Essay on The Cause of the Devastation of Hurricane Katrina

The historical event of Hurricane Katrina, a category three hurricane with winds ranging from 111-130 mph, in August 2005 revealed major structural failures in the levee systems of New Orleans. Though not all structural failures are as catastrophic, the breeched levees led to loss of life, homes, businesses, highways, and left a trail of destruction that is still being repaired today. The result of this failure led to lawsuits, conspiracy theories, and court cases. Hurricane Katrina had a major effect upon our country and those results are still rippling on today. Though a city once devastated, major improvements to the failed system have been made and leave the city feeling safe once again. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans†¦show more content†¦Between these three levees alone, the congressional inspection discovered more than fifty breeches in the structural design. Once the speculations of a faulty levee system were proven correct, the blame inevitably fell upon the designer’s shoulders; the federal company of the U.S. army corps of engineering. This organization admitted to have fallen short of the specifications required for the levee. Five main studies were completed to determine the cause of the levee failure, two of which derived from LSU and FEMA. The studies found: that the levees did not follow design specifications, there were incomplete sections, surrounding soil gave way, substandard construction of levee segments, and warning signs were ignored. Many comparable breeches along the levees were found throughout the city. Sections of the wall that were incomplete and cracked prior to the hurricane were the first to fall. Many junctions of the canals were poorly engineered and were too weak to handle any great amount of pressure. The safe load for the canals was designed to hold around fourteen feet of water flow. In reality, the canals were only built to safely hold seven feet of flow. In most places the water never capped the tops of the canals, they simply broke when halfway full. One of the main causes for this was that the steel sheet pilings were seven feet less deep than the designs called for. This allowed for the alreadyShow MoreRelatedEmergency Planning And Response Plan1190 Words   |  5 Pagesdevastating disasters which have been witnessed and catalogued; with concentration on hydrologic incidents, of which the most notorious being the tropical hurricane. Although through the recorded history there have been a multitude of severe impacts and landfalls of tropical hurricanes, in recent times the most memorable is Hurricane Katrina. This storm devastated the greater New Orleans area and the outlining communities surrounding the area, and emphasized the problematic areas of their emergencyRead MoreRisk And Politics Of Disaster Coverage1263 Words   |  6 PagesAnalysis of â€Å"Risk and Politics of Disaster Coverage in Haiti and Katrina† Introduction and Purpose of the Study The article, â€Å"Risk and Politics of Disaster Coverage in Haiti and Katrina,† by Jennifer Petersen of the University of Virginia, which appeared in the journal Communication, Culture Critique in 2014, provides a comparison and contrast of the media coverage of Hurricane Katrina (2005), which devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast and was the costliest natural disaster in the nation’s historyRead MoreHurricane Devastation Of The United States1034 Words   |  5 PagesHurricane Katrina struck the United States on August 29, 2005; it was the costliest and deadliest hurricane to ever hit the nation. It was one of the strongest to hit the coast in the last 100 years. Katrina caused as widespread of devastation along the Gulf Coast states and cities such as Mobile, AL, Gulfport, MS and the worst being New Orleans, LA. Although many people were prepared for the hurricane, no one would imagine the damage it would cause and the many lives it would take. Katrina startedRead MoreThe Most Natural Disasters That Befall Several Times A Year1523 Words   |  7 PagesHurricanes are common natural disasters that befall several times a year. Most often, their wind strength are ranked less than Category 3, however occasionally, when conditions are favourable, they can grow into gigantic storms that bring devastation to anything in its vast reach; Hurricane Katrina of 2005 is the infamous one that pertain to the above description. Description of the Event While Katrina was only ranked sixth on the record in terms of wind strength recorded in the Atlantic basin,Read MoreThe Response Of Hurricane Katrina1625 Words   |  7 Pagesattention is provided to those in hardship. A prime example of this is New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit. Before the hurricane hit the only time I had hear of New Orleans was if someone was speaking about doing down to Mardi Gras. The people affected by the hurricane lost a lot. Many lost their homes, tangible possessions stored in their homes, animals, and some lost their lives. Hurricane Katrina was a huge devastation to the country, but many survivors say they did not get adequate supplies, shelterRead MoreNatural Disasters : Causes And Impacts Of Hurricane Katrina757 Words   |  4 PagesNatural disasters have struck the hearts of many, causing injury, devastation, and fatalities. When a natural disaster occurs the feeling of uneasiness, survival, and humanity is tested during these times. Hurricane K atrina is one of many, the deadliest, damaging, and expensive Hurricanes that struck the nation. Hurricane Katrina hit the southern coast affecting Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Louisiana on August 29, 2005. Hurricane Katrina’s powerful wind and extreme flooding took a major toll onRead 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 Sandy And Its Effects On The Climate Change981 Words   |  4 PagesHurricanes in movies, such as The Day After Tomorrow, are city destroying monsters that make nightmares come true. While this may be an extreme exaggeration of superstorms, New York has suffered from the destructive force of said superstorms. Three years ago, Hurricane Sandy swept into New York leaving only devastation in its wake. Sandy, while not nearly as devastating as some hurricanes, was the biggest seen since hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Whilst Sandy is still called a hurricane, it is act uallyRead MoreThe Second Epoch ( 1980 )1187 Words   |  5 Pages This research paper will focus on the lessons learned from the past hurricanes – evacuations, public health and effects on the environment, and preparedness for future hurricanes. If the cities are not prepared, there can be at least three types of losses: environmental, economic, and social. These are described as follows, Environmental – Hurricanes can have a massive impact on the environment. Due to the strong winds, theRead MoreSci 209 Week 4 Paper984 Words   |  4 PagesOceans, Hurricanes, and the Climate SCI 209 Your Name March 01, 2010 Introduction Natural disasters occurring from the climate change could be on the rise. Global warming has been rumored to be causing more hurricanes, typhoons, cyclones, heavier monsoonal rains that cause major flooding, mud slides, and other disasters worldwide. A tropical cyclone, also referred to as hurricanes, typhoons, or cyclones, depending on where in the world the cyclone is occurring, are one of the world’s grandest