why katrina was so devastating?
442019
It was so destructive primarily because levees around New Orleans, Louisiana failed. Levees are water barriers built to prevent flooding (parts of New Orleans have an elevation that is lower than sea level). ... Very heavy winds also contributed to the damage, but flooding was the most destructive aspect of the hurricane.
547078
Floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States. ... Floods may: Result from rain, snow, coastal storms, storm surges and overflows of dams and other water systems.
242264
The fires had ignition sources. ... Some fires were by scumbags lighting them and some were by lightning. Then we had a combination of things that were the cause of the high voracity of the fires. We are going through a very bad drought.
811859
Hurricanes generate strong winds that can completely defoliate forest canopies and cause dramatic structural changes in wooded ecosystems. Animals can either be killed by hurricanes or impacted indirectly through changes in habitat and food availability caused by high winds, storm surge, and intense rainfall.
637433
Examples of Natural Vs. Floods (cited to be the most common disasters worldwide), hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes are all natural disasters. ... Disastrous events such as harmful chemical spillage, industrial accidents, detonations, biological or chemical attacks, plane crashes, and so on, are all man-made disaster.
989389
While “only” a Category 3 hurricane when it hit the coast, Katrina and its aftermath resulted in 1,863 deaths. Although 90 percent of New Orleans's pre-storm population is back and much of the city has been rebuilt, neighborhoods such as the Lower Ninth Ward have not had the same amount of post-Katrina growth.
529843
A natural disaster is an event that is caused by the natural forces of the Earth where great damage and, sometimes, loss of life occurs. Natural disasters can take many forms, ranging from earthquakes and tsunamis, to floods and volcanic eruptions, to mudslides and wildfires.
1200509
Destruction. The amount of energy and water contained in a huge tsunami can cause extreme destruction when it strikes land. ... Most of the damage is caused by the huge mass of water behind the initial wave front, as the height of the sea keeps rising fast and floods powerfully into the coastal area.
977159
The primary areas that were affected were southeastern Louisiana, including the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, the parishes of St. Tammany (Slidell), Jefferson (Gretna), Terrebonne (Houma), Plaquemines (Buras), Lafourche (Thibodaux), and St. Bernard (Chalmette).
1083128
The disaster happened because water entered a tank containing Methyl isocyanate. This caused a chemical reaction which resulted in the buildup of much Carbon dioxide, among other things.
370950
A few reasons. Upper-level winds in the atmosphere usually steer big hurricanes and keep them moving after they make landfall. With Harvey, those steering winds broke down, and a high pressure system to the northwest kept Harvey locked in place. That's why Harvey is such a catastrophic rainfall disaster.
642002
1st, the flooding of the rivers was unpredictable. 2nd, it was a small region. 3rd, the natural resources were extremely limited.
1076994
The death toll in Joplin was so high in large part because so many buildings were damaged or destroyed. This casts doubt on whether a poor warning response relative to other tornadoes was responsible for the death toll.
1308648
Hurricane Characteristics. Hurricanes are especially dangerous storms because they combine the triple threat of violent winds, torrential rains, and abnormally high waves and storm surge.
1157413
Natural disasters are caused due to different reasons like soil erosion, seismic activity, tectonic movements, air pressure, and ocean currents etc.
111508
A hazard becomes a disaster when it actually occurs and when it occurs in such a way that people are harmed. For example, a hurricane is a natural hazard while it is at sea. ... Thus a hazard becomes a disaster when it comes into contact with the human world, killing people and causing damage to property.
146244
Tsunamis can be particularly destructive because of their speed and volume. They are also dangerous as they return to the sea, carrying debris and people with them. The first wave in a tsunami may not be the last, the largest, or the most damaging.