Introduction
Destructions caused by storms, floods, droughts, earthquakes, and further source of danger often expose human to insecurity, exacting a serious economic cost and weakening livelihoods. These effects can be short-term, but in many instances disaster also damages the lasting habitability or economic normal growth and development of the affected region.
While the severity of destruction is an important issue, the timeless and capability of assistance and reconstruction programs, and the flexibility of affected territories and societies, will eventually shape the expectations of the region.
Regions or countries that have experienced natural disasters, often known as fragile states in the global literature, are states that have experienced disasters such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, or droughts to the level that their safety, economic, health, and welfare structures are damaged or ruined.
A current severe and sad example of the hit of natural disaster is the Hurricane Katrina which happened in United States on 29, August 2005 (Barb 2007).
At a first glance, the attack on the Gulf Coasts of U.S. seems to be an example of a bulldozer contest at work. In building this research, the method used ofÂfers a comprehensible or deep observation of the situations. The investigation, which takes the subsequent section and to which the study precedes to the conclusion of the research, assesses the impact of the attack on economy and health of the inhabitants of the city New Orleans.
This proportional and static method employs measures established on the environmental effects of the hit. It points out the environmental effects of the attack on New Orleans economy and the health of the inhabitants.
Natural Disaster
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, one of the most fatal hurricanes hit the southern part of U.S. This incidence caused landfall on the seashore of the Gulf of Mexico and within hours it became the major natural tragedy in U.S history (Jeremy, & Matthew 1).
The level of the destruction was unparalleled and had a bad effect on lives, huge demolition of property, and movement of hundred of thousands of people. Survivors of these natural tragedies were exposed to several obstacles to revival, as well as health and mental health problems.
When Hurricane Katrina hit, the strength of the wind and storm surge aroused the levees and flooded the affected city’s resulting to loss of life, shocking damage, and massive dislodgment of people (Warner & Scott, 2005).
Eighty percent of New Orleans was flooded and unlivable causing the movement of the greater part of the city inhabitants. Hurricane Katrina caused the prime single movement of inhabitants from a natural disaster in US history.
Effects of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans Economy
The economic results of Hurricane Katrina, which strike the Gulf coast of America, are extensive. According to research carried out on the impact of the storm on the city, it was observed that Hurricane Katrina destroyed properties thereby exposing the city to environmental pollution which is harmful to the health of the inhabitants. Furthermore, the wreckage caused by the storm has devastated the economy.
Before Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans created about 600,000 non-farm occupations. With reverence to its inbuilt nature, the total economic growth to New Orleans has surpassed $150 billion (Barb, 2007).
Hurricane Katrina is an unpleasant shock to New Orleans and the economy of the nation, as a result shifting the economic development of New Orleans both in job opportunities and health wise. Hurricane Katrina in effect, damaged lives (labor) and capital (production facilities, oil platforms), and consequently it negatively affected New Orleans ability to manufacture goods and services (Falk & Baldwin 2006).
The storm caused terrible damage in New Orleans (Gulf Coast of America). The levees that divided Lake Pontchartain from the city of New Orleans were destroyed causing the flooding of about 80 percent of the city, thereby damaging industries and houses within the city.
New Orleans’ economic infrastructure has several flaws, many of which preceded Hurricane Katrina but have been worsened by the damage done by the hurricane and its consequences. Perhaps, the single most important physical infrastructure problem is the changeable position of the levees and the flood-control system protecting the city from upcoming hurricanes.
Despite the refurbishments that have been made, the doubt surrounding the city’s safety from future Hurricanes put off much-needed investment, both in the city’s opened business residents and by prospective new businesses and residents.
Besides, the city’s physical infrastructures needs major improvement and renovations, not just to essential facilities as streets, transportation networks, and utilities, but particularly to the port and the city’s biomedical facilities.
Other main setbacks for the city’s economic infrastructure include the quantity and quality of its labor force and the city’s association with business sectors.
Effect on health
Hurricane Katrina, the difficult concern of mental illness doubled compared with that in a similar New Orleans population before the hurricane. As occupants reoccupied the town, health authorities became more disturbed about the possibility for respiratory health consequences from danger to water destroyed homes and environment.
When experiencing a major storm, health workers are expected to work with other primary responders on awareness functions like preparing removals, carrying out examination for death rate and for infection, and communicating about dangers of post-hurricane, such as the danger of carbon monoxide physiological state created by toxic substances from unsuitable use of generators when power connections are disconnected (Falk & Baldwin 2006).
Hurricane Katrina caused vast challenges to public health and necessitates wide-ranging reactions.
Important concerns included the extensive damage it caused in New Orleans and across several states, as well as the interruption of clinical services; the disconnection of electric, gas, transportation system, and other services; destructive flooding that contributed to the mass departure of New Orleans; the need to supply protection, life, and medications for a long period to one million people who have been evacuated; and the problems in repopulating New Orleans, restoring its health care sector, and going back to fundamental public health roles (Falk & Baldwin 2006).
The effects of Hurricane Katrina on the health sector of New Orleans consist of the evaluation of huge amount of wreckage and decisions about harmless removal of solid and harmful wastes, evaluations about release of and exposure to harmful substances from manufacturing companies and waste places.
Hurricane Katrina left the city of New Orleans in a difficult situation as a result of toxic air pollution which gives increase to health hazard of the residents. In line with research on Hurricane Katrina, human exposure to toxic air noxious wastes may cause cancer or other serious health consequences, such as procreative effects or birth deficiencies, or undesirable environmental and natural effects (Falk & Baldwin 2006).
Example of toxic air toxins include benzene, which is detected in gasoline; perchlorethlyene, which is discharged from some dry cleaning facilities; and methylene chloride, which is used as a solvent and paint stripper by a number of factories in New Orleans and other cities worldwide.
Examples of other air toxic which have or will have an negative effect on the residents of New Orleans is carcinogenic hydrocarbons, asbestos, methylbenzene, and metals such as hydrargyrum, mercury, Cr, and lead compounds.
In conclusion Hurricane Katrina have negatively affected the lives of many inhabitants of New Orleans (Or Gulf Coast) and caused billions of dollars in property destruction. However, environmental emergencies connecting the discharge, or vulnerable release, of oil, radioactive equipment, or harmful chemicals potentially may have an effect on communities and the neighboring environment.
However, discharge caused by Hurricane Katrina is grievous to both the economy and to human health and with the harm done by storm on the economic infrastructures in New Orleans, it was observed that the residents are open to poisonous air toxins at an adequate concentrations and periods and this may result in high chance of developing cancer or experiencing other severe health effects.
These health effects may possibly include harm to the immune system, and neurological, procreative (e.g., reduced fertility), developmental, respiratory, and other health harms.
Similar to humans, if animals are open to waste from toxics, they may in time contact health problems (EPA, 2003). For example, increases in close air ozone and air pollution can be connected to high rates of asthma exacerbations because the contact has been found to stimulate an increase in airway inflammation.
Works Cited
Barb, Palser. Hurricane Katrina: Aftermath of Disaster. Minneapolis, MA: Capstone, 2007. Print.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). About EPA. 2003. Web.
Falk, Helen, and Baldwin George. Environmental health and Hurricane Katrina. Environ Health Perspect (2006): 114: A12-A13. Web.
Jeremy, Levitt I, and Matthew Whitaker C. Hurricane Katrina: America’s Unnatural Disaster. Nebraska: U of Nebraska Press, 2009. Print.
Warner, Charles, & Scott Thomas R. Where they died. The Times-Picayune. 2005. Web.