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Hurricane Katrina

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This article is about the 2005 hurricane. For other storms with this name, see Hurricane Katrina (disambiguation).
Hurricane Katrina
DurationAug. 24 - present, 2005
Three-day forecast for Hurricane Katrina as of 4 PM CDT August 29

Hurricane Katrina, now downgraded to a tropical storm, is a major tropical cyclone that continues to cause significant damage in the southeastern part of the United States. Areas affected (so far) include Louisiana (especially the Greater New Orleans area), southern and central Mississippi, southern Alabama, the western Florida Panhandle and southern Florida. Katrina is the eleventh named storm, fourth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. Its minimum central pressure of 918 mb at the time of its Louisiana landfall makes it the third most intense system to strike the United States in recorded history. It is also estimated to be the costliest natural disaster in United States history.

Katrina formed on August 24, 2005 and first made landfall near North Miami, Florida, United States, as a Category 1 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, causing major flooding, loss of power to more than 1 million residents, and 2 deaths. An eye-restructuring event weakened it to a tropical storm as it moved offshore. However, the system regained strength much more quickly than anticipated in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, becoming a Category 5 hurricane and reaching 902 mb (the fourth most intense ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin) with sustained winds of 175 mph. The system turned northward and made first (Louisiana) landfall on August 29, 2005, near Grand Isle, Louisiana, as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 150 mph. This was quickly followed by a second landfall south of Buras-Triumph, Louisiana at approximately 6:10 a.m. CDT (Louisiana local time) (11:10 UTC), with sustained winds of 140 mph.

At its largest, the eye of the storm itself was about 30 miles (48 km) wide. As of 6 a.m. CDT, the storm is moving toward the north at 15 mph (24 km/h). Hurricane force winds are predicted up to 150 nautical miles (278 km) inland, while the flooding rains will persist as far northward as the Great Lakes.

A mandatory evacuation was issued for the first time ever in New Orleans, as 70 percent of the city is below sea level and the storm surge was expected to reach record levels of 28 ft (8 m) above normal tide levels. An offshore instrument recorded waves of 36 ft (11 m) before becoming unresponsive. Disaster relief plans are in full operation in the affected communities. Some experts predict a million people could become homeless as a result of the storm [2]. Preliminary insurance estimates from State Farm and other insurance companies indicate insured damage from 10 to 25 billion USD [3].

The storm turned out not to be as catastrophic as forecasters predicted for most of New Orleans, because the storm made a right turn at the last minute, and the eye missed New Orleans by 10-15 miles. The dikes, which the newsmedia was reporting might be destroyed, held. Currently 750,000 people are without power in the New Orleans area, and it may be several weeks before power is restored. The parts of the city with the worst flooding were in the east, where the storm was most severe. Roughly 40% of the city is under water, which in some places in 25 feet deep.

Storm history

Track of Katrina (2PM CDT, 29 August 2005)

The U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) issued a statement on August 23 saying that a tropical depression had formed over the southeastern Bahamas. The numbering of this system was debated, as Tropical Depression Twelve formed out of what some weather analysts called the "remains of Tropical Depression Ten". The naming and numbering rules at the NHC require a system to keep the same identity if it dies then regenerates, which would have normally caused this storm to remain numbered Ten. However, the NHC gave this storm a new number because a second disturbance merged with the remains of Tropical Depression Ten on August 20, and there is no way to tell whether the remnants of T.D. Ten should be credited with this storm (this is different from Hurricane Ivan in the 2004 season, when the NHC ruled that Ivan did indeed reform; the remnant of Ivan that regenerated in the Gulf of Mexico was a distinct system from the moment Ivan originally dissipated to the moment it regained tropical storm strength) [4]. The system was upgraded to Tropical Storm Katrina on the morning of August 24. Katrina became the fourth hurricane of the 2005 season on August 25 and made landfall later that day around 6:30 p.m. between Hallandale Beach and North Miami Beach, Florida.

