ESS315 Presentation by Alex Wang Hurricane Katrina ESS315 Presentation by Alex Wang

Before A tropical depression formed over the Bahamas 8/23/2005 National Weather Service predicted that “after the storm hits, most of the Gulf Coast area will be uninhabitable for at least weeks” New Orleans was at great risk due to that it is completely surrounded by water New Orleans Mayor issued the city’s first-ever mandatory evacuation order (80% evacuated/~10,000 sought shelter in the Superdome/others chose to stay at home) -Though about half the city actually lies above sea level, its average elevation is about six feet below sea level–and it is completely surrounded by water. -The day before Katrina hit, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin issued the city’s first-ever mandatory evacuation order. He also declared that the Superdome, a stadium located on relatively high ground near downtown, would serve as a “shelter of last resort” for people who could not leave the city.

Arrival Became hurricane on August 29th, 2005 Category 3, 4 rating on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale -The tropical depression that became Hurricane Katrina formed over the Bahamas on August 23, 2005. -Early in the morning on August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast of the United States. -When the storm touched down, it had a Category 3,4 rating on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale–it brought sustained winds of 100–140 miles per hour–and stretched some 400 miles across.

Arrival (cont.) Winds of 130-150 miles per hour with heavy rainfall Overwhelmed many unstable levees and drainage canals Storm itself did a great damage, but its aftermath was catastrophic ~80% of the city was flooded

after Nearly 2,000 people killed Affected about 90,000 square miles of the U.S. ~80% of the city was flooded (with some part under 15ft of water)

Insurance companies have paid in estimated $41. 1 billion on 1 Insurance companies have paid in estimated $41.1 billion on 1.7 million different claims for damage to vehicles, homes, and businesses Insurance payment for flood paid out $16.3 billion in claims. $13 billion went to claims in Louisiana

References http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/08/0831_050831_katrina_flooding_2.html http://www.history.com/topics/hurricane-katrina http://www.livescience.com/22522-hurricane-katrina-facts.html http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/23/us/hurricane-katrina-statistics-fast-facts/