Hurricanes In MEDC’s And LEDC’s

Hurricane Katrina (MEDC)

• This was the USA’s worst natural disaster in living memory.

• The storm hit land near New Orleans on the 29th of August 2005 at a speed of some 230 km/h (145 mph).

• Katrina was a category 4 hurricane, but what set it apart from other hurricanes was the way it lingered rather than passed through.

Hurricane Katrina (MEDC)

• Over 1830 people were killed in the USA.• Economists suggest Hurricane Katrina cost the

US economy $80 billion.• The rescue operation was criticised for not

doing enough to help the poorest members of the population.

• Many of those left without help were from the poor neighbourhoods, many of which were the worst hit by the hurricane.

Cyclone Nargis (LEDC)

• Some 134,000 people died in Cyclone Nargis, which struck Burma in May 2008.

• As many as 95% of all buildings in the affected area were demolished by the cyclone.

• Winds exceeding 190 km/h (118 mph) and torrential rain devastated the area.

• The Burmese government identified 15 townships in the Irrawaddy delta that had suffered the worst.

Cyclone Nargis (LEDC)

• Seven of them had lost 90-95% of their homes, with 70% of their population dead or missing.

• International frustration mounted as disaster management experts failed to get the necessary visas to enter the country.

• The land in the Irrwaddy delta is very low-lying.• It was home to an estimated 7 million of Burma’s 53 million

people.• Nearly 2 million of the densely packed area’s inhabitants live

on the land that is less than 5m above sea level, leaving them extremely vulnerable.

• As well as the cost in lives and homes is the agricultural loss to the fertile delta – considered Burma’s rice bowl.

Activity

What are the similarities and differences between Hurricanes/Tornadoes/Cyclones in MEDC’s and LEDC’s?

MEDC’s LEDC’s

Similarities

Differences