data into a meaningful summary, and in analyzing both sides of a contentious issue.
Assignment
Write an essay describing the damage caused by a recent natural disaster and the reaction of state and federal
authorities to it. For context, you should detail what happened in the preceding days building up to the disaster
itself, then describe the actual path of the disaster (hurricane, tornado, fire, etc.), give an estimate compiled from
multiple sources on the damage that the disaster caused, and finally give a report on the aftermath and speed of
the cleanup and restoration efforts. In a separate section, you should analyze the possible contributions of other
factors to the event, or ways in which the event contributed to other problems.
Choose one of the following disasters:
1. The 2020 Atlantic Hurricane season. The 2020 hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean (in the Pacific we
call them typhoons) has been extensive, with so many named storms that we ran out of English names
and had to begin using Greek letters. Parts of the Gulf Coast were hit multiple times by the various storms.
In Louisiana, they did not have time to get the power completely restored before the next storm came
through. Consider the government’s responses to these events, and any other factors that may make it
harder for the areas hit to recover (for instance, the economic downturn forced by CoViD-19). Finally,
analyze the possible contributions of climate change to causing the disaster. (You do not have to take the
stance that climate change, as embraced by environmentalists, is real. You can deny its existence.)
2. The 2020 West Coast Wildfire season. The 2020 Wildfire season was one of the worst on record.
Document the various fires, the estimated damage, and the economic and personal effects. In addition,
consider the various causes; especially, consider the lack of forest management (which Donald Trump and
California governor Gavin Newsom both agreed contributed) and the possible contribution of climate
change to causing the disaster. (Again, you do not have to take the stance that climate change, as
embraced by environmentalists, is real. You can deny its existence.)
3. The 2021 Texas Ice Storm. In February, 2021, Texas experienced a brutal ice storm that took down much
of the state’s power grid, crippled the wind power field, and even left auxiliary natural gas power useless.
Original estimates of 57 dead were raised to 111 dead, and the state was crippled for over a week. Many
people could not get food or water. Consider the government’s reaction to this storm (federal, state, and
Texas’s ERCOT) and what went wrong. Consider what the nation learned about how sustainable power
sources such as wind turbines and solar power function in a crisis. And consider the implications of
climate change possible causing the disaster. (Again, you do not have to take the California, but the flooding caused by snow melting in late February 2023 was only the beginning. In
March, weather patterns called “atmospheric rivers” began sending high-speed straight-line winds and a
deluge of rain across the region, flooding towns and causing landslides and mudslides. Discuss how long
the event lasted and its rarity. Give an account of casualties and property damage. Consider the
government’s responses to these events, and any other factors that may make it harder for the areas hit
to recover. Finally, analyze the possible contributions of climate change to causing the disaster. (You do
not have to take the stance that climate change, as embraced by environmentalists, is real. You can deny
its existence.)
Format
Write this report in MLA style with full MLA documentation.
Length
Minimum length is 700 words, maximum length is 1000 words, which is approximately 3 to 4 full pages of text,
Length
Minimum length is 700 words, maximum length is 1000 words, which is approximately 3 to 4 full pages of text,
typed double spaced. Add one additional page for the Works Cited list.
Sources and Cited Works
You must cite (quote, summarize, or paraphrase) a minimum of three (3) sources, each fully cited in MLA
documentation style, both in the text of the report and
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