Hurricane Katrina Occurrence - Coursework Example

HURRICANE KATRINA Introduction Among the major United s disasters, the Hurricane Katrina is so far the most remembered in the 21st Century. Meteorologists’ summary findings ranked the Hurricane Katrina among the top twenty storms of all time. Moreover, it was the last of the five major hurricanes experienced in 2005 (Benson, 2007). These are among the few statistics of the Hurricane Katrina but together with being the costliest natural calamity, such evidence clearly depicts the impact it had on the United States and world history. However, the Hurricane Katrina comes third to the 20th Century Labor Day and Camille Hurricanes that go down in history as the deadliest. Typically, the Hurricane Katrina is not only an essential part of history but also a turning point for the United States, especially because the state’s protection approaches failed against it. This made the Hurricane the vilest civil engineering following multiple lawsuits prompted by the effects of the disaster (CNN, 2015). Relatively, this paper evaluates the Hurricane Katrina a decade after its occurrence focusing on its formation, track from formation to landfall, fatalities, unusual features and the general impacts on the United States. This evaluation and aftermath will create a firm foundation that will help in establishing the happenings if such a hurricane made landfall along the coast of California. Discussion Hurricane Katrina Occurrence The time of the Hurricane Katrina occurrence was on the early hours of 29 August 2005 where it made its landfall on the Gulf Coast of the United States. New Orleans had been experience heavy rainfall before the Hurricane Katrina made its landfall on New Orleans on the Monday morning (Plyer, 2014). Most of New Orleans’ embankments and drainage channels were unable to hold on after the storm surge hit the ground with winds up to 10mtrs in some areas. Running water rapidly oozed through the earth and ramparts but the floods overcame most of them clearing them away completely. Within the first few hours of the Hurricane Katrina, most of the residents in the areas near the coast had to climb on tops of hills and rooftops for survival since their homes were already under so much water (CNN, 2015). By mid-day, over three quarters of New Orleans was under a high quantity of water and everyone was on either a group or individual rescue mission. Track from Formation to Landfall Meteorologists trace the formation of the Hurricane Katrina six days before its occurrence relative to a tropical depression in the Bahamas. They used this information to order an evacuation caveat prior to the occurrence of a major storm in the Gulf Coast (Benson, 2007). Unfortunately, it was not until five days later (August 28) that the evacuations began when the National Weather Service made a public announcement of a potential storm that would go on for more than a week affecting most of the Gulf Coast. New Orleans risk assessment was not extensively prevalent because most of it is above sea level; however, the water surrounding most of the city was a potential threat (Plyer, 2014). Due to the other hurricanes experienced in the twentieth century, engineers developed multiple embankments and barricades as prevention measure to avoid New Orleans from flooding. Unluckily, very few of the barricaders were efficient as the ones built to hold water from the lakes and swamps were weak and less durable. Prior to the storms, a few officials depicted certain concerns about those levees but the state never took any action to ensure they would withstand any massive surges. The first landfall of the Hurricane Katrina was on August 25 when the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane scale recorded a Category 1 Hurricane in the US. This first landfall has winds travelling over 80mph through Miami and Broward in Florida. In August 26 through to the 27th, the popular Tropical Storm Katrina made a landfall in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico, north of Florida. After coming into contact with the water, the Hurricane Katrina prevailed again with winds travelling over 70mph (CNN, 2015). By sunset on August 28, the storm contracted forming a uniform ring but it was after approximately ten minutes that the Hurricane intensification occurred rapidly. Between the sunset of August 28 and sunrise of August 29, the Hurricane intensified from Category 3 to 5 recording shortest intensity time. The winds went from travelling at 167mph to 172 mph moving through the Mississippi. During the final landfall on August 29, the winds from the Hurricane and Tropical force were travelling with the nearly similar forces, which were much more than experience