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[[Image:NOAA-Hurricane-Katrina-Aug28-05.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Hurricane Katrina, on August 28, 2005]]

[[Image:NOAA-Hurricane-Katrina-Aug28-05.jpg|right|300px|thumb|Hurricane Katrina, on August 28, 2005]]

'''Hurricane Katrina''' in August 2005 was one of the strongest and most devastating storms to impact the coast of the [[United States]] during the last 100 years. With sustained winds during landfall of 125 mph (110 kts) (a strong category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale) and minimum central pressure the third lowest on record in the United States at landfall (920 mb), Katrina caused widespread devastation along the central Gulf Coast states of the U.S., with the cities of [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], [[Mobile]], [[Alabama]], and Gulfport, [[Mississippi]] bearing the brunt of Katrina's force, which caused $81.2 billion in its  

'''Hurricane Katrina''' in August 2005 was one of the strongest and most devastating storms to impact the coast of the [[United States]] during the last 100 years. With sustained winds during landfall of 125 mph (110 kts) (a strong category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale) and minimum central pressure the third lowest on record in the United States at landfall (920 mb), Katrina caused widespread devastation along the central Gulf Coast states of the U.S., with the cities of [[New Orleans]], [[Louisiana]], [[Mobile]], [[Alabama]], and Gulfport, [[Mississippi]] bearing the brunt of Katrina's force, which caused $81.2 billion in its wake.

 

==The tropical cyclone==

==The tropical cyclone==

[[File:President Casino Barge After Katrina PD WC.jpg|300px|left|A Barge was washed ashore after Katrina|left]]

[[File:President Casino Barge After Katrina PD WC.jpg|300px|left|A Barge was washed ashore after Katrina|left]]

===Flooding===

===Flooding===

[[File:Katrina flooding New Orleans.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Extent of flood damage within the city of New Orleans (NOAA)]]

[[File:Katrina flooding New Orleans.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Extent of flood damage within the city of New Orleans (NOAA)]]

The loss of life and property damage was worsened by breaks in the levees that separate New Orleans from surrounding lakes. At least 80% of New Orleans was under flood water on August 31, largely as a result of levee failures from Lake Pontchartrain. The combination of strong winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge led to breaks in the earthen levee after the storm passed, leaving some parts of New Orleans under 20 feet of water. Storm surge from Mobile Bay led to inundation of Mobile, Alabama causing imposition of a dusk-to-dawn curfew for the City. Large portions of Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi were underwater as a result of a 20 to 30+ foot storm surge which flooded the cities.  

The loss of life and property damage was worsened by breaks in the levees that separate New Orleans from surrounding lakes. At least 80% of New Orleans was under flood water on August 31, largely as a result of levee failures from Lake Pontchartrain. The combination of strong winds, heavy rainfall and storm surge led to breaks in the earthen levee after the storm passed, leaving some parts of New Orleans under 20 feet of water. Storm surge from Mobile Bay led to inundation of Mobile, Alabama causing imposition of a dusk-to-dawn curfew for the City. Large portions of Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi were underwater as a result of a 20 to 30+ foot storm surge which flooded the cities.

 

===Oil industry===

===Oil industry===

A major economic impact for the nation was the disruption to the [[oil]] industry from Katrina. Preliminary estimates from the [[Mineral Management Service]] suggest that oil production in the Gulf of Mexico was reduced by 1.4 million barrels per day (or 95% of the daily Gulf of Mexico production) as a result of the hurricane. [[Gasoline]] had reached a record high price-per-gallon as of Monday August 30 with concerns over refinery capacity apparently driving the increase.

A major economic impact for the nation was the disruption to the [[oil]] industry from Katrina. Preliminary estimates from the [[Mineral Management Service]] suggest that oil production in the Gulf of Mexico was reduced by 1.4 million barrels per day (or 95% of the daily Gulf of Mexico production) as a result of the hurricane. [[Gasoline]] had reached a record high price-per-gallon as of Monday August 30 with concerns over refinery capacity apparently driving the increase.

===Power outages===

===Power outages===

Over 1.7 million people lost power as a result of the storm in the Gulf states, with power companies estimating that it would take more than several weeks to restore power to some locations. Drinking water was also unavailable in New Orleans due to a broken water main that serves the city. Power was lost to 1.3 million customers in southeastern Florida from the initial landfall on August 24.  

Over 1.7 million people lost power as a result of the storm in the Gulf states, with power companies estimating that it would take more than several weeks to restore power to some locations. Drinking water was also unavailable in New Orleans due to a broken water main that serves the city. Power was lost to 1.3 million customers in southeastern Florida from the initial landfall on August 24.

 

===Travel===

===Travel===

Both of New Orleans' airports were flooded and closed on August 30 and bridges of Interstate 10 leading east out of the city were destroyed. Most of the coastal highways along the Gulf were impassable in places and most minor roads near the shore were still underwater or covered in debris as of August 30. Katrina also disrupted travel as it headed inland, with more than 2 inches of rain falling across a large area from the coast to parts of Ohio during the 48 hours after Katrina made landfall.

Both of New Orleans' airports were flooded and closed on August 30 and bridges of Interstate 10 leading east out of the city were destroyed. Most of the coastal highways along the Gulf were impassable in places and most minor roads near the shore were still underwater or covered in debris as of August 30. Katrina also disrupted travel as it headed inland, with more than 2 inches of rain falling across a large area from the coast to parts of Ohio during the 48 hours after Katrina made landfall.

==Recovery==

==Recovery==

An August 2008 report by Oxfam America showed that while progress has taken place, it is behind expectations, and that much work remains to be done:

An August 2008 report by Oxfam America showed that while progress has taken place, it is behind expectations, and that much work remains to be done:

*More than 35,000 individuals are still living in FEMA trailers in the Gulf Coast

*More than 35,000 individuals are still living in FEMA trailers in the Gulf Coast

==Political repercussions==

==Political repercussions==

[[File:Mer2006-03p1a.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Flooded school buses in New Orleans]]

[[File:Mer2006-03p1a.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Flooded school buses in New Orleans]]

The disaster fueled partisan criticism of the response of federal officials, causing significant political damage to the administration of President [[George W. Bush]]. In particular, deaths of 1,836 people were rather pointedly blamed on President Bush and his appointees, on the grounds that their response was "too little, late."

The disaster fueled partisan criticism of the response of federal officials, causing significant political damage to the administration of President [[George W. Bush]]. In particular, deaths of 1,836 people were rather pointedly blamed on President Bush and his appointees, on the grounds that their response was "too little, late." However, federal relief was delayed because mayor Ray Nagin refused that assistance.

 

Independent sociological studies have shown that nearly all the deaths were due to people waiting too long to obey the evacuation orders. Also, the Democratic governor and Democratic mayor refused (for as long as it was politically viable) to accept federal help. Internally, resources such as school buses were simply abandoned instead of being used to shuttle out the economically disadvantaged residents of New Orleans lower 9th ward.

 

 

{{License|license = This work is in the [[public domain]] in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.| source = [http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/katrina.html]}}

==See also==

==See also==

<references />

<references />

[[Category:Weather]]

 

{{License|license = This work is in the [[public domain]] in the United States because it is a work of the United States Federal Government under the terms of Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105 of the US Code.| source = [http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/katrina.html]}}

 

[[Category:Hurricanes]]

[[Category:Hurricanes]]

[[Category:The South]]

[[Category:The South]]

[[Category:Gulf Coast of the United States]]

[[Category:Gulf Coast of the United States]]

[[Category:2000s]]

[[Category:2000s]]