Introduction
The hazards related to natural disasters require careful planning, and the case of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans is no exception. However, to effectively ensure the security of citizens in this area, it is vital to consider its geographic specificities, among other factors, which might affect the outcome. The initiative in this regard will comprise several steps, which include identifying risks and affected assets or entities, priorities concerning physical protection, and a strategy based on the above considerations. Hence, following this course of action will help address the population’s needs in New Orleans and minimize the accompanying risks connected to this disaster.
Identifications of Risks and Affected Entities
The definition of risks related to Hurricane Katrina and the most vulnerable population group should be based on particular characteristics of the place. According to reports, it is described as a territory, half of which is below sea level due to the continuous sinking of New Orleans located on a marsh (Sneath, 2019). Therefore, the residents of the least favorable districts in the city should be targeted in the first place. In addition, as follows from the statistics concerning inhabitants of sub-6ft areas, the majority of people are represented by the Caucasian population, which contains 1,055 individuals, 840 of whom comprise the medium social vulnerability group (“New Orleans, LA, USA – Surging seas: Risk finder,” 2017). From this perspective, the risk factor is living in the mentioned area, and the group, which should be addressed, is the Caucasian citizens with low social status.
Priorities for Physical Protection
The information received with the help of the analysis of geographic conditions and categories of residents, which can be described as vulnerable, can be used for developing an assistance plan. Meanwhile, it is also vital to consider priorities for physical protection to ensure the accuracy of designed measures and their correspondence to identified objectives. Thus, considering the climate conditions and geography of New Orleans, they include the need to adjust to emerging circumstances and decide on an appropriate course of action. According to official guidelines issued by NOLA Ready, preparation implies either sheltering in place or evacuating while following the authorities’ orders (“Hurricanes & tropical weather,” n.d.). Considering the fact that the specified areas are likely to be affected in the first place, it is reasonable to suggest that the priority should be the evacuation of the target population group.
A Preparedness Strategy
The data presented above will be used for a preparedness strategy, which should inform the citizens from the specified areas regarding the need to leave their homes and further guidelines immediately. Thus, to protect the people, the authorities should contact them and explain the options for evacuation, which are going by car, by airplane, by bus, or by train, while specifying the optimal routes (“Hurricanes & tropical weather,” n.d.). Consequently, they need to make sure that there are enough evacuspots in the districts and the residents have access to them to follow the orders when required (“Hurricanes & tropical weather,” n.d.). In this way, the strategy combining these two methods will be efficient in ensuring their safety.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the analysis showed that the risk is being residents of sub-6ft areas of New Orleans, and the affected people are Caucasian citizens with low social status. For their physical protection, the priority is to develop measures for their evacuation first and then address the needs of other population groups. In turn, the strategy should include the initiatives of informing individuals regarding the expected course of action and establishing accessible evacuspots.
References
Hurricanes & tropical weather. (n.d.). Web.
New Orleans, LA, USA – Surging seas: Risk finder. (2017). Web.
Sneath, S. (2019). Half of New Orleans is below sea level, humans sank it: Report. Web.