on August 28 (Plyer, 2014). The final landfall entailed progressively amplifying wind forces, marginally minor ocean temperatures and the Gulf Coast hurricane interactions with land. Category of the Hurricane Katrina on the Saffir-Simpson’s Scale By the time, the Hurricane Katrina made landfall, the Saffir-Simpson’s scale registered it as a Category 3 hurricane. Moreover, the hurricane produced winds with a sustainability of 100-140 mph and stretching across more than 350 miles (Plyer, 2014). The landfall storm of the Hurricane Katrina did a lot of damage but the outcome was more revolting. Since the embankments could not sustain the force from the storm, large areas experienced floods and made of the affected residents accused the state government of failing to take precautions comprehensive and in time. Fatalities Definitely, the vulnerability of the Gulf Coast led to massive cost of life and property damage because of the storm surge. There are no other calamities to compare with the infliction of human suffering experienced during and after the Hurricane Katrina made a landfall. Most of the fatalities took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, the part affected most by floods after the embankments failed to hold the water. The number of deaths confirmed from the disaster was 1,833 people who lost their lives mostly when the storm moved inland (CNN, 2015). However, the number of fatalities was supposedly more than the confirmed, especially in Louisiana and Mississippi with the worry that the floods might have swept away other victims. In fact, people found many body parts and remains thereafter but the concerned parties were unable to identify them; however, most of the cases are still under investigation. Family members reported missing persons and the number continues to grow with over 3,500 people still missing. Investigating bodies presume that the final landing of the Hurricane Katrina was the main cause of the high number of deaths in New Orleans. In Mississippi, most of the deaths resulted from the impact of the storm surge that hit three relative counties on the coast (Benson, 2007). In Florida, some of the deaths resulted from downed trees that fell on victims after the floods overpowered the Broward and Miami counties. Other known causes of death entail two car accidents after a tornado overturned the vehicles. Over the years, the number of fatalities has increased and there are more speculations that more families will report their missing relatives dead after a decade of consistent searches. Statistically, floods from the inland water might have been the main cause of most deaths but it is extensively evident that a storm surge prevails as a greater cause of deaths in the United States (Plyer, 2014). One of the main reasons why the Hurricane Katrina ranks among the fatal hurricanes relates to the fact that the specific number of fatalities remains unknown. Damages In addition to ranking among the deadliest hurricanes, the Hurricane Katrina was the costliest causing damages of up to 108 billion dollars. The first damages were in Southern Florida through the landfall of a Category 1 hurricane; however, this was the just a miniature effect compared to what followed. The Gulf of Mexico had multiple damages resulting from a Category 5 hurricane while the northern Gulf coast’s damages resulted from a Category 3 (CNN, 2015). Most of the major damage was in Louisiana and Mississippi where the hurricane also caused multiple fatalities. Other areas that felt the effects of the Hurricane Katrina entail Florida, Georgia and Alabama. There still lacks a comprehensive report on the magnitude and effects of the Hurricane Katrina damages but it was clear that thousands of homes, neighborhoods, businesses, streets and building in New Orleans were part of the destructions by the floods. The strong winds also caused substantial damages by blowing out windows and roofs from the tall buildings; in fact, even the superdome in Louisiana acting as shelter for a large population experienced some damages after the winds blew out a part of its roof (Benson, 2007). After the storms and floods settled, all that remained in the greater part of New Orleans were foundation where homes, government facilities and other infrastructure stood. In Alabama, the storm surge and the floods destroyed a number of beachfront houses prior to cutting a wide canal passing through Dauphin Island. After the Hurricane Katrina struck the northern Gulf Coast, the government and international institutions took many years and resources in the reconstruction, and some families are yet to recover and stabilize a decade later. Given the geographical stature of southern Florida, most of the destruction in