Final answer:
Hurricane Katrina disproportionately affected impoverished citizens, particularly African Americans in New Orleans, due to the city's inadequate disaster planning and response, highlighting economic inequality and racial division.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing Hurricane Katrina to other natural disasters such as tornados and tsunamis relative to social stratification, the most accurate statement is that B. A disproportionate number of impoverished citizens faced hardships during Hurricane Katrina. This disaster uniquely highlighted the nation's economic inequality and racial divisions, particularly in New Orleans where the levees failed and led to extensive flooding. The city's poorest, often African American residents, suffered the most due to inadequate public services, evacuation plans that overlooked those without private transport, and a slow emergency response from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The wealthy were less affected since they typically have more resources to evacuate and recover. Hence, Hurricane Katrina exposed deep flaws in disaster planning and response that disproportionately affected the poor and underscored systemic racial inequities.