Many people acted heroically in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Coast Guard, for instance, rescued some 34,000 people in New Orleans alone, and many ordinary citizens commandeered boats, offered food and shelter, and did whatever else they could to help their neighbors.
Tidal waves, or tides, are a predictable, com-mon occurrence along coastal communities, generated by forces beyond Earthâthe gravitational pull of the sun and moon. However, tsunamis are not predictable. They are often generated by earth-quakes, volcanic activity, and slope failure.idal waves, or tides, are a predictable, com-mon occurrence along coastal communities, generated by forces beyond Earthâthe gravitational pull of the sun and moon. However, tsunamis are not predictable. They are often generated by earth-quakes, volcanic activity, and slope failure.
One of the unique characteristics about the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami in 2004 that sets it apart from others is the fact that there was little to no warning that it was going to happen. The only warning the people of Indonesia had was the hours in between the earthquake and the tsunami. The reason for this was that the Indian Ocean lacked a tsunami warning system because tsunamis are a rarity near the Indian Ocean since the last tsunami it encountered was in 1883.