Exploration

In this experience you are going to make use of resources on the Internet to do research to answer one of several questions about Hurricane Katrina, that came ashore along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The NASA photograph shows the size and extent of the hurricane as it was about to come inland. Here you can see how the storm dwarfs individual cities and communities along the coast. The smaller map shows the path of the hurricane and it moved inland into the Ohio Valley, and into the North East.

nasaimage_katrinakatrina_path

In the Exploration stage, you are going to investigate a significant problem that related to Hurricane Katrina. You should make use of the direct links related to each question, and the links that are found in the Hurricane Database shown below.

Problems for Investigation

1. Why did New Orleans flood? Below you will find a map, and cross sections of New Orleans, and its relationship to Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippii River. Notice that the city has a lower elevation than the lake or the river. What caused the city to flood? How could it have been prevented?

  • Simulating the New Orleans "basin" environment. Construct a model of the area around New Orleans to get a better understanding of the geology of the area. You will need a large plastic container (at least 24" x 30" and 6" deep), water, and diatomaceous earth (purchased at a local pool supplies store). Using the diagram below ("New Orleans cross-section"), construct a model of the New Orleans basin, Lake Pontchartrain, and the Mississippi River. Mix the diatomaceous earth with water in a large plastic bucket until is like a paste. Mold the contours and outlines of the levees to reconstruct a model of the area. Let the diatomacous mix "harden" and then fill the area of the lake, and river with water so that the water levels are higher than the elevation of New Orleans.
  • Levees. New Orleans is "protected" from Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi. What is a levee, and how is it constructed? Artificial Leveeslevees

mapno
2. How did Katrina become a category 5 Hurricane? To answer this question, we need to know how hurricanes originate, how they develop. Generally speaking, 3 - 5 hurricanes hit the coast of the U.S. each year, and can cause considerable damage. Use the following links to answer the basic question in this section.

katrina_image_atcoast

3. What casues the damage when a Hurricane passes over an area? It might surprise you that it is storm surge that causes the most damage along a coastline. Look into this concept, and find out also how winds impact structures and vegetation.

4. Were warning heeded? It is easy to point the finger at various individuals, government officials and agencies regarding what steps might have been taken to lessen the damage and loss of life. To what extend were warnings heeded about the possibility of a category 4 or 5 hurricane hitting the New Orleans area? Use the Internet to find out what preparations could have been taken and try and evaluate to what extent these preparations were carried out.

5. Criticism of government response. Many individuals have criticized the response of the government to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. What are the opinions, and how do you evaluate them? Here are two articles to get you started. Use google.com to search the Internet to find answers and opinions on this question. You might use phrases such as "government response to Katrina," FEMA and Katrina, etc.

Project Database

Questions? jhassard@mac.com