Hurricane Katrina Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Hurricane Katrina - Essay Example Around mid 19th Century, the ‘Irish Potato Famine’ hit Ireland while ‘Hurricane Katrina’ hit United States in 2005; both disasters had many similarities and a few differences. Both Irish Potato Famine and Hurricane Katrina were natural disasters that hit different countries at different times. Hurricane Katrina is one of the most destructive disasters that have hit the American coastline over the centuries. It was unprecedented and spread so fast to vast areas, from the Bahamas to Florida to the Gulf of Mexico. Other areas affected included Louisiana, New Orleans, Texas, and the coast of Mississippi among other areas. Massive flooding was experienced within a very short period. Between 1845 and 1952, Ireland experienced a disastrous famine that affected livelihoods due to the failure of the crop that the people almost exclusively relied on. The cause of the crop failure was due to an unprecedented potato blight that had originated from Mexico and found its w ay to Ireland. The magnitude of the two disasters is comparable given the different times that they occurred. To a person in the 19th, century, potato blight that was caused by fungi appeared to be a mystery and could not be understood and no immediate solution was found. The same case happened in 2005 when the hurricane got the people off guard, the best thing that could have been done was to evacuate those who were in the prone areas. Floods extended over large areas and completely curtailed operations in the entire region. Lives were lost in both incidences, it was estimated that up to one thousand, eight hundred and thirty three people lost their lives during the hurricane and the subsequent floods. These figures could have risen if it were not for immediate intervention by the government agencies as well as other rescue operators. Property estimated at more than $81 billion was lost in the process. For the case of the Irish Potato Famine, it was reported that more than eight hu ndred thousand people died and more than one million others found their way to other countries in the world. Despite the two disasters being similar in that they were all natural, there is a difference in how the population reacted to the incidences. While the Americans were so swift to find a solution to the prevailing problem that threatened the country, the Irish situation is as if it emanated from their own making. The level of preparedness was very poor and the aspect of overreliance on potatoes as the staple food posed a threat that could result to a food crisis as it came to be. It is also ironical that despite the people dying of hunger, the country still exported grains to other countries. The issue was not looked into with seriousness even after the experts addressed the cause, they made a wrong conclusion. For Katrina, every minute mattered and the rescuers were on high gear not only to rescue the survivors but also there was a concerted effort to contain the situation. F ederal agencies such as National Hurricane Centre, United States Coast Guard and National Weather Service had an insurmountable input in the path to containing the situation. Those who slept on their job faced the axe such as the director of Federal Emergency Management agency. Both disasters had lasting effects as characterized by the aftermath of the two incidences. The economy of Ireland downsized