This article describes the impact of Hurricane Katrina on different regions of the United States and nearby areas.
For the storm's major impact on New Orleans, see Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans.
Louisiana
According to officials nearly one million people were temporarily without electricity in Louisiana for several hours. As of 1 September, 800,000 were without electricity. Numerous roadways were flooded or damaged and many evacuations conducted by boat and helicopter.
On 1 September, some 18,000 National Guardsmen were en route to New Orleans as part of the disaster relief effort. The United States Navy also announced that four amphibious ships would be dispatched from Norfolk, Virginia within a few days to assist with the relief efforts. On 1 September it was reported that the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman would sail to the gulf region, and will arrive September 4, where she will serve as flagship for the naval force.
By September 2, NOAA had published satellite photography[1] of many of the effected regions.
Thousands of prisoners had to be evacuated from prisons and jails in the most severely-impacted areas, causing severe overcrowding in prisons that are still operating, such as Angola.
New Orleans
- Main article: Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans
On August 31, 2005, eighty percent of New Orleans was flooded by Huricane Katrina, with some parts of the city under 20 feet of water. Four levees were breached, including the 17th Street Canal levee. More than three people died of dehydration during the evacuation phase and another four died at the Superdome [2]. As of 3AM CDT, 31 August, Senator Mary Landrieu told reporters she had heard at least 50 to 100 people were dead in New Orleans. [3] Many refugees are trapped in flooded houses and rooftops waiting to be rescued. On August 30, Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco ordered the complete evacuation of people seeking shelter in the Superdome [4]. Currently, the refugees are set to be transported to the Astrodome in Houston, Texas. The only route out of the city was west on the Crescent City Connection as the I-10 bridge was collapsed and the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway was carrying only emergency traffic.
Both airports were flooded and closed by the storm although one reopened for emergency flights on Tuesday. Shortly after 8:00PM CDT, New Orleans Mayor C Ray Nagin confirmed on WWL-TV that pumping station 6 at the 17th St. Canal Levee, which had been partially offsetting the levee breach at that location, had indeed failed. An attempt to sandbag the breach also failed, and the city had flooded, as feared by authorities, to the level of Lake Pontchartrain, currently four feet above sea level. A shark has been spotted cruising the flooded streets of New Orleans[http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-08-31T034223Z_01_ROB586049_RTRUKOC_0_UK-WEA
Jefferson Parish
As of 9:35 a.m. on August 30, residents of Jefferson Parish who have ID proving they live in the parish will be allowed to return to their homes to retrieve essentials in about a week, but will then be required to leave the parish for another month. The failed attempt to repair the 17th street Canal levee will likely cause additional flooding in the parish.
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. Incidents of looting have been reported throughout affected areas of Louisiana, most notably in New Orleans. Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco has ordered all roadways into the state closed, as reported by WDSU TV.
Terrebonne Parish
In Terrebonne Parish, signs, trees, roofs and utility poles suffered the brunt of Hurricane Katrina's fury when the storm roared across Terrebonne and Lafourche [5].
Plaquemines Parish
On 29 August, the President of Plaquemines Parish Benny Rousselle issued the following statement: "Do not return to the parish until further notice. There are no public services available and all roads are closed and impassable at this time. Parish President Benny Rousselle has requested that only employees in Drainage, Heavy Equipment, Public Right-of-Way Maintenance and Solid Waste Departments return to the parish if possible" [6].
As of 9:35 a.m. on August 30, Plaquemines Parish is essentially under martial law [7] (or its equivalent in Louisiana).
Reports from various sources confirm that the southern part of this parish has been "reclaimed" by the Mississippi River.
The Sheriff's Deparment reported finding 3 bodies on September 5. [8]
St. Bernard Parish
St Bernard Parish, which lies to the East of New Orleans and thus was closer to the path of the storm and the more exposed to the storm surge from the Gulf was rapidly flooded. This was apparently[9] as a result of extensive levee failure along the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet, a 76 mile long shipping channel, which had been dredged to provide access for about 650 deep draft ships per year. The levees were sized to hold back up to 17 1/2 feet of water. It is reported that up to 90% of these levees were damaged and that the failures may be measured in miles.
At 3PM, August 29, in St. Bernard Parish, approximately 150 people were sighted on rooftops in areas that were under approximately 8-10 feet (perhaps more) of water. Among those on the roofs was a WDSU reporter and St. Bernard resident on a Government Complex rooftop.
At around 10:00AM CDT on August 31, it was reported on WWL-TV that St. Bernard Parish is "gone."
On September 1, Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu confirmed that 30 people had died at a nursing home in St. Bernard Parish. [10]
Mississippi
- Main article: Effect of Hurricane Katrina on Mississippi
Mississippi Emergency Management Agency officials have also recorded deaths in Hinds, Warren, and Leake counties. About 800,000 people had power outages in Mississippi according to the Clarion Ledger, almost a third of the population. Rescuers saved residents from rooftops [11].
