New Orleans and Hurricane Katrina

What is New Orleans famous for? Jazz and Dixieland music. It is also a transportation hub: gateway to the Mississippi shipping lanes and major ocean port. Gasoline, natural gas, heating oil and jet fuel are refined and produced in this region

What is unusual about New Orleans? So much of it is below sea level that they must “bury” their dead above ground. Massive water pumps work night and day to keep sea water out. A levy system is used as a barrier against the invasion of water

Who names hurricanes? Why use people’s names? The World Meteorological Organization names them; it uses different sets of names depending on the part of the world the storm is in. In the U.S., only women’s names were used until It is easier to talk about a storm if you name it.

Where do hurricanes start?When?Why? They start in the Caribbean They form during the warmest months of the year This is complicated, but the energy of the warm water is transferred into wind and rain

What causes the damage? Winds up to 150 mph destroy houses, fling vehicles and people, whip up giant swells of water Rain produces flooding; the damage is severe and affects almost everything. See next slide for details.

What are the effects of the flooding? Drowning, especially vulnerable are old people, the infirm, and children Houses are washed away Even if not washed away the water destroys everything in the house (electronics, furniture,clothes, documents, etc.

Effects of flooding, continued The flood water picks up dirt, bacteria, poisons from spillage; it becomes dangerous to even touch it! Infrastructure is ruined: bridges, railroads, highways,buildings, banks, electricity plants, hospitals, water treatment plants…all are damaged, contaminated or destroyed.