The Great Okeechobee Hurricane

Hurricane Andrew, some may say it was the worst hurricane ever to make landfall on US soil. In my research I have found that andrew was the worst for the 90’s time period. In the 90’s the people had very poor storm shelters for such a horrific storm a lot of people died because of this.

Hurricane Katrina occurred in the year 2005; it made landfall on the morning of August 29th. However, the origins of this storm began as early as August 24, 2005. In the course of those six days, Hurricane Katrina varied in location and intensity before making final landfall on the southeast portion of the United States (Ahrens & Sampson, 2011).

Hurricane Katrina is one of the U.S’s most catastrophic events, and this was due to the number of people who were killed and displaced. Most of those effected most harshly by the storm were those that were of the poor community, which in New Orleans was mostly black. These people were not able to evacuate the storm, and also had the most trouble to try to rebuild after the storm. Tia Lessin and Carl Deal’s documentary on Hurricane Katrina, Trouble the Water, portrays Hurricane Katrina in a different light, one that constantly get ignored by the popular media. By answering five main questions based on this documentary, a close to accurate portrayal of Hurricane Katrina can be made.

The Great Galveston Hurricane was a Category 4 storm, with winds of up to 145 mph (233 km/h), which made landfall on September 8, 1900, in Galveston, Texas, in the United States, leaving about 6,000 to 12,000 dead. It remains to the present day the deadliest single day event in US history.

The part of the city where poor African Americans resided was hit the hardest (Fussell, Pg.95). Unfortunately, this neighborhood was the last on the list to be cleaned up and rebuilt. The African American residents were sent to the New Orleans Superdome, where many were taken for shelter (Pg.110). Some New Orleans citizens might say that Hurricane Katrina had a positive impact on their lives, teaching them how to live and survive during such a terrible time as well as the situation making them stronger however, this was not the case for African Americans (Pg.109). Despite all of the horrific situations, the community of New Orleans learned how to be prepared if there happens to be a next

When Katrina was in the Gulf of Mexico, quickly approaching the coast most people who wanted to get out of the city could not, the reason for that is because most people in New Orleans did not have the means of transportation to leave the city, a large percentage of these people were black and living in poverty. New Orleans ranks fourth in the nation out of 297 metropolitan areas in the country in the proportion of households lacking access to cars. Most people could not leave even if they wanted to, most people stayed and were stranded

At 6pm on April 30th, 2014, a life-threatening disaster struck the Florida panhandle. At that time, Florida residents were not aware of the rain and flooding that was about engulf Pensacola and the surrounding areas. But as time began to pass, it became obvious this was not an ordinary storm. As the rain poured and the lightning struck, many people lost power and television connection, unable to see that what was thought to be a small storm would set national records and be the cause for severe-weather threats. This event taught me how to prevent a disastrous situation in dire conditions as well as the importance of being prepared.

Hurricane Katrina claimed over one thousand lives, giving it the title of 5th deadliest hurricane in the history of the United States. Hurricane Katrina was not only very deadly, but it was expensive. The bank-breaking storm racked up over one hundred billion dollars in damage, after reaching land on August 28, 2005, and would show no mercy for whatever stood in its path. The storm has forever impacted the American culture and will continue to do so as many areas have yet to completely recover.

South Florida is particularly vulnerable to the effects of major hurricanes. The sub-tropical weather places the region directly in the historical path of seasonal storms. The area has faced repeated battering by major storms over the decades (Blake, Landsea, Gibney, & I.M. Systems Group, August 2011). Furthermore, the geographic location and the constraints of being located on a peninsula create unique and difficult challenges for the population during these events. The millions of people that live from Okeechobee Lake to Key West are vulnerable to the destruction capable by a major hurricane. Emergency responders must be prepared to deal with these issues when planning and responding to large scale events.

In 1990, the galveston hurricane occurred. It was one of america’s deadliest natural disasters. It all started on august 27th, with very high winds coming from the tropical atlantic. On september 3rd, it reached cuba, cuba then had heavy rain. U.S weather bureau ignored the reports from cuban meteorologist because they expected the storm to move to the northeast along the U.S east and then exit to the atlantic. They were wrong the region of high pressure pushed the storm west to the gulf of mexico. The tides kept getting closer to the inland and the winds increased. It ended on september 17, with buildings destroyed. No one really knew it was gonna be that bad but it destroyed a lot of galveston. This disaster killed 6,000 to 8,000+. The

Hurricane Katrina was one of the deadliest hurricanes in United States history. Hurricane Katrina was by far the most destructive storm to strike the United States with the actual cost of Hurricane Katrina’s damage between $96-125 billion. An estimated 1,836 people died and millions of others were left homeless along the gulf coast and in New Orleans. With homes virtually destroyed, thousands of people abandoned the area which in turn caused thousands of jobs to disappear. New Orleans lost 190,000 jobs, while the state of Louisiana lost 219,000 jobs and overall 12 percent statewide. More than 70 countries contributed large donations in the relief phase showing overall support and generosity.

Images of the devastation were televised showing visibly shaken and frustrated political leaders, and stranded residents who remained in New Orleans without basic necessities and shelter. Images and talk about the deaths of several citizens by thirst, exhaustion and violence were still being reported days after the storm itself had passed. The majority of the people who had been affected by the storm were African American and poor. It was then brought to public attention that the government seemed to be inconsiderate about the African American population. Days after Hurricane Katrina devastated much of the northern Gulf Coast, there were still many tired and angry people stranded at the Super Dome and all over New Orleans without food, water and medical

African-American neighborhoods were devastated by Hurricane Katrina because they lived in low line areas, whereas Whites lived in higher grounds less likely to get hit by the storms. Low income communities were hit more because of urban areas. These areas included levees that didn’t protect homes from the storms. What is astonishing is that the government was fully aware that New Orleans levees were failing and wouldn’t hold a category five Hurricane. Yet they did nothing to protect the humans.

The nation's most known hurricane , Katrina is one the most historical event today. Some remember it differently than others. I would like to share what I experienced and my knowledge on one of the country's deadliest storms.

The Great Hurricane of 1938, or known to many as the Long Island Express, was known as one of the most disastrous hurricanes to hit New England. It wasn’t the high winds, heavy rain, and high waves/storm surge that gave this hurricane its title in history. The Great Hurricane had a fourth deadly weapon; the element of surprise. It was the beginning of September, a time where many packed up their summer clothes, boarded up their houses, and left to return back to the real world leaving their summer homes behind. When symptoms of a storm approached New England, many locals convinced themselves and others that it was just the normal “line storm” which occasionally comes in September. It wasn’t until Sept 21 that people realized the so-called