Hurricane Katrina on August 28, 2005, near its peak intensity
(courtesy NASA [1])

Katrina spent only a few hours over southern Florida. Katrina was predicted to go across South and Southwest Florida. However, Katrina moved farther to the south than expected and soon regained hurricane strength after emerging into the Gulf of Mexico in the morning of August 26. Katrina then quickly strengthened to Category 2 and its pressure dropped to 971 mb, which called for a special update from the NHC at 11:30 a.m. EDT (1530 UTC). At 5 a.m. EDT (0900 UTC) on August 27 Katrina was upgraded to Category 3 and its pressure dropped to 945 mb. On August 27 President Bush declared a state of emergency in Louisiana, two days before the hurricane made landfall [5]. Later, at 12:40 a.m. CDT (5:40 UTC) on August 28, Katrina was upgraded to Category 4. Later that morning, Katrina went through a period of rapid intensification, with its maximum sustained winds reaching as high as 175 mph (280 km/h) (well above the Category 5 threshold of 156 mph (250 km/h)) and a pressure of 906 mb by 1 p.m. CDT. By 4 p.m. CDT, Katrina reached its lowest pressure reading, at 902 mb. This made Katrina the fourth most intense hurricane on record in the Atlantic basin, surpassing Hurricane Ivan of 2004, Hurricane Mitch of 1998, and Hurricane Camille, the legendary hurricane that made landfall on the Mississippi coast in 1969. The system made landfall as a strong Category 4 hurricane on 5:30 a.m. CDT near Grand Isle, Louisiana, with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph. Its lowest minimum pressure at landfall was 915 mb, the 3rd strongest hurricane to make landfall on the United States on record.

A 15-20 foot storm surge came ashore on virtually the entire coastline from Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to Florida.

Recent developments

As of 10 p.m. CDT on August 29 (03:00 UTC, August 30), the center of Tropical Storm Katrina was located near Columbus, Mississippi. The storm was moving north-northwest at 22 mph (35 km/h) with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph (100 km/h). Katrina has a minimum central pressure of 973 mb.

Watches and warnings

  • All watches and warnings for the Gulf Coast have been discontinued.

Historical analysis

Top four most intense hurricanes in United States history
North Atlantic Landfall U.S.
Rank Hurricane Year Pressure Rank Hurricane Year Pressure
1 Gilbert 1988 888 mb 1 Labor Day 1935 892 mb
2 Labor Day 1935 892 mb 2 Camille 1969 909 mb
3 Allen 1980 899 mb 3 Katrina 2005 915 mb
4 Katrina 2005 902 mb 4 Andrew 1992 922 mb
Based on data from: The Weather Channel Based on data from: National Hurricane Center

Ranking Katrina's place in the history of hurricanes depends on the exact figures used. Katrina (based upon a central pressure of 918 mb at landfall) - is the third most intense named hurricane to hit the United States since the naming of storms began in 1950 (and third overall since the recording of hurricanes began in 1851), behind 1969 Hurricane Camille's central pressure of 909 mb (26.84 inches), and the unnamed Labor Day Hurricane of 1935.

Katrina has been compared with Camille since that hurricane was also an intense Category 5 storm which made landfall in the same general area. The Labor Day Hurricane that hit the Florida Keys was slightly more powerful, with a minimum central pressure of 892 mb (26.34 inches).

Katrina has also drawn comparisons to Hurricane Betsy, because of its similar track and potential effects on New Orleans. In 1965, Betsy struck New Orleans after passing over the Florida Keys, causing over $1.5 billion USD in damage in 1965 (over $9 billion today), and the deaths of 75 people, earning the nickname "Billion Dollar Betsy". However, Betsy was only a fast-moving Category 3 hurricane, limiting its potential for devastation, while Katrina is a massive, slow-moving Category 4 storm. For Katrina, some potential damage estimates dwarf the $36 billion damage (in current dollars) caused by Hurricane Andrew (previously the most destructive hurricane to have hit the United States).

Katrina may come close to the Ohio River Valley, even scraping southern Illinois, causing storms to rise from the remnants that are left behind.

Preparations

Template:Wikinewshas Katrina has proven difficult to forecast, as the models showed widely-varying landfall locations and intensities as soon as it re-entered the Gulf of Mexico. Katrina made landfall near New Orleans, Louisiana [6].

A mandatory evacuation of New Orleans, Louisiana was issued early Sunday morning. The mayors office reported that as many as 1 million residents had evacuated. All residents were required to evacuate the city and travel to a safe location to wait out the storm. Authorities and news media have noted that most fatalities due to these storms can be prevented by being smart and packing up necessities and travelling to a safe location for the duration of the storm [7].

Most expect Katrina to be the costliest natural disaster in US history. Some early predictions in damage exceed $100 billion, not accounting for potential catastrophic damage inland due to flooding (which would increase the total even more), or damage to the economy caused by potential interruption of oil supply. Other predictions have placed the minimum insured damage at around $12.5 billion (keep in mind that this figure is normally doubled to account for uninsured damages in the final cost), so the location of impact remains the main point of focus for the time being.

