Explaining the Impacts of Natural Disasters Essay

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Hurricane Katrina

In late August of 2005, a giant tropical storm ravaged the southeastern area of the United States. This hurricane, also known as Hurricane Katrina was an incredibly strong and violent storm that took the lives of nearly 1900 people and displaced hundreds of thousands more in an experience not seen in modern America.

Here in America, we are used to seeing these types of storms and natural disasters affect others in far off places. Tsunamis, earthquakes and mudslides are often presented in other countries as playing a major and devastating impact on the lives of those people who were confronted with such disasters. Here in America, however, Hurricane Katrina exposed the true meddle and resolve of a nation that exposed our vulnerability and gave new credence and power to Mother Nature.

Hurricane Katrina was the most destructive storm to ever hit the United States and those who felt the brunt of this storm have a new understanding of the power and force that hurricanes cane bring. Katrina itself was unpreventable, the forces of nature are just not controllable. The political and social aftermath of this storm, however raised a red flag warning over the nature of this country's security regarding weather and natural disasters. Just 4 short years since the terrorist attacks on 9-11, when Katrina swept through, a new added layer of vulnerability was created amongst the American psyche, exposing the infrastructure weaknesses and the lack of leadership that was present during the rescue and cleanup efforts.

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Characters from this disaster were played on the news and written about in the media assigning blame and worthiness all along. President Bush, Mayor of New Orleans Ray Nagin, head of FEMA Michael Brown and many others became the focus of the relenting political pressure to fix a situation that made areas of New Orleans and Mississippi look like a war zone.

Much of the disaster that this storm caused occurred in New Orleans as precious flood walls and infrastructure barriers failed miserably in protecting against a rising sea tide which would eventually place most of New Orleans underwater in a surreal scene of primal survival and epic rescue efforts. The confusing and desperate scene captured at the New Orleans Superdome shortly after the flood evacuation clearly showed how unprepared and disastrous this storm had become.

Long-Term Effects

The long-term effects and impacts of Hurricane Katrina are most noticeable when viewing them from a psychological and sociological viewpoint. Weems et al. (2007) suggested that "in terms of social relatedness, the Katrina disaster seriously disrupted social ties and one's ability to access not only his or her extended community, but family members as well. Because many Katrina survivors were relocated, supporting relationships at the family, neighborhood, church, and school levels of organization were interrupted." This was a very traumatic and deep event that profoundly impacted the psyches of millions of people who lost trust in their Government, their….....

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