Essay on Hurricane Katrina Two Disasters - 2020 Words

Hurricane Katrina: Two Disasters From the Frontline Film, The Old Man and The Storm, the life of Herbert Gettridge was followed after he returned to the 9th Ward of New Orleans to rebuild his home after it was destroyed in Hurricane Katrina on August 29, 2005. After Hurricane Katrina, 500,000 families were displaced, 200,000 homes were destroyed, and 600 congregations were demolished (The Old Man and The Storm). This was a natural disaster of monumental proportions. Ironically though, a mock scenario was created by Louisiana State University’s Center for the Study of Public Health: Impacts of Hurricanes and FEMA, called Hurricane Pam in July of 2004. An artificial disaster was created during a ten day exercise held at the State Emergency†¦show more content†¦The lack of response by the various governmental agencies turned this natural disaster into a blame game that still exists almost five years later. The unpreparedness of governmental agencies on the local, state a nd federal levels was inexcusable because of the mock disaster of Hurricane Pam that had just been performed a year earlier in 2004. After the hurricane there was an inadequate or unnatural response from all levels of government. The agencies like the Red Cross, Congregations from many neighboring states, and the Army Reserve were quick to respond to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. By the end of the 2005 – 2006 hurricane season the Army Reserve had saved hundreds of storm victims, flown 665 hours in 38 days, transported more than 2,000 urban search and rescue team members, and placed more than 10.4 million pounds of reconstruction materials in breached levees (Lambert). It seemed to be taking other governmental agencies longer to respond. Local government was doing what they could but a political battle was brewing between New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Governor Kathleen Blanco. Eleven months after the Hurricane devastated Louisiana, the Governor was given 4.2 billion dollars from the Federal government but why did it take so long? Governor Blanco’s career was eventually destroyed as part of the blame game of whose fault this inadequate response to the storm reallyShow MoreRelatedShift Of Emphasis From Racism1180 Words   |  5 PagesShift of Emphasis From Classism to Racism Disasters often present to a society the opportunity for self-examination by stripping away the facade and revealing the underlying problems and inequities that were overlooked and oppressed by the established social order. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, not only did it bring about complete destruction to the physical landscape, but it also brought to light the social inequalities and vulnerabilities that were present and deeply rooted in theRead MoreDisaster Management Of The Hurricane Katrina Essay1596 Words   |  7 PagesUnit 3 DB 1 Disaster Management Introduction In today’s world, there has been one disaster or another, and hurricanes are one of those disasters that always happens. But, for one reason or another we are never prepared or understand the danger of any type of hurricane over a category one. Most of us have been through many hurricanes, like this learner who has lived in Miami, Fla. for over 30 years, and experienced her last hurricane which was Hurricane Andrew. Warnings are always given, first respondersRead MoreUnnatural Disasters: Thinking about Natural Disasters in a Sociological Way1731 Words   |  7 PagesAugust 23rd, 2005; Hurricane Katrina, formed over the Bahamas, hitting landfall in Florida. By the 29th, on its third landfall it hit and devastated the city of New Orleans, becoming the deadliest hurricane of the 2005 season and, one of the five worst hurricanes to hit land in the history of the United States. Taking a look at the years leading to Katrina, preventative actions, racial and class inequalities and government, all of this could have been prevented. As presented in the newspaper articleRead MoreHurricane Katrin A Devastating Storm1576 Words   |  7 PagesHurricane Katrina was a devastating storm that ravaged New Orleans, but it was more than just a natural disaster. The general public and even some top officials are quick to dismiss this great storm as an inevitable force of mother nature as if it was just another hurricane of the season. In doing so, they subscribe to a mindset that is actually a disservice to those who suffered Hurricane Katrina’s wrath. A myriad of publications like Come Hell or High Water, Overcoming Katrina, and There is NoRead MoreHurricane Devastation Of Hurricane Katrina762 Words   |  4 PagesHurricane Katrina Scandal Without doubt, Hurricane Katrina has been the major catastrophe of the century suffered in the United States. The category 5 hurricane which at first was on course to hit Florida drifted into the Gulf of Mexico taking a direct route to New Orleans. On his way, the hurricane left hundreds of dead, affected hundreds of thousands and left billions of dollars in damage. The largest number of deaths occurred in New Orleans where the hurricane hit the hardest and which was floodedRead MoreUnited States Government Response to Hurricane Katrina: Where Does the Blame Belong?1645 Words   |  7 Pagesaffect or interfere with decisions.† Many accuse the United States’ national government of minimal and slow actions taken after the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, while others share the blame of this response. Local, state, and national government response will be discussed, focusing on the government’s interaction after the strike of Hurricane Katrina. Katrina hit New Orleans, Louisiana on August 29th, 2005, but the failure of the local government started before this day â€Å"by allowing building and growingRead MoreHurricanes and Earthquakes1652 Words   |  7 PagesHurricanes and earthquakes are two of the most dangerous natural disasters in the United States. They can be very disastrous and deadly. In the United States, there have been 73 hurricanes since 1954. Earthquakes are harder to detect because they have to have at least a magnitude of 5 (Earthquakes per year, 2009). The amount of earthquakes detected in the United States was 1656 in the past 10 years (Earthquakes per year, 2009). The World Meteorological Organization is the organization that canRead MoreHurricane Katrina778 Words   |  4 PagesDatrel Johnson Professor Peter Johnson Geography 101 25 August 2013 Describe Hurricane Katrina Beginning in the 1950s, the United States have witnessed two Category Five Storms and seven Category Four Storms naming Hurricane Katrina as one of the most deadly Category Four hurricanes to hit the Gulf Coast. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina dismantled several sections of the levee which caused it to collapse. The storm then breeched the New Orleans’ levee system allowing Lake PonchartrainRead MoreHurricane Katrin A Horrific Day For The City Of New Orleans1605 Words   |  7 PagesAugust 29, 2005, was a horrific day for the city of New Orleans. That day was when the deadly storm Hurricane Katrina hit the city of New Orleans. It was one of the worst hurricanes in the United States history. On August 28, 2005, Katrina was upgraded to a category five hurricane, which is the worst category that a hurricane can be named. A category five hurricane means catastrophic damage will occur since the wind was going 157 miles per hour or higher. Ray Nagin the mayor of New Orlean s calledRead MoreDisaster Management : Disasters And Disasters1565 Words   |  7 PagesDisaster Management Introduction In today’s world, there has been one disaster or another, and hurricanes are one of those disasters that always happens. But, for one reason or another we are never prepared or understand the danger of any type of hurricane over a category one. Most of us have been through many hurricanes, like this learner has when lived in Miami, Fla for over 30 years, and the last hurricane she experience was hurricane Andrew. Warnings are always given, first responders are trained