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Hurricane Katrina Case Study

Hurricane Katrina is tied with Hurricane Harvey (2017) as the costliest hurricane on record. Although not the strongest in recorded history, the hurricane caused an estimated $125 billion worth of damage. The category five hurricane is the joint eight strongest ever recorded, with sustained winds of 175 mph (280 km/h).

The hurricane began as a very low-pressure system over the Atlantic Ocean. The system strengthened, forming a hurricane that moved west, approaching the Florida coast on the evening of the 25th August 2005.

A satellite image of Hurricane Katrina.

A satellite image of Hurricane Katrina.

Hurricane Katrina was an extremely destructive and deadly Category 5 hurricane. It made landfall on Florida and Louisiana, particularly the city of New Orleans and surrounding areas, in August 2005, causing catastrophic damage from central Florida to eastern Texas. Fatal flaws in flood engineering protection led to a significant loss of life in New Orleans. The levees, designed to cope with category three storm surges, failed to lead to catastrophic flooding and loss of life.

What were the impacts of Hurricane Katrina?

Hurricane Katrina was a category five tropical storm. The hurricane caused storm surges over six metres in height. The city of New Orleans was one of the worst affected areas. This is because it lies below sea level and is protected by levees. The levees protect the city from the Mississippi River and Lake Ponchartrain. However, these were unable to cope with the storm surge, and water flooded the city.

$105 billion was sought by The Bush Administration for repairs and reconstruction in the region. This funding did not include potential interruption of the oil supply, destruction of the Gulf Coast’s highway infrastructure, and exports of commodities such as grain.

Although the state made an evacuation order, many of the poorest people remained in New Orleans because they either wanted to protect their property or could not afford to leave.

The Superdome stadium was set up as a centre for people who could not escape the storm. There was a shortage of food, and the conditions were unhygienic.

Looting occurred throughout the city, and tensions were high as people felt unsafe. 1,200 people drowned in the floods, and 1 million people were made homeless. Oil facilities were damaged, and as a result, the price of petrol rose in the UK and USA.

80% of the city of New Orleans and large neighbouring parishes became flooded, and the floodwaters remained for weeks. Most of the transportation and communication networks servicing New Orleans were damaged or disabled by the flooding, and tens of thousands of people who had not evacuated the city before landfall became stranded with little access to food, shelter or basic necessities.

The storm surge caused substantial beach erosion , in some cases completely devastating coastal areas.

Katrina also produced massive tree loss along the Gulf Coast, particularly in Louisiana’s Pearl River Basin and among bottomland hardwood forests.

The storm caused oil spills from 44 facilities throughout southeastern Louisiana. This resulted in over 7 million US gallons (26,000 m 3 ) of oil being leaked. Some spills were only a few hundred gallons, and most were contained on-site, though some oil entered the ecosystem and residential areas.

Some New Orleans residents are no longer able to get home insurance to cover them from the impact of hurricanes.

What was the response to Hurricane Katrina?

The US Government was heavily criticised for its handling of the disaster. Despite many people being evacuated, it was a very slow process. The poorest and most vulnerable were left behind.

The government provided $50 billion in aid.

During the early stages of the recovery process, the UK government sent food aid.

The National Guard was mobilised to restore law and order in New Orleans.

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Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina

Subject: Geography

Age range: 11 - 16

Resource type: Worksheet/Activity

Geography Teachers Resources

Last updated

5 December 2019

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hurricane katrina case study pdf gcse

This lesson investigates why Hurricane Katrina was so devastating and the effects of it. This can be used as a case study. There is a fact collecting exercise that uses two YouTube videos as sources of information.

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Weather & Climate

this contains 9 lessons on weather & climate including clouds, types of rainfall, variations in UK weather, reasons for differing weather in the tropics between deserts and rainforests, tropical storms a case study on drought in the Sahel and and in depth case study on Hurricane Katrina. This is aimed at GCSE or Year 9 but could be adapted for lower KS3.

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Tropical Storms Case Study: Katrina Effects

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.

Illustrative background for Primary effects

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.