Hurricane Katrina August 28. (Courtesy NOAA/NNVL)

Mandatory evacuations were also ordered for Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche outside the floodgates, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Charles, St. James, and parts of Tangipahoa and Terrebonne parishes in Louisiana.

In Alabama, evacuations were ordered for parts of Mobile and Baldwin counties (including Gulf Shores). In Mississippi, evacuations were ordered for parts of Hancock, Harrison and Jackson counties.

In preparation for heavy evacuation traffic, Mississippi and Louisiana redirected southbound lanes of Interstate 55 and Interstate 59 northbound in certain areas; Louisiana also redirected eastbound lanes of Interstate 10 westbound for several hours. This contraflow lane reversal allowed all lanes to be used for evacuation, and prohibited inbound traffic in affected areas.

The frigates USS Stephen W. Groves and USS John L. Hall sailed from their home port of Pascagoula to avoid the path of the storm. Aircraft stationed at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi (ironically home to the Air Force's fleet of WC-130 Hurricane Hunter aircraft), Pensacola and Whiting Field Naval Air Stations near Pensacola, Florida, and at Eglin Air Force Base in Valparaiso, Florida, were also evacuated.

On Sunday, August 28, Canadian National Railway (CN) suspended all rail traffic on its lines south of McComb, Mississippi (lines formerly owned by Illinois Central Railroad that extend into New Orleans, Louisiana), in anticipation of damage from the hurricane. To help ease the resumption of services after the storm passes, CN also issued an embargo with the Association of American Railroads against all deliveries to points south of Osyka, Mississippi [8].

Amtrak, America's rail passenger carrier, announced that the southbound City of New Orleans trains from Chicago, Illinois, on August 29 and 30 will be late. The southbound Crescent from New York, New York, for the same period will terminate in Atlanta, Georgia, with the corresponding northbound trains originating in Atlanta as well. Amtrak's westbound Sunset Limited will originate in San Antonio, Texas, rather than its normal origin point of Orlando, Florida. Amtrak announced that no alternate transportation options will be made available into or out of the affected area during this time [9].

The Waterford nuclear power plant was shut down on Sunday, August 28, before Katrina's arrival.

Risk to New Orleans

The Louisiana Superdome took in over 10,000 New Orleans residents the day before Katrina made landfall.

Some areas of New Orleans city range from 1 to 20 feet (0.3 to 6 m) below sea level, and rain-water must be pumped out as fast as it falls to prevent flooding. The city's protective levees along Lake Pontchartrain only reach 14 feet (4 m) (levee maps). At landfall most of the city is expected to be heavily flooded due to the storm surge. In addition, the eye is forecast to pass to the east of the city. Should that occur, the wind will back into the north as the storm passes, forcing large volumes of water from Lake Pontchartrain into the city. It is expected that the storm surge in Lake Pontchartrain will reach 14 to 18 feet, with waves reaching seven feet above the storm surge [10].

Therefore, Mayor C. Ray Nagin has ordered the first ever mandatory evacuation of the city (calling Katrina "a storm that most of us have long feared"). He has established several "refuges of last resort" for citizens who cannot leave the city, including the massive Louisiana Superdome, which was reported to house over 9,000 people along with 550 National Guard troops.

File:Domeoverviewdamage.jpg
Large sections of membrane and some ceiling tiles of the Superdome are ripped away by Katrina's strong winds. "We think the wind somehow got into the vents and got between the roof's (waterproof) membrane and the aluminum ceiling tiles," stated Doug Thornton, manager of the huge arena.

The elevation of the Superdome is about three feet above sea level, and the forecasted storm surge could possibly cause flooding on that site; however, the Superdome has been used as a shelter in the past (in 1998's Hurricane Georges), and is estimated to be able to withstand winds of up to 200 mph and water levels of 35 feet. However, Hurricane Katrina damaged the roof of the stadium early in the storm [11].

Vertical cross-section of New Orleans, showing maximum levee height of 23 feet.

On August 28, 10 a.m. CDT, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a bulletin predicting catastrophic damage to the city. Effects include at least partial destruction of one out of every two well-constructed houses in the city, damage to most industrial buildings rendering them inoperable, the total destruction of all wood-framed low-rise apartment buildings, all windows blowing out in high-rise office buildings, and the creation of a huge debris field of trees, telephone poles, cars, and collapsed buildings.

