What Are The Traumas Associated With Hurricane Katrina
The Traumas Associated with
Hurricane Katrina
Michael A. Porch
Saint Leo University
Abstract
Trauma is defined as; an extremely distressing experience that causes severe emotional shock and may have long-lasting psychological effects (Encarta Dictionary, 2013). Hurricane Katrina was one of, if not, the most devastating natural disaster to hit the United States (US); while being the costliest and the third deadliest (The Weather Channel, 2009). The physical, social, economic, and psychological/emotional stressors associated with Katrina may not follow the typical pattern of reaction from a post traumatic incident; the reaction associated with extreme stress may manifest over months or even years (American Psychological …show more content…
Entire industries and commerce were destroyed; while the infrastructure of New Orleans was decimated. The loss of fire stations, police stations, schools, churches, medical and health care facilities, local businesses, and homes added up to the largest payout of money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ever at $7.2 billion, but this was just a fraction of the overall costs to the US. It is estimated that the cost of hurricane Katrina totaled $108 billion with the next costliest storm being hurricane Ivan that made landfall in 2008 at $30 billion (although now it is thought that the overall cost of super storm Sandy may exceed this amount); these costs place a hardship and financial strain on the entire country while creating extremely distressing experiences potentially causing stress and trauma (Schwab, et al.’s, …show more content…
Costs associated with Katrina exceeded $100 billion; so did the leaders do a good job mitigating before the storm hit? This financial stress to the entire economy was felt for years after the storm. The fact that the levees around New Orleans were known that they could not sustain a category 3 hurricane or stronger shows that both the feds and state did not follow through with mitigation plans. Some may say that mitigation has not received the attention that is needed, but could there have been something done to help the people of New Orleans? The flooding of over 80% of New Orleans was do too the antiquated levees, old pumps, and no true evacuation plan. Although the storm was devastating; the response was worse. The stress created by all levels of our government with their inability to help with the evacuation, rescuing, and recovery efforts in New Orleans will have psychological affects for many years (Birkland,
Hurricane Katrina
Michael A. Porch
Saint Leo University
Abstract
Trauma is defined as; an extremely distressing experience that causes severe emotional shock and may have long-lasting psychological effects (Encarta Dictionary, 2013). Hurricane Katrina was one of, if not, the most devastating natural disaster to hit the United States (US); while being the costliest and the third deadliest (The Weather Channel, 2009). The physical, social, economic, and psychological/emotional stressors associated with Katrina may not follow the typical pattern of reaction from a post traumatic incident; the reaction associated with extreme stress may manifest over months or even years (American Psychological …show more content…
Entire industries and commerce were destroyed; while the infrastructure of New Orleans was decimated. The loss of fire stations, police stations, schools, churches, medical and health care facilities, local businesses, and homes added up to the largest payout of money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) ever at $7.2 billion, but this was just a fraction of the overall costs to the US. It is estimated that the cost of hurricane Katrina totaled $108 billion with the next costliest storm being hurricane Ivan that made landfall in 2008 at $30 billion (although now it is thought that the overall cost of super storm Sandy may exceed this amount); these costs place a hardship and financial strain on the entire country while creating extremely distressing experiences potentially causing stress and trauma (Schwab, et al.’s, …show more content…
Costs associated with Katrina exceeded $100 billion; so did the leaders do a good job mitigating before the storm hit? This financial stress to the entire economy was felt for years after the storm. The fact that the levees around New Orleans were known that they could not sustain a category 3 hurricane or stronger shows that both the feds and state did not follow through with mitigation plans. Some may say that mitigation has not received the attention that is needed, but could there have been something done to help the people of New Orleans? The flooding of over 80% of New Orleans was do too the antiquated levees, old pumps, and no true evacuation plan. Although the storm was devastating; the response was worse. The stress created by all levels of our government with their inability to help with the evacuation, rescuing, and recovery efforts in New Orleans will have psychological affects for many years (Birkland,