Before the Katrina made landfall, did forecasters and emergency management know the seriousness of the impending situation?
The short answer to this question is: Absolutely. This is something the weather and emergency management communities have known for years. When talking about hurricane disasters the first topic of discussion has always been a major hurricane striking New Orleans. The scenarios have been played out and discussed many times. The conclusion has always been the same. Because New Orleans is below sea level a major hurricane would flood New Orleans from three different possible directions; Lake Pontchartrain, the Mississippi river, and the Gulf of Mexico. It was envisioned that thousands of people would be trapped with out vital supplies while others would drown in the initial push of water from the storm. This is one of the reasons why the mayor of New Orleans ordered a mandatory evacuation. On Sunday morning, 24 hours before landfall, the National Weather Service Office in New Orleans put out a statement that outlined almost exactly the scenario being played out now. I read it when it firs
Related Questions
- Does the National Disaster Housing Strategy address all of the Post Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (PKEMRA) requirements?
- Before the Katrina made landfall, did forecasters and emergency management know the seriousness of the impending situation?
- What is the Emergency Management Program (EADM)?
