Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Lessons From Hurricane Katrina
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania has published "On Risk and Disaster: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina", a book that deals with risk, natural disasters, recovery, rebuilding and policy. In this book, University of Pennsylvania provost Ronald J. Daniels, political science professor Donald F. Kettl, and Howard C. Kunreuther, Wharton professor of operations and information management, argue that the U.S. government has become an insurer of last resort and question whether that unofficial policy is contributing to larger and costlier disasters. 
Image by Knowledge@WhartonRead more about Hurricane Katrina Lessons at the Knowledge@Wharton website. Labels: Hurricane-Katrina
Saturday, December 31, 2005
Hurricane Katrina Videos Available
PBS Frontline and PBS Nova have posted one hour programs on the web for public viewing. "The Storm", a Frontline program, examines what can be learned from the failures in preparedness, leadership, and communication during the Katrina disaster and features interviews, analysis, a timeline of events, and personal stories. "Storm That Drowned A City", a NOVA program, focuses on the science of Hurricane Katrina and what made New Orleans so vulnerable. 
Screenshot from PBSView these programs: The Storm --- Storm That Drowned A CityLabels: Hurricane-Katrina
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Hurricane Katrina Damage Map
USGS has prepared a Hurricane Katrina damage assessment map. This map summarizes damage related to both flooding and wind. Damage categories used are: Catastrophic (most solid and all light or mobile structures destroyed), Extensive (some solid structures destroyed; most sustain exterior and interior damage; most mobile homes and light structures are destroyed), Moderate (solid structures sustaining exterior damage; some mobile homes and light structures are destroyed, many are damaged or displaced), and Limited (superficial damage to solid structures; some mobile homes and light structures are damaged or displaced). A more detailed version of the map below can be viewed at the USGS website and paper copies can be ordered. 
Image by USGSView a more detailed Hurricane Katrina Damage Map. Labels: Hurricane-Katrina, Maps
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Hurricane Katrina Wind Speed Map
The map below shows the pattern of sustained wind speeds produced by Hurricane Katrina. The map clearly shows where wind speeds were most severe and how they declined as the storm moved inland. The map was produced by USGS. A more detailed copy can be viewed on their website and paper copies can also be ordered. 
Image by USGSMore a more detailed Hurricane Katrina wind speed map at the USGS website. Labels: Hurricane-Katrina, Maps
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Katrina Storm Surge Maps
FEMA has posted the first of Mississippi's Hurricane Katrina Surge Inundation and Advisory Base Flood Elevation Maps on their website. These maps are satellite images with a transparent color overlay indicating the areas inundated by the Katrina storm surge. Colored lines are also plotted to show base flood elevation contours and inland limit of wave action boundaries. 
Image by FEMAView Katrina Storm Surge Maps at the FEMA website. Labels: Hurricane-Katrina, Maps
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Hurricane Katrina Damage Map
USGS has prepared a Hurricane Katrina damage assessment map. This map summarizes damage related to both flooding and wind. Damage categories used are: Catastrophic (most solid and all light or mobile structures destroyed), Extensive (some solid structures destroyed; most sustain exterior and interior damage; most mobile homes and light structures are destroyed), Moderate (solid structures sustaining exterior damage; some mobile homes and light structures are destroyed, many are damaged or displaced), and Limited (superficial damage to solid structures; some mobile homes and light structures are damaged or displaced). A more detailed version of the map below can be viewed at the USGS website and paper copies can be ordered.
Image by USGSView a more detailed Hurricane Katrina Damage Map. Labels: Hurricane-Katrina, Maps
Hurricane Katrina Flood Map
USGS has prepared a Hurricane Katrina flood map based upon remotely sensed data. This map shows regional flooding patterns mostly related to storm surge using data collected on August 30 and 31, 2005. A more detailed version of the map below can be viewed at the USGS website and paper copies can be ordered. 
