Hurricane Katrina & Hurricane Rita
...rina] Katrina and Rita affected the oil refineries in the Gulf of Mexico. These refineries were unable to refine oil in order to produce gas and diesel fuel. This instigated a massive problem since these refineries were responsible for a large portion of the refining capacity of the US. There was less quantity of gas being provided to gas stations and other companies/industries in the country. It was seen that supplies decreased while demands increased. Consequently, the gas prices throughout the country skyrocketed. In addition, another factor that negatively impacted the overshot prices and reduction in gas supplies, is the destruction of the numerous offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. These were forced to be shut down due to damage caused by the hurricanes. As a result, less oil was being produced in the US, causing the drop in gas supplies, and rise in prices. Along with the physical damage by the hurricanes that negatively impacted the energy resources, other factors were involved as well. Such factors include work stoppage before, during, and after the hurricanes, and the time lost for the recovery stage after the hurricanes passed. Thus, when the hurricanes stopped oil refining and drilling for a significant period of time, a huge loss was encountered. Hurricane damage, work stoppage and the recovery period are the main factors that have severely affected the economic and social lives of the people living in the US Gulf area. The storm caused them to evacuate their homes, which many returned to find severely damaged. As a result, these people have to economically and psychologically recover from such a great loss. Countless lives were either put on hold or ruined by the hurricanes. Furthermore, there was no electricity in some neighborhoods. This meant, most stores could not operate. As these stores wore closed, people could not receive food supplies. The financial stand was loosing ground as it was eroding from the daily stock market. Reports showed that many companies were on the bulge of bankruptcy. A large number of people were left homeless. Some lost their families while others lost their humanity, whic...