Hurricane Katrina

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the United States’ Gulf Coastal area. Winds from the hurricane struck land at 100 to 140 miles per hour. Katrina is estimated to have caused over one hundred billion dollars in damages to areas in the United States.

Why was this hurricane so catastrophic? One reason is the amount of area affected by the storm. The damaging winds reached over four hundred miles across the continent. People in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama all felt the effects of Katrina’s raging wind and rain. The storm also caused levees to fail, which led to massive flooding. After the storm, many were left without food, water, or shelter.

As the storm was predicted to approach New Orleans, the mayor issued a mandatory evacuation. For those unable to leave, the city stadium—the Superdome—would be used as a temporary shelter. Despite the evacuation order, many people without funds or transportation were unable to leave. Eventually, some ten thousand people would seek shelter in the Superdome and still others chose to wait out the storm in their own homes despite the order to leave.

Although the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was horrific, many heroes came out of such a terrible tragedy. People risked their lives to save others. People offered what they had to help those in need. Sadly, nearly two thousand people died. The effects of Hurricane Katrina can still be seen today despite the efforts of those hoping to rebuild what was lost.