Image by USGSView a more detailed Hurricane Katrina Flood Map. Labels: Hurricane-Katrina, Maps
Saturday, November 19, 2005
New Orleans Water Depth Map
| USGS has produced a relative New Orleans water level map based upon a lake stage of 2.37 feet. This map illustrates flooding levels in the city assuming that the level of the lake and the floodwaters are equalized. It also gives a clear visual representation of city topography. |  |
Image by USGSView a full size New Orleans Water Level Map at the USGS website. Labels: Hurricane-Katrina, Maps
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Rebuilding New Orleans - Subsidence and Sea Level Rise
From USGS Science Picks: "The rates of subsidence and sea-level rise are important considerations in the restoration of the city of New Orleans and the wetlands that protect it. New Orleans is sinking two inches per decade, and it is anticipated that it will sink roughly one meter in the next 100 years relative to mean sea level. The ocean is also rising. During the last century, the ocean rose one to two millimeters per year. Within the next century if nothing is done to modify the existing infrastructure, some areas of the city that did not flood as a result of Hurricane Katrina will likely flood in a future storm due to subsidence and sea-level rise." With costs of rebuilding New Orleans estimated to be at over $200 billion and thousands of people as permanent residents in a below-sea-level location these facts should be given detailed consideration. Read the full text article: Sea-Level Rise and Subsidence: Implications for Flooding in New OrleansLabels: Hurricane-Katrina, Subsidence
Sunday, September 04, 2005
New Orleans - Before & After Satellite Images
View before and after satellite images of New Orleans on our New Orleans Satellite Image page. When you arrive on that page, the red button will take you to post-Katrina images. To best appreciate the impact, toggle back and forth from "before" to "after" images. 
Images provided by Google and DigitalGlobe
Post-Katrina Satellite ImagesLabels: Hurricane-Katrina, Satellite-Images
Friday, September 02, 2005
Hurricane Katrina Impact Studies
USGS has posted several photo sets that document Hurricane Katrina impact. So far images have been posted for Chandeleur Islands and Dauphin Islands. Photos of the Chandeleur Islands show dramatic removal of all the sand, leaving only marshy outcrops barely above sea level. Prior to Katrina, the island chain consisted of narrow sandy beaches and low vegetated dunes. Sections of Dauphin Island west of the airport and fishing pier look as if an enormous rake has been dragged across the island. Large amounts of beach sand washed over the island, covered roads and filled canals. Storm surge created numerous temporary inlets as the water carved out paths through the sand. 
Image by USGS
The top image was taken on Dauphin Island directly south of Mobile, Alabama in July 2001, before Hurricane Lili (2002). The middle photograph was taken on September 17, 2004, immediately after the passage of Hurricane Ivan. The bottom image was acquired on August 31, 2005, two days after Hurricane Katrina. These photographs show a significant increase in overwash penetration across the island after Ivan and beyond the island after Katrina. The structure in the lower left corner is an oil rig that broke loose during Katrina and washed ashore. The beach appears brown in the bottom photograph due to a "deposit" of plant debris.
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See more images at the USGS Hurricane Katrina Impact studies site. Also available on the site are impact studies for Hurricanes Dennis (2005), Jeanne (2004), Ivan (2004), Frances (2004), Charley (2004), Isabel (2003), Dennis (1999), Georges (1998), Bonnie (1998) and Fran (1996). Also impact studies for the Northeaster that struck Assateague Island in 1998. Labels: Hurricane-Katrina
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Hurricane Katrina - New Orleans Flooding
Earth Observatory has posted satellite images of Gulf Coast flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina. These images clearly show enlargement of Lake Pontchatrain and Lake Maurepas plus water filling the streets of New Orleans. 
Image by EarthObservatorySee high resolution images and read more at the Hurricane Katrina / New Orleans Flooding pages at Earth Observatory. Labels: Floods-Flooding, Hurricane-Katrina
Monday, August 29, 2005
Hurricane Katrina Satellite Images
Earth Observatory has posted numerous satellite images and graphics that illustrate the development of Hurricane Katrina and its impact on New Orleans, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the entire Gulf Coast area. 
Image by NASAVisit the Earth Observatory website for more Hurricane Katrina Satellite Images. Labels: Hurricane-Katrina, Satellite-Images
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Hurricane Katrina Track Map
Hurricane Katrina, which will certainly be one of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes of all time, is approaching New Orleans and forcing an evacuation of the city. Strong winds and a storm surge threaten the city and offshore oil and gas production platforms have long ago been shut down and abandoned. The National Hurricane Information Center has posted a Hurricane Katrina Track Map which they will be updating continuously. The hurricane track map below shows the approximate coastal area under hurricane warning (red), hurricane watch (pink), tropical storm warning (blue) and tropical storm watch (yellow). The orange circle indicates the position of the hurricane center at the time that the map was made. The black line shows the NHC forecast of Hurricane Katrina's track. 
Image by NHICVisit NHIC to see the most current Hurricane Katrina Track Map. Labels: Hurricane-Katrina, Maps
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