Illustrative background for Secondary effects

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.

1 Geography Skills

1.1 Mapping

1.1.1 Map Making

1.1.2 OS Maps

1.1.3 Grid References

1.1.4 Contour Lines

1.1.5 Symbols, Scale and Distance

1.1.6 Directions on Maps

1.1.7 Describing Routes

1.1.8 Map Projections

1.1.9 Aerial & Satellite Images

1.1.10 Using Maps to Make Decisions

1.2 Geographical Information Systems

1.2.1 Geographical Information Systems

1.2.2 How do Geographical Information Systems Work?

1.2.3 Using Geographical Information Systems

1.2.4 End of Topic Test - Geography Skills

2 Geology of the UK

2.1 The UK's Rocks

2.1.1 The UK's Main Rock Types

2.1.2 The UK's Landscape

2.1.3 Using Rocks

2.1.4 Weathering

2.2 Case Study: The Peak District

2.2.1 The Peak District

2.2.2 Limestone Landforms

2.2.3 Quarrying

3 Geography of the World

3.1 Geography of America & Europe

3.1.1 North America

3.1.2 South America

3.1.3 Europe

3.1.4 The European Union

3.1.5 The Continents

3.1.6 The Oceans

3.1.7 Longitude

3.1.8 Latitude

3.1.9 End of Topic Test - Geography of the World

4 Development

4.1 Development

4.1.1 Classifying Development

4.1.3 Evaluation of GDP

4.1.4 The Human Development Index

4.1.5 Population Structure

4.1.6 Developing Countries

4.1.7 Emerging Countries

4.1.8 Developed Countries

4.1.9 Comparing Development

4.2 Uneven Development

4.2.1 Consequences of Uneven Development

4.2.2 Physical Factors Affecting Development

4.2.3 Historic Factors Affecting Development

4.2.4 Human & Social Factors Affecting Development

4.2.5 Breaking Out of the Poverty Cycle

4.3 Case Study: Democratic Republic of Congo

4.3.1 The DRC: An Overview

4.3.2 Political & Social Factors Affecting Development

4.3.3 Environmental Factors Affecting the DRC

4.3.4 The DRC: Aid

4.3.5 The Pros & Cons of Aid in DRC

4.3.6 Top-Down vs Bottom-Up in DRC

4.3.7 The DRC: Comparison with the UK

4.3.8 The DRC: Against Malaria Foundation

4.4 Case Study: Nigeria

4.4.1 The Importance & Development of Nigeria

4.4.2 Nigeria's Relationships with the Rest of the World

4.4.3 Urban Growth in Lagos

4.4.4 Population Growth in Lagos

4.4.5 Factors influencing Nigeria's Growth

4.4.6 Nigeria: Comparison with the UK

5 Weather & Climate

5.1 Weather

5.1.1 Weather & Climate

5.1.2 Components of Weather

5.1.3 Temperature

5.1.4 Sunshine, Humidity & Air Pressure

5.1.5 Cloud Cover

5.1.6 Precipitation

5.1.7 Convectional Precipitation

5.1.8 Frontal Precipitation

5.1.9 Relief or Orographic Precipitation

5.1.10 Wind

5.1.11 Extreme Wind

5.1.12 Recording the Weather

5.1.13 Extreme Weather

5.2 Climate

5.2.1 Climate of the British Isles

5.2.2 Comparing Weather & Climate London

5.2.3 Climate of the Tropical Rainforest

5.2.4 End of Topic Test - Weather & Climate

5.3 Tropical Storms

5.3.1 Formation of Tropical Storms

5.3.2 Features of Tropical Storms

5.3.3 The Structure of Tropical Storms

5.3.4 Tropical Storms Case Study: Katrina Effects

5.3.5 Tropical Storms Case Study: Katrina Responses

6 The World of Work

6.1 Tourism

6.1.1 Landscapes

6.1.2 The Growth of Tourism

6.1.3 Benefits of Tourism

6.1.4 Economic Costs of Tourism

6.1.5 Social, Cultural & Environmental Costs of Tourism

6.1.6 Tourism Case Study: Blackpool

6.1.7 Ecotourism

6.1.8 Tourism Case Study: Kenya

7 Natural Resources

7.1.1 What are Rocks?

7.1.2 Types of Rock

7.1.4 The Rock Cycle - Weathering

7.1.5 The Rock Cycle - Erosion

7.1.6 What is Soil?

7.1.7 Soil Profiles

7.1.8 Water

7.1.9 Global Water Demand

7.2 Fossil Fuels

