Hurricane Katrina  

Hurricane Katrina was the most destructive hurricane to hit the United States. This category 5 hurricane was also the most expensive natural disaster ever to affect the United States. It caused around $108 billion worth of property damage. It was formed on August 23rd 2005 and lasted until August 31, 2005. It originated as a tropical storm over the Bahamas. Katrina had a maximum wind speed of 175 mph. It was the third deadliest hurricane in the US history after Galveston in 1900 and Okeechobee in 1928.

Fast Facts: –

• The States most affected by hurricane Katrina where Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi.
• At least 1800 people died due to Hurricane Katrina and most of them were senior citizens. 705 people are reported as still missing as a result of Katrina.
• During this time, 80% of the city of New Orleans flooded to varying depths up to about 20 feet.
• It ranks sixth overall in strength of recorded Atlantic hurricanes.
• Katrina weakened to a Category 1 hurricane after moving inland over southern and central Mississippi.
• During this hurricane, the National Guard was called in to help with evacuations.
• According to NOAA, it was one of the largest displacements of a population since the Great Depression.
• The New Orleans metro area’s population had dropped dramatically, from 1.386 million in 2005 to 1.04 million in 2006.
• Katrina and the severe floods caused by this also broke through New Orleans’ Levee System.