Further predictions are that the standing water caused by huge storm surges will render most of the city uninhabitable for weeks, while the destruction of oil and petrochemical refineries in the surrounding area will spill waste into the flooding, converting the city into a toxic marsh until water can be drained. Shortages of clean water "will make human suffering incredible by modern standards," according to a NOAA bulletin. Some experts say that it could take six months or longer to pump all the water out of the city. Even after the area has been drained, all buildings will need to undergo inspection to determine structural soundness, as all buildings in the city are likely to be at least partly submerged. Damage and subsequent recovery efforts are predicted to cost the city of New Orleans in excess of US$100 billion [12].

As of mid-day Monday, August 29th, indications are that the eye of the storm has swept northeast and spared New Orleans the brunt of the storm. The city seems to have escaped most of the catastrophic damage that was predicted, though reports of total structural failure of many buildings and flooding by five to six feet of water on the city's east side do exist.

At least 100,000 people without means of transportation are believed to remain in the city, although some have made their way to "shelters of last resort" including the Superdome. The government made no attempt to assist the evacuation of those without automobiles. It is worried that if the city floods, it will be nearly impossible to get them out of the shelters, leaving tens of thousands of Americans at risk of death over the coming days.

Previous predictions

There have been many predictions that an event like this could occur in the New Orleans area. Due to the city's unique geography as well as its levee system and the decrease of surrounding marshland, there have been various plans to mitigate or prevent such an event from being catastrophic, but none have been carried out at the time of Katrina. Ongoing strengthening and raising of levees in the area, such as along the outer Mississippi, is primarily intended to contain river flooding.

The Army Corps of Engineers, Louisiana State University (LSU), and the authorities in Jefferson Parish have modeled the effects and aftermath of a Category 5 strike on New Orleans. The outcome was an unprecedented disaster, with extensive loss of life and property. The key problem is an effect called "filling the bowl", when the hurricane drives water into Lake Pontchartrain, which overwhelms weaker levees to the north and flows into the below-sea-level city accompanied by water overtopping the levees along the Mississipi on the south side of the city center. The tall levee walls surrounding New Orleans then prevent the water from naturally draining back out to sea. Dr. Joseph Suhayda of LSU has been a driving force behind this research and advocacy of planning for the worst. Suhayda's worst case scenario is a Category 4 or 5 storm which approaches New Orleans directly from the south. In September 2002, the American RadioWorks aired a documentary, Hurricane Risk for New Orleans, describing these modelling efforts, the results, and possible long-term solutions. The official budget was highlighted in this as far substandard to the requirement and is already being considered for increase.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune published an award-winning five-part series called Washing Away [13] that covered various scenarios (including a Category 5 hurricane hitting the city from the south) and explored the various environmental changes that have increased the area's vulnerability. One article in the series concluded: "Hundreds of thousands would be left homeless, and it would take months to dry out the area and begin to make it livable. But there wouldn't be much for residents to come home to. The local economy would be in ruins.".

The American Prospect carried "Thinking Big About Hurricanes" on May 23, 2005. That article described the likely aftermath of a major storm surge. "Soon the geographical "bowl" of the Crescent City would fill up with the waters of the lake, leaving those unable to evacuate with little option but to cluster on rooftops -- terrain they would have to share with hungry rats, fire ants, nutria, snakes, and perhaps alligators. The water itself would become a festering stew of sewage, gasoline, refinery chemicals, and debris."

Popular Mechanics ran a story in September of 2001 called New Orleans Is Sinking discussing what might happen if a Hurricane of this size landed on New Orleans. The June 2005 FX miniseries Oil Storm predicted a category 5 hitting New Orleans that forced residents to evacuate and hide out in the Superdome. It went on to speculate a national economic meltdown due to the decreased oil supply.

Impact on coastal locations

State Location Deaths (direct)
Florida Broward County 3 (3)
Miami-Dade County 5 (3)
Unknown 3 (0)
Louisiana East Baton Rouge Parish 3 (0)
Mississippi Hinds County 1 (1)
Unknown 2 (2)
Alabama Unknown 2 (0)
Total 19 (9)

Florida

So far, 11 fatalities have been reported in Southern Florida, including three in Broward County, one in Miami-Dade County, and four in Miami [14]. A family of five feared dead was rescued by the United States Coast Guard [15]. Furthermore, more than 1 million customers were left without electricity [16], and damage in Florida was estimated at between $1 and $2 billion. The American Red Cross will be providing substantial support to those affected [17].

