10 years ago the United States experienced the most costly and one of the most lethal natural disasters in history when Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast and the City of New Orleans. Between the dates of August 23rd and August 31st, 2005, the world watched in disbelief as one of America’s most iconic cities was submerged under water and chaos ensued.
Hurricane Katrina was a category 5 hurricane and the third strongest storm to strike the United States. The hurricane claimed over 1800 lives and caused $108 billion in damage. The greatest damage was to the City of New Orleans.
Most of the City of New Orleans is actually under sea level. Surrounding the city are a series of
levees designed to retain the water from the Gulf Coast and Lake Pontchartrain. The damage to the city was not only caused by the force of the hurricane, but by the flooding throughout the city after the levees failed. Over 80% of the city was flooded, up to 20 feet in some areas.
Prior to the hurricane, citizens were told to evacuate the city. Unfortunately for nearly 60,000 residents, evacuation was not an option. Many had nowhere to go and many lacked the financial means to leave the area. As a result after the storm and the flooding, thousands of New Orleans citizens were trapped. Federal and local disaster relief organizations, including FEMA, were unprepared for such a catastrophe and these citizens spent days isolated without food, clean water, or other facilities.
Without basic necessities, many turned to looting. Police responded with force and the chaos grew. Finally after many days FEMA took charge and coordinated with the Red Cross, National Guard and others to supply the people with food and begin an evacuation of the city.
10 years later the city still shows the signs of Hurricane Katrina. While many places in the city have been restored to the greatness of the past, places such as the Lower 9th Ward have had little restoration completed. Even today, each year Bishop Kelly sends a group of students to New Orleans to aid in the rebuilding effort.
Prior to the hurricane New Orleans had a population of 455,188. As of 2006, the population had dropped to 208,548. As of 2013, the population is 378,715, close to 80,000 lower than pre-hurricane population.
Prior to reading this and watching the video, what did you know about Hurricane Katrina? What are your thoughts about the event? If you were a resident of New Orleans prior to Katrina, would you move back to the city? Why or why not?
