In this iteration of Hurricane History, we will cover one of the most infamous hurricanes in the United States. Hurricane Katrina was a category 5 hurricane that struck the Gulf Coast, primarily affecting the states of Louisiana and Mississippi. At its end it caused 1800+ deaths and $125 billion in damage making it the 3rd deadliest hurricane in US history along as the costliest one.
Katrina began forming on August 23rd, 2005 and passed through Miami Florida as a category 1 hurricane. As it went through the Gulf however, it quickly intensified into a category 5 thanks to the Gulf’s warm waters. On August 29th it made landfall as a category 3 hurricane in Louisiana. The closest metropolitan area of New Orleans was quickly overwhelmed by heavy rain due to it being below sea level and a dysfunctional levee system, by the afternoon 20% of the city was underwater. Beforehand the New Orleans mayor ordered a mandatory evacuation with nearly 1.2 million individuals following these orders. At this same time Katrina caused storm surges that wrecked beachside resorts and homes in Mississippi. On August 31st Katrina finally dissipated, however, by then 80% of New Orleans had been flooded.
Though federal response to Katrina has remained controversial, there is no doubt of the spirit of the individual people and organizations who volunteered and gathered to help New Orleans and other affected locations get back up on their feet. Katrina was a tragedy for many, and highlights how dangerous hurricanes can be and the importance of being aware and ready for them.
If you believe your home or business is in danger of floods, contact our expert team at AJS and we will work with you to make you and your operations safer and better!