Katrina is the Atlantic’s strongest and most destructive Category 5 storm. According to estimates, the August 2005 storm claimed 1,800 lives and damaged property worth more than $125 billion. According to estimates, the storm was caused by a tropical depression that arose from the mixture of a tropical waves and the remnants tropical depression ten. This was the Atlantic Ocean’s most severe hurricane season until 2020. (Al-Kassimi, 2019). As the time passed, the depression became stronger and created a tropical hurricane aimed toward Florida. It began its journey in the Gulf of Mexico, and then intensified into a Category-5 storm (Al Kassimi, 2019,). The storm was unable to be predicted, identified, and prepared for it. Its presence, coupled with the lack of an effective risk assessment, risk analysis, suggests that there would be far-reaching consequences on the infrastructure as well as human life.
Two procedures are used to reduce the impact of risk. Risk analysis involves identifying the risk and classifying it into different categories. It also determines the likely effect of each type. However, risk analysis is focused on the determination of precise risks and their associated consequences. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), was responsible for assessing and recognising the effects of Katrina’s landfall. (Al-Kassimi 2019, 2019). Risk assessment starts with the identification of the potential risk. It is important to understand the exact danger involved and their potential consequences. FEMA was well aware of the dangers, but it could not conduct a thorough risk analysis to help in the creation of a recovery and contingency plan. Disaster preparation is an important part of risk analysis and management. The risk management team can establish the necessary assistance for victims of disasters at this stage. FEMA provided approximately 11.322,000 liters (water, 18960,00 pounds of frozen food, 5.977.312 meals and truckloads) for disaster management teams. FEMA also prepositioned rescue and medical teams in the 18 areas of potential impacts. It is vital in risk management as it assures all forces reach a single goal. (Tropical Storm Kyle, 2020). FEMA created a Hurricane Liaison Team to work with the National Weather Service and the state and local governments in order to ensure their preparedness for storms. Additionally, they developed a strategy to assist victims of the storm and drafted compensation plans.
Protecting infrastructure is crucial to minimizing the effects of natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina. To ensure infrastructure security, the management should conduct a risk analysis in order to identify the possible dangers facing the structures.