7.2.1 Introduction to Fossil Fuels

7.2.2 Fossil Fuels

7.2.3 The Global Energy Supply

7.2.5 What is Peak Oil?

7.2.6 End of Topic Test - Natural Resources

8.1 River Processes & Landforms

8.1.1 Overview of Rivers

8.1.2 The Bradshaw Model

8.1.3 Erosion

8.1.4 Sediment Transport

8.1.5 River Deposition

8.1.6 River Profiles: Long Profiles

8.1.7 River Profiles: Cross Profiles

8.1.8 Waterfalls & Gorges

8.1.9 Interlocking Spurs

8.1.10 Meanders

8.1.11 Floodplains

8.1.12 Levees

8.1.13 Case Study: River Tees

8.2 Rivers & Flooding

8.2.1 Flood Risk Factors

8.2.2 Flood Management: Hard Engineering

8.2.3 Flood Management: Soft Engineering

8.2.4 Flooding Case Study: Boscastle

8.2.5 Flooding Case Study: Consequences of Boscastle

8.2.6 Flooding Case Study: Responses to Boscastle

8.2.7 Flooding Case Study: Bangladesh

8.2.8 End of Topic Test - Rivers

8.2.9 Rivers Case Study: The Nile

8.2.10 Rivers Case Study: The Mississippi

9.1 Formation of Coastal Landforms

9.1.1 Weathering

9.1.2 Erosion

9.1.3 Headlands & Bays

9.1.4 Caves, Arches & Stacks

9.1.5 Wave-Cut Platforms & Cliffs

9.1.6 Waves

9.1.7 Longshore Drift

9.1.8 Coastal Deposition

9.1.9 Spits, Bars & Sand Dunes

9.2 Coast Management

9.2.1 Management Strategies for Coastal Erosion

9.2.2 Case Study: The Holderness Coast

9.2.3 Case Study: Lyme Regis

9.2.4 End of Topic Test - Coasts

10 Glaciers

10.1 Overview of Glaciers & How They Work

10.1.1 Distribution of Glaciers

10.1.2 Types of Glaciers

10.1.3 The Last Ice Age

10.1.4 Formation & Movement of Glaciers

10.1.5 Shaping of Landscapes by Glaciers

10.1.6 Glacial Landforms Created by Erosion

10.1.7 Glacial Till & Outwash Plain

10.1.8 Moraines

10.1.9 Drumlins & Erratics

10.1.10 End of Topic Tests - Glaciers

10.1.11 Tourism in Glacial Landscapes

10.1.12 Strategies for Coping with Tourists

10.1.13 Case Study - Lake District: Tourism

10.1.14 Case Study - Lake District: Management

11 Tectonics

11.1 Continental Drift & Plate Tectonics

11.1.1 The Theory of Plate Tectonics

11.1.2 The Structure of the Earth

11.1.3 Tectonic Plates

11.1.4 Plate Margins

11.2 Volcanoes

11.2.1 Volcanoes & Their Products

11.2.2 The Development of Volcanoes

11.2.3 Living Near Volcanoes

11.3 Earthquakes

11.3.1 Overview of Earthquakes

11.3.2 Consequences of Earthquakes

11.3.3 Case Study: Christchurch, New Zealand Earthquake

11.4 Tsunamis

11.4.1 Formation of Tsunamis

11.4.2 Case Study: Japan 2010 Tsunami

11.5 Managing the Risk of Volcanoes & Earthquakes

11.5.1 Coping With Earthquakes & Volcanoes

11.5.2 End of Topic Test - Tectonics

12 Climate Change

12.1 The Causes & Consequences of Climate Change

12.1.1 Evidence for Climate Change

12.1.2 Natural Causes of Climate Change

12.1.3 Human Causes of Climate Change

12.1.4 The Greenhouse Effect

12.1.5 Effects of Climate Change on the Environment

12.1.6 Effects of Climate Change on People

12.1.7 Climate Change Predictions

12.1.8 Uncertainty About Future Climate Change

12.1.9 Mitigating Against Climate Change

12.1.10 Adapting to Climate Change

12.1.11 Case Study: Bangladesh

13 Global Population & Inequality

13.1 Global Populations

13.1.1 World Population

13.1.2 Population Structure

13.1.3 Ageing Populations

13.1.4 Youthful Populations

13.1.5 Population Control

13.1.6 Mexico to USA Migration

13.1.7 End of Topic Test - Development & Population

14 Urbanisation

14.1 Urbanisation

14.1.1 Rural Characterisitcs

14.1.2 Urban Characteristics

14.1.3 Urbanisation Growth

14.1.4 The Land Use Model

14.1.5 Rural-Urban Pull Factors

14.1.6 Rural-Urban Push Factors

