Usually, a sudden catastrophe with serious consequences. While the causes and nature of a disaster are largely the preserve of physical geographers, human geographers also consider the causes and impact of disasters. Le Billon and Waizenegger (2007) TIBG 32, 3, 411 note that ‘disaster risk has “political roots”, notably (unequal) power relations and (under-) development processes’. Hurricane Katrina, for example, renewed attention to inter-racial and class-based inequalities, prejudices, and tensions in the United States. Politics, rather than the strict “needs” of disaster victims, also influence responses to disasters. Interpretations of disasters represent political choices with political impacts, particularly from a gender perspective, and for disaster recovery or future risk mitigation.