Miami resulted from the Hurricane Katrina’s heavy rains. There were structures in Georgia and Florida not affected by the floods as they were located in the west; however, the dwellers short-lived this benefits because strong winds and tornadoes did the better part of the destruction. Tornadoes also did considerable damage to the agricultural facilities located in Georgia as strong winds hit most of the damaged trees in Mississippi and a significant part of Alabama (CNN, 2015). Unusual Features about the Hurricane Katrina Among the core headlines of the Hurricane Katrina is being the costliest and among the deadliest; however, there are other unusual features about the Hurricane. For instance, the Hurricane Katrina (2005) was similar to Hurricane Ivan (2004) in a number of ways. Not only were both hurricanes one year apart but they both had winds with a sustainability of one minute. The Hurricane Katrina strong winds sustained one minute travelling at about 150mph. Similarly, strong winds from the Hurricane Ivan also lasted one minute travelling at a speed of 130mph (Keith, 2010). Moreover, there were vast damages caused by both hurricanes, particularly on the Gulf’s energy installations. This is significant because of all the other hurricanes experienced in the Gulf coast on these two hurricanes reached that area causing damage to the manufacture drawstring. Unusual for most of the past hurricanes, Hurricane Katrina had an effect on at least 20 million people since apart for those displace; it led to the hiking of fuel prices and an economic downfall. Extensively, the hurricane’s main effects included the submerging of 80% of New Orleans, which reports say must have been 20ft deep. The estimated distance affected by the Hurricane Katrina is over 85,000 square miles and unluckily, the designers of the embankments in New Orleans meant for it to hold a Category 3 hurricane the Hurricane Katrina went up to Category 5 and strong winds of over 170mph (Keith, 2010). Finally, the storm-surge set a record of being up to 6mtrs in elevation. Likely Impacts in the San Joaquin Valley If Similar Hurricane Made Landfall along the Coast of California In the late 1980s and 1990s, San Joaquin, located in the South of California was subject to great storms that also caused a lot of flooding. Unfortunately, the strong flow of water from the rivers in the valley bettered the weak links in form of embankment systems. This was not the last time that delta levees in the coast of California failed relative to another occurrence in 2004 when Jones Tract collapsed (Pitzer, 2014). However, as a result of learning from the past, this areas has had extensive construction and progression of the years making areas such as Sacramento stated as among the few prone to flooding locations in the United States. San Joaquin valley also has flood prone landscapes as among the major preparations if a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina were to strike. However, the San Joaquin valley is still at risk relative to the tow giant pumping stations provide the south of California with significant amounts of water. If a storm-surge or strong winds of over 150mph were to strike, floods are more likely to occur but on the other hand, the developed landscapes might hold the water preventing any damages in the valley (Pitzer, 2014). Conclusion The time of the Hurricane Katrina occurrence was on the early hours of 29 August 2005 where it made its landfall on the Gulf Coast of the United States and it is not only an essential part of history but also a turning point for the state, especially because the state’s protection approaches failed against it. However, over time, the vulnerable areas have had massive installations and developments of landscapes as preparation measure if a disaster such as the Hurricane Katrina were to strike. Nonetheless, the damage, fatalities and unusual features of the Hurricane Katrina provide significant knowledge that could apply in preparation and prevention of deaths or damages in the future. References Benson, D (2007) Hurricane Katrina and the Gulf Coast: The National Hurricanes Center Final Report, 3 (2), 119-120 CNN, (2015) Hurricane Katrina Statistics Fast Facts: Regions, CNN Library. Retrieved from http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/23/us/hurricane-katrina-statistics-fast-facts/ Keith, F (2010) How Unusual Were Hurricanes Katrina and Ivan: Tropical Storm Risk Centre, 182, 105–106 Pitzer, G. (2014). It Can Happen Here- Assessing California’s Flood Risk: Western Water, Water Education Foundation, 12, 51–69 Plyer, A. (2014) Feature and Facts- Hurricane Katrina: Independent Analysis for Informed Decisions in Southeast Louisiana, 6 (6), pp.779-785 Read More