14.1.7 The Impacts of Migration

14.1.8 Challenges of Urban Areas in Developed Countries

14.1.9 Challenges of Urban Areas in Developing Countries

14.1.10 Urban Sustainability

14.1.11 Case Study: China's Urbanisation

14.1.12 Major UK Cities

14.1.13 Urbanisation in the UK

14.1.14 End of Topic Test- Urbanisation

14.1.15 End of Topic Test - Urban Issues

15 Ecosystems

15.1 The Major Biomes

15.1.1 Distribution of Major Biomes

15.1.2 What Affects the Distribution of Biomes?

15.1.3 Biome Features: Tropical Forests

15.1.4 Biome Features: Temperate Forests

15.1.5 Biome Features: Tundra

15.1.6 Biome Features: Deserts

15.1.7 Biome Features: Tropical Grasslands

15.1.8 Biome Features: Temperate Grasslands

15.2 Case Study: The Amazon Rainforest

15.2.1 Interdependence of Rainforest Ecosystems

15.2.2 Nutrient Cycling in Tropical Rainforests

15.2.3 Deforestation in the Amazon

15.2.4 Impacts of Deforestation in the Amazon

15.2.5 Protecting the Amazon

15.2.6 Adaptations of Plants to Rainforests

15.2.7 Adaptations of Animals to Rainforests

16 Life in an Emerging Country

16.1 Case Studies

16.1.1 Mumbai: Opportunities

16.1.2 Mumbai: Challenges

17 Analysis of Africa

17.1 Africa

17.1.1 Desert Biomes in Africa

17.1.2 The Semi-Desert Biome

17.1.3 The Savanna Biome

17.1.4 Overview of Tropical Rainforests

17.1.5 Colonisation History

17.1.6 Population Distribution in Africa

17.1.7 Economic Resources in Africa

17.1.8 Urbanisation in Africa

17.1.9 Africa's Location

17.1.10 Physical Geography of Africa

17.1.11 Desertification in Africa

17.1.12 Reducing the Risk of Desertification

17.1.13 Case Study: The Sahara Desert - Opportunities

17.1.14 Case Study: The Sahara Desert - Development

18 Analysis of India

18.1 India - Physical Geography

18.1.1 Geographical Location of India

18.1.2 Physical Geography of India

18.1.3 India's Climate

18.1.4 Natural Disasters in India

18.1.5 Case Study: The Thar Desert

18.1.6 Case Study: The Thar Desert - Challenges

18.2 India - Human Geography

18.2.1 Population Distribution in India

18.2.2 Urabinsation in India

18.2.3 The History of India

18.2.4 Economic Resources in India

19 Analysis of the Middle East

19.1 The Middle East

19.1.1 Physical Geography of the Middle East

19.1.2 Human Geography of the Middle East

19.1.3 Climate Zones in the Middle East

19.1.4 Climate Comparison with the UK

19.1.5 Oil & Natural Gas in the Middle East

19.1.6 Water in the Middle East

19.1.7 Population of the Middle East

19.1.8 Development Case Studies: The UAE

19.1.9 Development Case Studies: Yemen

19.1.10 Supporting Development in Yemen

19.1.11 Connection to the UK

19.1.12 Importance of Oil

19.1.13 Oil & Tourism in the UAE

20 Analysis of Bangladesh

20.1 Bangladesh Physical Geography

20.1.1 Location of Bangladesh

20.1.2 Climate of Bangladesh

20.1.3 Rivers in Bangladesh

20.1.4 Flooding in Bangladesh

20.2 Bangladesh Human Geography

20.2.1 Population Structure in Bangladesh

20.2.2 Urbanisation in Bangladesh

20.2.3 Bangladesh's Economy

20.2.4 Energy & Sustainability in Bangladesh

21 Analysis of Russia

21.1 Russia's Physical Geography

21.1.1 Russia's Climate

21.1.2 Russia's Landscape

21.2 Russia's Human Geography

21.2.1 Population of Russia

21.2.2 Russia's Economy

21.2.3 Energy & Sustainability in Russia

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The Structure of Tropical Storms

Tropical Storms Case Study: Katrina Responses

Preparation for Tropical Cyclones ( Edexcel GCSE Geography: B (1GB0) )

Revision note.

Bridgette

Geography Lead

