Final answer:
Catastrophic flooding often accompanies hurricanes, with Hurricane Mitch in 1998 causing one of the worst flood disasters in Central America. The flooding from hurricanes can devastate infrastructure and highlight economic and social disparities, such as those seen after Hurricane Katrina. Climate change may be worsening these events.
Step-by-step explanation:
Catastrophic flooding often accompanies hurricanes like Mitch in 1998 that stalled over Central America and brought 75 inches of rain. Hurricanes are powerful tropical storms that can cause severe damage, including heavy rainfall leading to floods, strong winds, and storm surges. The massive rainfall from Hurricane Mitch caused one of the worst flood disasters in Central American history, devastating countries such as Nicaragua and El Salvador, both of which were already reeling from the effects of civil wars. Flooding is particularly destructive in regions where it can lead to the failure of infrastructure, such as levees, and play a role in exacerbating economic and social disparities, as seen in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana.
In 1998, the same year Hurricane Mitch struck Central America, Bangladesh also experienced one of its worst flooding events, which highlights how vulnerable certain regions are to natural disasters. Studies and historical records show that climate change might be increasing the severity and frequency of these hurricanes, leading to more frequent and devastating floods as well as other environmental and socio-economic impacts.