Jocelyn Molina
Meteorology Extra Credit
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was one of the most deadliest and destructive storms to hit the
United States Atlantic coast in the past century. Nearly 2000 peoples lives were lost and
an estimated $125 billion dollars in damage. Hurricane Katrina’s storm surge caused
severe damage along the gulf coast from Southern Florida all the way to Texas and
caused the most damaged when it hit New Orleans.
Hurricane Katrina started out as a tropical depression on August 23,2005 in the
Bahamas. It then crossed Southern Florida as a category one hurricane on the SaffirSimpson scale. It quickly made its way to a category five hurricane while crossing over
the warm gulf water. The hurricane eventually led its way to Southeast Louisiana as a
category three hurricane.
Hurricane Katrina’s landfall in Southern Florida generated over 5 inches of rain
and over 15 inches in some locations, which caused local flooding in the area. At this
time the hurricane was a category one hurricane, with landfall winds North of Miami at
80 mph. There was some damage and extensive power outages in Southern Florida.
Well before landfall it was heavily raining along the gulf coast. Some areas
recorded more than ten inches of rain before the hurricane hit Louisiana. At landfall in
South East Louisiana wind speeds were recorded at 140 mph. While winds west of the
eye were over 100 mph in New Orleans. (“The New York Times”)
As the hurricane weakened and turned into a tropical storm many areas around the
gulf coast were affected by floods and major rainfall. Tornados produced from rain bands
from Katrina caused further damaged in Georgia. Biloxi and Gulfport Mississippi were
under water due to the storm surge estimated at 20 to 30 feet, which flooded the cities.
The levees that were supposed to keep the city from flooding failed during the
hurricane. More than 50 levees failed the day Katrina hit and levee failures were the
cause of 80% of the flooding in New Orleans.
No other place felt the impact like New Orleans, Louisiana did on the morning of
August 28,2005. Most of the deaths due to the violent hurricane occurred in New
Orleans. Eventually 80% of the city was flooded because all the levees broke. The
floodwaters lingered around for weeks. The storm surge was a high as nine meters in
some places. ("NOAA")
Most of the homes affected by the hurricane were in the 9th ward. The people of
the 9th ward were people living in poverty. Many of the people who couldn’t get out of
town were told to go to the super dome for shelter but sadly many did not even make it
there. More than half of the citizens of the 9th ward had no transportation. Many homes
schools and business were destroyed and unrecognizable. Some survivors didn’t receive
help up to 24 hours after the storm. The media showed footage of survivors on top of
their roofs surrounded by the floodwaters waving for help.
The aftermath of the storm was a crisis as seen all over the media. There were
people fighting to survive after the storm. The citizens who were seeking shelter at the
superdome were low on supplies such as water and food. Inside the superdome local gang
members were terrorizing citizens. Some citizens report that there were random gunshots
fired inside. Ten thousands plus evacuees had nowhere to go.
The people of New Orleans had no other choice but to relocate. There was
nothing to go back to. Most people were sent as far as out as Massachusetts and Utah. It
almost seemed impossible to leave the city because most of the coastal highways were
impassable due to destruction Katrina has caused. Both of New Orleans airports were
close on August 30 due to flooding. The bridges that lead east out of the city on interstate
10 were destroyed. Citizens were reported fighting for bus seats to get out of the city.
The Hurricane had destroyed everything, homes, schools, automobiles and jobs.
What started off as a tropical storm in the Bahamas had turned into a category
three hurricane. Hurricane Katrina claimed the lives of over 2,000 people and roughly
705 peoples whereabouts are still unknown. The hurricane estimated at roughly over
$125 billion dollars in damage and it was also recorded the third strongest hurricane to
ever make landfall in the U.S.
Works Cited
"NOAA." NOAA. N.p., 29 December 2005. Web. 6 May 2013.
"Hurricane Katrina." The New York Times. The New York Times, 25 Sep 2012. Web. 6
May 2013.