Preparation for Tropical Cyclones

  • Level of preparation depends on accurate forecasting and then communications but also level of development
  • Developed countries are able to spend money on preparation and high-tech systems of prediction and notification
  • Developing countries may find it difficult to buy satellites and monitoring systems or communicate the information to people likely to be affected
  • The 4 P's are used to manage tropical cyclones: prediction, preparation, protection and planning (for the future)
  • Protect personal property and infrastructure
to give warnings so that actions can be taken to 
reduce the impact of a tropical cyclone

Data from satellites and radar tracks the movement of storms, computer models then predict the path the storm will take

Allows time for evacuation which will reduce the number of deaths and injuries. It also means people can protect their homes and businesses from strong winds and flooding
things that are built to protect people from the 
hazard
Design buildings with secure roofs which use reinforced concrete
Raise buildings on stilts
Build levees (along rivers) or sea walls along the coast
Buildings are less likely to be destroyed, so less people will die from collapsing buildings and falling debris
Buildings will not be flooded
This reduces the risk of flooding from overflowing rivers, or from storm surges
having things in place before the event to better cope with the event Teach people how to prepare properly, what to put in a survival kit (e.g. first aid kit, bottled water) and how to evacuate safely People who know how to react are more likely to survive, as they will evacuate safely 
Survival kits can help those who are trapped to survive whilst waiting for help
  evaluate past events to find new solutions or identify improvements 

Build new homes and businesses away from areas at risk, such as the coast
Train emergency services on how to react to a storm
Plan evacuation routes 

Areas of poverty leads to poor construction of housing which is more easily damaged: regardless of level of development

Worked example

Suggest one way that the government of a developing country could help its people cope with a tropical cyclone..

  • Predict – monitor and track the storm so warnings can be given, (1) this gives people time to evacuate the areas that are most at risk.  (1)
  • Protection – build storm shelters so people have somewhere safe to go.  (1) These would be raised of the ground and have strong windows and doors.  (1)
  • Build a sea wall (1) to protect against storm surges. (1)
  • Build houses on silts, so homes are protected from the storm surge. (1)  
  • Planning – educate the people about tropical storms (1) so they know what to do if a storm hits. (1)  
  • Answer must relate to a developing country 

Case Study: USA

  • Hurricanes frequently occur between July and October in the USA
  • North and South Carolina
  • Miami in Florida is the most vulnerable city with a 16% risk of experiencing a hurricane in any year
  • The high risk has led to a range of planning and preparation strategies

Forecasting and warnings

  • Issues forecasts and warnings 
  • Produces educational materials to help people prepare and know what to do in the event of a hurricane
  • The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) operates 17 satellites some of which provide weather forecasting data
  • Forecasts are communicated via TV, radio and the internet
  • These are able to track the path of the hurricane as well as predict wind speeds and storm surges

