Hurricane Katrina - New Orleans
Hurricane Katrina-New Orleans Hurricane Katrina significantly affected a vast number of people, including those who were not actually present during the storm: National Guard members, medical workers, media crew, government officials, and volunteers. This is a storm that will forever be discussed in New Orleans history. First, some background. Formation of hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean occurs every year during a certain time period, usually referred to as the Atlantic hurricane season. The cyclones that occur during this period are usually tropical and are often referred to as depressions and hurricanes. This time period usually starts in June and ends in November. According to the seasons, the starting of the hurricanes and cyclones usually takes place in the end of summer, because this is the time period when there is the largest difference between the temperature of the sea and the land (Reider, 1999). Hurricanes basically originate due to the temperature difference between the land and the sea. The peak time of these tropical cyclones is during the September season. The month of May is usually inactive with regard to the tropical cyclones because the temperature difference is the least (Reider, 1999). The cyclones that form in the Atlantic Ocean in the end of the summer season are referred to as tropical cyclones because they usually originate from tropical locations. One more fact that makes them different from normal cyclones is that their cores, or center of the large spiral, is warmer as compared to any other part of the spiral at any point of height. The spiral of the cyclone comprises of thunderstorm clouds that are ready to burst out, and hence when they move, they produce high, strong winds and heavy rain falls. A special characteristic of tropical cyclones is that they have extremely low atmospheric pressures. Some of the pressures of tropical cyclones are the least that have been recorded above the seas. Several factors have
References: Reider, G. M., & Connecticut. (1999). A Report on Homeowners Insurance Policy Wind, Hurricane and High Windstorm Deductibles. Hartford: State of Connecticut, Insurance Dept. Nelson, S. A. (2006). Hurricane Katrina: What happened? : A Field Trip. New Orleans: Tulane University. Alive in Truth: The New Orleans Disaster Oral History & Memory Project. (2005). Austin, TX: Alive in Truth. Virginia. (2006). State Emergency Operations Plan. Richmond, VA: Virginia Dept. of Emergency Management. Hurricane Katrina. (2008). Detroit, Michigan: Gale. McNulty, Ian. (2008). A Season of Night: New Orleans Life After Katrina. Jackson, Mississippi. University Press.