Louisiana

According to officials nearly half a million people were temporarily without electricity in Louisiana for several hours.

There have been unconfirmed reports of flooding on the Lake Pontchartrain causeway.

The Sheriff of Jefferson Parish reported through WDSU that he expects his district to remain uninhabitable for at least the coming week and that residents should not return to the area.

Widespread looting is being reported throughout affected areas of Louisiana, most notably in New Orleans. Mayor C. Ray Nagin has not commented yet.

New Orleans

Area affiliates of WDSU report New Orleans is experiencing widespread flooding, is without power and that there are several instances of catastrophic damage in residential as well as business areas. All metropolitan New Orleans television news services have evacuated their studios in the city and are broadcasting from remote locations.

Shortly before midnight on August 28, local television stations WAPT and WWL reported the first deaths in Louisiana related to Katrina: three nursing home patients who died, probably of dehydration, during the gridlocked evacuation of New Orleans.

On August 29, 7:40 a.m. CDT, it was reported that most of the windows on the north side of the New Orleans Hyatt have been blown out, and many other high rise buildings have extensive window damage.

A number of brick facades have collapsed into the street.

At 9 a.m. CDT a levee breach was reported at Tennessee Street by CCTV operators of a local bank.

At 11 a.m. the National Weather Service reported that a levee broke on the Industrial Canal, a 5.5-mile waterway that connects the Mississippi River to the Intracoastal Waterway, near the St. Bernard-Orleans parish line (Tennessee St.) and 3 to 10 feet of flooding was possible.

This area, also known as the 9th Ward area of the city, reported 3 pump failures. Mayor Ray Nagin states the Lower 9th Ward of New Orleans, on the east side of the city is under five to six feet of rising water after the pumps failed. New Orleans police had received more than 100 calls about people in the area trapped on their roofs. This area includes St. Bernard Parish where an estimated 40,000 homes are now flooded.

"There are reports of army ducks traveling throughout the parish with some homes and streets deeply in water. Information will be ongoing..." --Senator Walter Boasso [18]

The St. Bernard Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness says the parish's two shelters at Chalmette High and St. Bernard High are suffering much damage with flooding. He said Chalmette High shelter is losing its roof, and St. Bernard High has many broken windows/glass. There are estimates of 300-plus refugees at the two sites. "We cannot see the tops of the levees!" --Director OEP, Larry Ingargiola

From MSN "Resident Chris Robinson said via cellphone from his home east of downtown that "I'm not doing too good right now. The water's rising pretty fast and falling down my trouser leg," he added. "I got a hammer and an ax and a crowbar, but I'm holding off on breaking through the roof until the last minute. Tell someone to come get me please. I want to live." [19].

The National Weather Service reported that water had overtopped levees in Orleans and St. Bernard parishes.

According to the Miami Herald, the flooded Ninth Ward in metro New Orleans sent 116 residents onto rooftops seeking aid.

Emergency crews have been busy all day answering phone calls about urgent situations like heart attacks and pregnancies.

At least 3 fires have been reported in the New Orleans area collapsing several buildings.

As of 2 p.m. (CDT), the east side of New Orleans is under 5 to 6 feet of water.

  • WDSU has been showing images of a Winn-Dixie store being looted on Canal Street. WWL reports looting in a Winn Dixie on Basin Street with police officials on the scene.

Over 10,000 people spent the night at the Superdome. Power failed at the Superdome on August 29 at about 5 AM CDT as the storm center approached. About 7:15 a.m., as the eye was approaching from the south, and winds were building, but not yet at peak, a loud banging was heard inside the dome, and it began to leak, creating fears about the integrity of the structure, and causing a movement of the refugees to the more protected areas under the stands. By 8:15 a.m., it was reported that the Superdome roof had been breached, with hole estimated at 3' by 5'. At 11 a.m., a CNN reporter outside the structure reported that large sections of the waterproof roof membrane had been ripped off, and were hanging down the side of the building. The Associated Press states there are two holes, "each about 15 to 20 feet long and 4 to 5 feet wide". and that water is also making its way in at elevator shafts and other small openings [20].

Entire neighborhoods on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain are flooded.

200 people are stranded on their rooftops in the Ninth Ward, and several bodies have been seen floating in the water [21].

Mississippi

Authorities in Gulfport, Mississippi told CNN that 10 feet of water cover downtown streets [22].

Interstate 90 between Gulfport and Biloxi is impassible due to debris.

Three people are confirmed dead in Mississippi due to fallen trees.