Evacuation plans

  • Florida and many other areas have evacuation plans and risk zones created using hazard mapping which identifies the areas most at risk

storm-surge-zones

Risk zones in the Miami area of Florida

  • Hurricane warnings and evacuation orders are broadcast via TV, radio and online
  • Evacuation routes are clearly sign posted
  • The National Hurricane Centre runs a National Hurricane Preparedness Week each year to educate people regarding the risks and how they can prepare

Flood defences

  • One of the main risks from hurricanes are storm surges
  • Sea level rise
  • The clearance of natural defences - coral reefs, sand dunes and mangroves - for development and agriculture
  • The USA has invested in defences to reduce the impacts of storm surges
  • Previously ideas such as sea walls and levees were seen as the best defences - a six mile sea wall along the Miami coastline has been proposed by the US Amy Corps of Engineers
  • Layered coastal protection with dunes, coral reefs and mangroves 
  • Evacuation of people from at risk zones
  • Search and rescue for people who are missing after the storm
  • Provision of shelter, medical assistance, food and clean water
  • Rebuilding and repair of buildings
  • Repairing roads, rail, energy and water infrastructure
  • Evaluate success of evacuation, forecasts and warning systems to improve them for future hurricanes
  • Improve buildings to increase hurricane resistance

Hurricane Katrina

  • A category 5 hurricane which made landfall near New Orleans on 23 August 2005
  • Approximately 1800 people died
  • Damage was estimated at up to US$145 billion 
  • Flooding led to 80% of the city being underwater
  • Delays in rescuing people left in New Orleans
  • Delays in getting food and clean water to those stranded in the city
  • Failed to implement his flood plan
  • Refused to use school buses to help evacuate people
  • FEMA were criticised for the slow rate of response 
  • More people turned up at the Superdome a 'refuge of last resort' than expected which meant prepared supplies ran out rapidly
  • Communication systems failed so people couldn't reach emergency call centres

Changes after Katrina

  • Partnerships with private companies to ensure that communication systems do not fail
  • Improvements in recruitment and staff training at FEMA
  • Levees were rebuilt at a cost of $14 billion
  • New evacuation plans to ensure people without transport are able to leave

Case Study : Philippines

  • The location of the Philippines in south-east Asia makes it vulnerable to tropical cyclones 
  • The tropical cyclone season is from June to September
  • It is perhaps the most vulnerable country in the world in terms of tropical cyclones being composed of many islands
  • PAGASA the Philippines meteorological service issues weather forecasts and warnings
  • These increase from 6 hourly to 3 hourly as the tropical cyclone approaches land
  • PAGASA uses Japanese and Korean weather satellites for forecasting
  • A storm surge warning system has also been developed
  • Government has worked with translators to ensure warnings can be communicated effectively

Evacuation and planning

  • Prior to typhoon Haiyan 750,000 people were evacuated
  • There are evacuation routes in major urban areas
  • Hazard mapping is used to identify areas most at risk 
  • A no build zone along the  coast in Eastern Visayas
  • Mangrove replanting 

Typhoon Haiyan

  • Typhoon Haiyan (locally called Yolanda) was one of the strongest ever-recorded tropical storm to hit the Philippines 
  • Landfall was on the 8th of November 2013
  • Sea level rise (since 1900, has increased 20cm around the world) is a factor as higher seas are known to contribute to greater storm surges
  • Over abstraction of groundwater has caused parts of the country to sink

PzufLFVa_path-of-typhoon-haiyan-2013

The path of Typhoon Haiyan

Effectiveness of responses

  • The storm was so large that nowhere was entirely safe
  • Local governments in some areas failed to recognise the risks and did not order evacuations in vulnerable areas
  • Emergency shelter was provided to over 500,000 households
  • Three million people had received food assistance
  • More than 35,000 people received shelter assistance
  • In Tacloban City 80% of people had access to clean water
  • There are many regional languages in the Philippines which meant warnings did not get to everyone
  • The ' Build Back Better ' scheme ensured that houses were rebuilt to be more resistant to future storms
  • The shelter response was underfunded and took longer to implement than expected
  • Remote communities did not receive the help they needed due to poor distribution of aid
  • In some areas such as northwest Leyte, there were increases in diarrhoea due to contaminated water supplies

