Hurricane Katrina and Environmental Justice

Category/Classification Winds (mph) Pressure (in. of Hg) Damage

Category One Hurricane 74-95 mph >=28.94 in. of Hg. minimal damage

Category Two Hurricane 96-110 mph 28.50-28.91 in. of Hg significant damage

Category Three Hurricane 111-130 mph 27.91-28.47 in. of Hg severe damage

Category Four Hurricane 131-155 mph 27.17-27.88 in. of Hg extreme damage

Category Five Hurricane >155 mph <27.17 in.of Hg catastrophic damage

•Tropical Wave--These are the most common of tropical disturbances with about 100 forming each season. They lack a closed circulation, which is when there are winds in every direction. Wind speeds are less than 20 knots, or 25 mph.•Tropical Depression--A wave becomes a depression when there is a presence of a closed circulation, and sustained winds are 20 knots, or 25 mph. At this point, the system is still quite disorganized.•Tropical Storm--A depression becomes a tropical storm when shower and thunderstorm activity moves over the closed circulation, and sustained winds reach at least 35 knots, or 39 mph. At this point, the system is capable of causing minimal damage.•Hurricane--A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when the closed circulation becomes an eye, and sustained winds reach at least 65 knots, or 74 mph. At this point, the system is capable of causing significant damage.

EventsAugust 23rd, 2005: Tropical Depression Katrina formsAugust 24th: Tropical Storm status; moved towards

FloridaAugust 25th: Hurricane status; moving into Gulf of

MexicoAugust 26-27th: Voluntary/mandatory evacuations for

certain areas (*FEMA given authority to respond to emergency)

August 28th: New Orleans Mayor, Ray Nagin, declares Mandatory evacuation of city (*shelters were provided for people who COULDN’T LEAVE: the Superdome held over 20,000 people for several days(4-5) with little/no food/water/assistance from Federal Government

August 29th: Landfall in Louisiana Category 4 hurricane

August 29th, 2005

Environmental Justice“Environmental Justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

State FactsLouisiana population, 2008 estimate

4,410,796 peoplePopulation estimates base (April 1) 2000

4,468,968White persons, percent, 2008 64.8%

(approx:2.85 million people) Black persons, percent, 2008 (a) 32.0%

(approx:1.4 million people)New Orleans Population(*not including

suburbs/parishes), 2006 estimate 223,388Black persons, percent, 2000 (a) 67.3%White persons, percent, 2000 (a) 28.1% http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/22/2255000.html

Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana

Before Hurricane Katrina

After Hurricane Katrina

-$300 million to reconstruct Superdome-Nearly 80% of city was under water-$150 billion dollars damage throughout the Gulf Coast (Katrina and Rita)-Impacting fish, gas, oil industries

Aftermath

About 100,000 residents of New Orleans have yet to return

FEMA: FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY

“FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.”-

http://www.fema.gov/ Travel Trailers and Mobile Homes– 101,174

households (Currently Occupied) *Section revised on 8/25/06

There are 101,174 travel trailers and mobile homes serving as temporary housing for Hurricane Katrina victims, outnumbering any housing mission in FEMA’s history. The following shows number of units currently occupied as of 8/17/06: Louisiana Total – 64,150

Mobile Home – 3,169 Travel Trailers – 60,981

Mississippi Total – 36,127 Mobile Home – 4,709 Travel Trailers – 31,418

Alabama – 897 Mobile Homes – 0 Travel Trailers -- 897

Always: If time permits:

Keep a full tank of gas in your car if an evacuation seems likely. Gas stations may be closed during emergencies and unable to pump gas during power outages. Plan to take one car per family to reduce congestion and delay.

Gather your disaster supplies kit.

Make transportation arrangements with friends or your local government if you donot own a car.

Let others know where you are going.

Listen to a battery-powered radio and follow local evacuation instructions.

Wear sturdy shoes and clothingthat provides some protection,such as long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and a cap.

Gather your family and go if you are instructed to evacuate immediately.

http://www.fema.gov/plan/prepare/evacuation.shtm

Leave early enough to avoid being trapped by severe weather.

Be alert for washed-out roads and bridges. Do not drive into flooded areas.

Evacuation Guidelines from FEMA

New Orleans Today“New Orleans parish: 354,850 residents or 78

percent of its pre-Katrina level”“the city has 61 percent of its pre–Katrina public

and private school enrollment, while the metro area has reached 79 percent”

“colleges and universities in the city have 84 percent of their pre–Katrina total enrollment”

“July 2010 labor force of the region reached 87 percent of its level five years earlier”

“A lot of the federal money spent went to federal emergency compared to rebuilding”

-Statistics/Information from Greater New Orleans Community Data Center