Alabama

In Mobile, Alabama, Mobile Bay spilled into the downtown area to the tune of 2 to 3 feet.

More than 110,000 people are without power in Alabama.

Tornadoes have been reported near Brewton, Alabama.

Two people have died in Alabama so far, both in traffic accidents related to Katrina.

Impact on inland locations

Georgia

State Location Deaths (direct)
Georgia Carroll County 1 (0)
Total 1 (0)

Western Georgia has been hit with bands of Hurricane Katrina resulting in heavy rains, damaging winds and several reports of tornadoes in Polk County, Heard County, and Carroll County. In Polk County, 3 homes were reported damaged by a tornado. At around 5 p.m. EDT, a fatal tornado in Carroll County resulted in the death of one person in a vehicle collision and caused damage to as many as 30 homes. [23]

Potential effects further north

Tropical storm force winds will continue much farther inland, likely through Tennessee and into the Ohio Valley and the eastern Great Lakes region [24], even once Katrina becomes extratropical. Tornadoes remain a possibility along the entire track, primarily on the east and southeast sides of the storm center.

In addition, heavy rainfall (4 to 8 inches/100-200mm with local amounts exceeding 15 inches/375mm) could combine with locally saturated ground from summer storms to cause potentially catastrophic flooding in the Tennessee Valley region by Tuesday. Similar amounts are expected in the Ohio Valley region by early Wednesday, the eastern Great Lakes region by late Wednesday and eventually even parts of Quebec and western New England by Thursday. Some areas in those regions are under moderate drought conditions [25] and could use the extra rain, however severe flooding is still possible depending on the rainfall amounts. One potential problem spot is Toronto, Ontario which had a major flooding event on August 19 which caused $100 million in damage, and Katrina could cause further problems. [26] In addition, along the western end of the Appalachians, mudslides are also possible due to the mountainous terrain.

Other impacts

Oil industry

Many analysts predicted that Katrina will interrupt oil production, importation, and refining in the Gulf area, where over 30 percent of the US oil supply and 24 percent of the natural gas supply are extracted or imported. The Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, which imports 11% of US oil consumption, closed on August 27, and Royal Dutch/Shell reports a reduction in production of 420,000 barrels per day [27]. Many refineries are also located in this area and may be disrupted by the hurricane.

Due to fears that the production of oil in the United States will be cut by up to one-third of normal capacity, the price of oil fluctuated greatly throughout the day.

The storm has caused oil activity in the Gulf (from which America receives 25% of its supply) to shut down. As a result of the storm, West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures reached a record high of over $70 USD.

On August 29 at 7 AM CDT, Ted Falgout, port director, Port Fourchon, Louisiana -- a key oil and gas hub 60 miles south of New Orleans on the Gulf of Mexico -- reported on CNN that the port had taken a direct hit from the hurricane. According to Falgout, this port makes up 16 to 18 percent of the US oil supply and Hurricane Katrina "will impact oil and gas infrastructure, not just short term but long term as well. The impact of the storm -- the Gulf is shut down; all of the area of the storm is shut down; a half billion dollars a day of oil and gas is unavailable."

Space Shuttle program

The hurricane could threaten Michoud Assembly Facility and materially interrupt the production of External Tanks for the Space Shuttle, leading to a further interruption of the Shuttle flights [28]. Evan McCollum, a Lockheed Martin Space Systems spokesman in Denver has reported that "there is water leakage and potential water damage in the buildings, but there's no way to tell how much at this point." [29]

New Orleans tourism

The hurricane has struck just days before Southern Decadence, a festival which is the second-largest money-maker for New Orleans businesses after Mardi Gras. It is predicted that outside of the obvious costs of the direct impact of the storm, the city will lose millions of dollars in tourist monies because of the lack of attendance to this festival and others in coming weeks.

Price gouging

Hundreds of reports have poured into Louisiana (and other) authorities regarding price gouging on things like water and gasoline, or of hotels dishonoring reservations in favor of accepting larger offers for rooms by desperate travellers. This type of gouging is a felony offense and authorities are urging those who experience such a situation to immediately call police as they will be taken very seriously and an officer will be dispatched to the location of such an incident.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Hurricane Katrina.

Disaster recovery

Live webcams

Live streaming local coverage

(The mms: URLs in parenthesis are links to the direct streams, provided for users of other operating systems than Microsoft Windows. Linux users can use the mplayer media player to play these streams. Many of the streams are being repeated for public consumption by Akamai.)

References

Government

Miscellaneous

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