In an 8 mark question you may be asked to assess the effectiveness of a country's preparation for, and/or response to, a tropical cyclone you must ensure that you consider the following:

  • What the main methods of preparation in that country are
  • Are they effective? 
  • What the main responses to a specific tropical cyclone were
  • Were they effective?

If you just state the preparation and/or responses you will not be awarded the higher marks. The key word in the questions is assess.

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Author: Bridgette

After graduating with a degree in Geography, Bridgette completed a PGCE over 25 years ago. She later gained an MA Learning, Technology and Education from the University of Nottingham focussing on online learning. At a time when the study of geography has never been more important, Bridgette is passionate about creating content which supports students in achieving their potential in geography and builds their confidence.

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Hurricane Katrina Case Study

My notes for the case study of hurricane katrina,2005.

  • Created by: Jasveen
  • Created on: 03-06-11 15:08
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hurricane katrina case study pdf gcse

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  1. Hurricane Katrina Case Study

    Hurricane Katrina was an extremely destructive and deadly Category 5 hurricane. It made landfall on Florida and Louisiana, particularly the city of New Orleans and surrounding areas, in August 2005, causing catastrophic damage from central Florida to eastern Texas. Fatal flaws in flood engineering protection led to a significant loss of life in ...

  2. Tropical Storms Case Study: Katrina

    This took over a month. The US Congress (government) allocated $62bn to be spent in aid helping feed and re-house the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The US federal and state governments have spent $20 billion rebuilding New Orleans' flood defence systems, with levees, gates, pumps and floodwalls. In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the US ...

  3. PDF Geofile Online APRIL 2006 516 Alison Rae Hurricane Katrina

    Katrina was one of the most intense Atlantic Basin hurricanes on record. By 29 August, some power was lost and it hit the coastline as a Category 4 event with sustained wind speeds of 145 mph (235 kph) plus stronger gusts. At 6.10 am on 29 August Katrina's second landfall was at Buras-Triumph, Louisiana.

  4. Hurricane Katrina Case Study

    View mindmap. The US government spent over $800 million on rebuilding flood defences. Around $34 billion has been set aside for the re-building of things like houses and schools. During the storm, coast guard, police, fire service, army and volunteers rescued over 50,000 people. Around 25,000 people were given temporary shelter at the Superdome.

  5. Tropical Storms Case Study: Katrina Responses

    This took over a month. The US Congress (government) allocated $62bn to be spent in aid helping feed and re-house the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The US federal and state governments have spent $20 billion rebuilding New Orleans' flood defence systems, with levees, gates, pumps and floodwalls. The severe effects of Hurricane Katrina were met ...

  6. Hurricane Katrina Case Study

    Causes: · Hurricane Katrina began as a very low pressure weather system, which strengthened to become a tropical storm and eventually a hurricane as it moved West and neared the Florida coast on the 25th August. · New Orleans is low lying land so the levees broke from the storm surge causing more damage. · High water temperatures in the gulf ...

  7. GCSE Geography Case study : Hurricane Katrina

    Created on: 24-04-10 15:05. GCSE Geography Case study : Hurricane Katrina Word Document 1.49 Mb. Geography. Natural hazards Natural hazards. GCSE.

  8. Hurricane Katrina Case Study: A-Level and GCSE Geography

    Hurricane Katrina Case Study: A-Level and GCSE Geography. Subject: Geography. Age range: 14-16. Resource type: Assessment and revision. File previews. pptx, 6.88 MB. 11 slide PowerPoint Presentation to act as a basic case study for Hurricane Katrina. Suitable for GCSE, AS and A-Level. Tes paid licence How can I reuse this?

