What Happened in Hurricane Katrina?
There are few natural disasters in human history as devastating and overwhelming as Hurricane Katrina. The storm that struck the Gulf Coast of the United States in late August of 2005 was one of the most destructive storms in American history. Its impact was particularly harsh for the city of New Orleans, where the storm spawned an unprecedented series of events that would irrevocably change the city’s landscape and traumatize its residents, many of whom would never return home. To this day, Hurricane Katrina remains one of the worst natural disasters in American history. Here’s a look at what actually happened during the storm and how its effects changed the Gulf Coast forever.
Background and Stats of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a Category 5 hurricane, the highest level of intensity, when it arrived in the Gulf Coast of the United States on August 29, 2005. The storm caused an estimated $125 billion in damage across five states (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida) and spawned more than 140 tornadoes along the East Coast. It was responsible for the displacement of more than 2 million people, the deaths of at least 1,836 individuals (1,464 in Louisiana alone), and the destruction of multiple businesses and other infrastructure.
Impact on New Orleans
The hurricane’s effects were felt most strongly in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Filled with old buildings and situated near sea level, the city was especially vulnerable to the storm. Over half of New Orleans’ population was impoverished and unable to afford evacuation or safe housing, and the area was typically defended by levees and flood walls. Unfortunately, Katrina was too powerful for the city’s infrastructure and the levees broke during the storm. At least 80% of the city was flooded with up to 8 feet of water in some places.
The initial flooding triggered a series of events that would continue to plague the city in the coming weeks and months. More than one million people were displaced after the hurricane and many found themselves without food or water for weeks. The destruction of homes, businesses, and infrastructure crippled the city’s economy and its sense of community. Many survivors were unable to communicate with family members or to receive adequate medical treatment for their injuries.
The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
In the weeks and months following the hurricane, New Orleans and the Gulf Coast were wracked with destruction and despair. One of the most immediate concerns was housing and shelter, with shelters having to be set up to handle the influx of people left homeless by the hurricane. In an effort to provide aid, the United States government and various nonprofits launched a massive relief effort to get people back on their feet.
In the years following Katrina, a wide range of projects were launched to aid in the recovery of the region, including an $8 billion rebuilding effort that is still ongoing. FEMA allocated over $20 billion to help individuals financially recover and rebuild their homes. Many other federal and state agencies have since dedicated resources to hurricane recovery, and locals have also launched their own aid and recovery efforts.
Political Controversies Surrounding Hurricane Katrina
The destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina also ignited numerous political controversies. Critics of the government response deemed it to be slow, inadequate and even politically motivated. Some argued that the government failed in their duties to protect life and property in New Orleans and that race, class and poverty may have been a factor in the level of assistance given to non-white communities specifically.
In response to these claims, the Senate convened numerous hearings and launched an official investigation into the government’s response to Hurricane Katrina. The investigation found that the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, was unprepared and slow to respond to the disaster, a finding backed up by several independent watchdog reports.
The effects of Hurricane Katrina were devastating and will not be forgotten anytime soon. The destruction wrought by the hurricane has had a lasting impact on the people and the city of New Orleans, coinciding with the loss of many lives and businesses, the displacement of millions of people and the displacement of the recovery work that is still ongoing today. Katrina was – and still is – one of the worst natural disasters in recent times, and serves as a reminder of the risks posed by extreme weather events.