![]() Further, there was a significant loss of life, extensive or total destruction of property, disruption of lifeline services, and the sources of livelihood (including employments) were significantly impacted, if not totally lost. The combined impact of high winds, rain, storm surge distressed levees, and flooding created conditions that affected and disrupted the lives of hundreds of communities and millions of people. ![]() Katrina impacted an extensive geographical area of the United States. Thus, the images of desolation and destruction as a consequence of this storm did not reach the international community with the speed and intensity of Hurricane Katrina. Also, Galveston was in 1900 and was not covered by TV. might be the closest parallel, but not many commentators could go beyond superficial comparisons. ![]() This storm has been recognized as the “deadliest natural disaster” in US history. A Category 4 hurricane, it is estimated that this storm resulted in over 6,000 deaths, primarily in the Galveston area, and over 3,500 homes were completely destroyed. The Galveston hurricane 1 The Galveston hurricane (or better known as “the storm”) devastated Gavelston on September 8, 1900. Just as disasters are a quantitative leap over routine community emergencies, it is hard to compare Katrina to any other recent US hurricane. The aftermath of such hurricanes is bad enough without such promotion.Īll disasters are not equal. These themes have provided graphic glimpses of the human toll and suffering that such disaster events can have but in drawing these pictures, television stations have also conveyed irrational and exaggerated information (many times based on rumors or incorrect information based on unverified data) focusing on both human loss and physical destruction. For the past several weeks, the major programmatic themes and news headlines generated by the media, but particularly television, have centered on hurricanes, specifically Hurricane Katrina, and more recently, Hurricane Rita. ![]()
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