  9. Hurricane Katrina

    Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina is the costliest natural disaster in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall but what made it deadly was where it hit and the physical and human geography of that region. . At least 1,836 people died in the actual hurricane and in the ...

  10. Impact of tropical cyclones/hurricanes

    This is a GCSE lesson on effects of tropical cyclones using hurricane Katrina as a case study. Key facts about the lesson are: 1. The lesson first introduce students to some of the effects of hurricanes/cyclones/typhoons. Then it defines these effects as primary and secondary effects.

  11. Hurricane Katrina

    this contains 9 lessons on weather & climate including clouds, types of rainfall, variations in UK weather, reasons for differing weather in the tropics between deserts and rainforests, tropical storms a case study on drought in the Sahel and and in depth case study on Hurricane Katrina. This is aimed at GCSE or Year 9 but could be adapted for ...

  12. Tropical Storms Case Study: Katrina Effects

    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. In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the US states of Mississippi and Louisiana.

  13. PDF Disaster Recovery Case Studies US 2005 Storms: Katrina, Rita and Wilma

    case study. Particularly, hurricane Katrina was one of the most devastating hurricanes faced by the US in the last century and is the costliest one ever to be recorded. Katrina made landfall along the Central Gulf Coast in Louisiana on Aug 29, 2005, as a Category-3 hurricane with a windspeed of 125 MPH. It resulted in a storm

  14. Preparation for Tropical Cyclones

    Revision notes on 1.2.3 Preparation for Tropical Cyclones for the Edexcel GCSE Geography: B (1GB0) syllabus, written by the Geography experts at Save My Exams. ... Hurricane Katrina. A category 5 hurricane which made landfall near New Orleans on 23 August 2005; ... 2.2.1 Case Study of the Development of an Emerging Country; 3. Challenges of an ...

  15. GCSE Geography Hurricane Katrina Case Study Flashcards

    How much did the repaired and improved flood defences for New Orleans cost (completed in 2013) ? 14.5 billion dollars. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like Why can tropical storms form near Louisiana and Mississippi?, Where did Hurricane Katrina initially form?, Where did the Hurricane move to? and more.

  16. PDF The Response to Hurricane Katrina

    Hurricane Katrina was the largest natural disaster in the United States in living memory, affecting 92,000 square miles and destroying much of a major city. Over 1,800 people died and tens of thousands were left homeless and without basic supplies. Katrina evolved into a series of connected crises, with two basic causes.

  17. Case Study

    Fullscreen. Hurricane Katrina. Mississipi and Louisiana, USA. August 2005. Primary Effects: More than 1800 people killed. 300 000 houses destroyed. Large areas were flooded - 80% of New Orleans. 3 million people left without electricity.

  18. Hurricane Katrina Case Study: A-Level and GCSE Geography Distance ...

    11 slide PowerPoint Presentation to act as a basic case study for Hurricane Katrina. Suitable for GCSE, AS and A-Level. ... Hurricane Katrina Case Study: A-Level and GCSE Geography Distance Learning. Previous Next. Luke's Study Shop. 0 Followers. Follow. Grade Levels. 9 th - 12 th, Higher Education, Adult Education, Homeschool.

  19. Hurricane Katrina

    Hurricane Katrina- Tropical Storm Case study. Hurricane Katrina is the costliest natural disaster in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall but what made it deadly was where it hit and the physical and human geography of that region.. At least 1,836 people died in the actual ...

  20. Hurricane Katrina Case Study

    Hurricane Katrina Case Study Word Document 33.94 Kb. Geography; Weather and climate Natural hazards; GCSE; AQA; Download. Save to favourites ... Geography - Physical: Case Studies. 3.0 / 5 based on 1 rating. Case Study 2. 0.0 / 5. GCSE Geography Case study : Hurricane Katrina. 0.0 / 5. Tropical Storm Case Study MEDC. 0.0 / 5. AQA Geography A ...

  21. Hurricane Katrina Case Study

    My notes for the case study of hurricane katrina,2005. 4.0 / 5 based on 11 ratings. Created by: Jasveen Created on: 03-06-11 15:08