 million

Percentage of New Orleans cultural institutions that remain closed from storm damage: 75

Number of homes destroyed by breaches in federally designed and funded levees and not covered under the federal housing recovery plan: 200,000

Number of jobs eliminated in the Gulf Coast by Hurricane Katrina: 230,000

Permanent employment loss in Louisiana: 100,000