Governor Barbour says the damage he saw along the coast was indescribable. According to MSNBC, a 30 ft. storm surge came ashore wiping out 90% of buildings along the Biloxi-Gulfport coastline. US Navy officials announced that two Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers under construction at Litton-Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula had been damaged by the storm, as well as the Amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island.
Hancock County suffered severe damages in two communities, Waveland and Bay St. Louis. In Waveland, Mayor Tommy Longo said that the death toll was approaching 50. In Bay St. Louis, officials reported at least 14 storm-related deaths. [12]
Harrison County was hit particularly hard by the hurricane and the storm surge. Its two coastal cities, Biloxi and Gulfport suffered severe damages and many casualties were reported. On September 1, county officials reported the death toll was 126. [13]
In the city of Biloxi widespread damage was reported as several of the city's attractions were destroyed. Many restaurants have been destroyed and several casino barges had been pulled out of the water and onto land [14]. In addition, most of the currently reported deaths occurred in Biloxi. Residents that survived Hurricane Camille state that Katrina was "much worse," with a storm surge reportedly reaching further inland. Katrina's wind estimates were lighter than Camille's, and the central air pressure was slightly higher than Camille's, but Camille was also a much smaller storm so the greater impact of the storm surge may be due to the size (Katrina's hurricane force winds extended 125 miles from the center.) and location. Also, the wind estimates could end up being increased after review of the data, as was the case with Hurricane Andrew which was upgraded from a Category 4 to a Category 5 hurricane 10 years after the event, in 2002.
Other coastal states
Katrina's first stop was South Florida where it hit as a Category 1 hurricane. So far, 12 fatalities have been reported in Southern Florida according to a local weather service report [15]. A family of five feared dead was rescued by the United States Coast Guard [16]. Furthermore, more than 1 million customers were left without electricity [17], and damage in Florida was estimated at between $1 and $2 billion (with much of the damage coming from flooding and overturned trees). The American Red Cross will be providing substantial support to those affected [18].
In addition, two traffic fatalities related to Katrina have been reported on the Florida Panhandle in Walton County, and moderate to locally heavy damage was reported in the western part of the Panhandle (on the outer edge of Katrina), which had already been hit hard by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricane Dennis in July 2005. [19].
In Mobile, Alabama, Mobile Bay spilled into the downtown area to the depth of 2 to 3 feet. A flotel (floating habitat used by oil platform crews) broke loose of its moorings and slammed into the Cochrane Bridge.[20] An oil platform has grounded near Dauphin Island.[21]
Damage was quite heavy in coastal Alabama (similar to Hurricane Ivan in 2004), including significant structural damage. Even in the inland counties, some damage was reported - particularly related to fallen trees [22].
More than 584,000 people were without power in Alabama immediately after the storm. Tornadoes were reported near Brewton, Alabama. Only two deaths have been reported in Alabama so far, both in a traffic accident related to Katrina.
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], and one additional fatality was reported [24].
Severe weather has also been reported in northeastern Georgia, including tornadoes in White County and Hall County. In White County, a tornado struck the tourist town of Helen, ripping the top floor from an Econolodge hotel and damaging businesses at a nearby outlet mall. Thirty people were displaced by the storm, but no injuries were reported. In Hall County, several homes were reported damaged by a possible tornado in Lula [25].
According to WCTV in Tallahassee, a tornado in a feeder band moved through Decatur County to the west of Bainbridge in southwestern Georgia during the evening of 29 August 2005. WCTV reported that no one was injured.
As of 4:00 p.m. EDT on August 30, 2005, tornado watches were still in effect through most of Georgia, as well as much of Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Virginia.
On August 31, 2005, the price of gasoline shot up dramatically in and around the Atlanta area, reaching as high as $6 a gallon. This was mainly due to consumer panic about lack of gasoline caused by Hurricane Katrina, which disrupted oil pumps in the Gulf of Mexico.
Arkansas avoided damage from Katrina, as the storm passed east. Arkansas is providing deep discounts on spaces at its state parks, waiving pet restrictions, and allowing evacuees to stay even if other travelers have confirmed reservations (the bumped travelers will be provided either space at another state park or a gift certificate for future use).
Arkansas has established KARE (Katrina Assistance Relief Effort), a toll free telephone number and website for evacuees seeking assistance. [77] Governor Mike Huckabee stated that up to 100,000 evacuees could end up in Arkansas, staying in motels, state parks, shelters, and with family members, and that state agencies should "take care of those human needs first and worry about the paperwork later". He has requested that the entire state be declared a disaster area.
Western Kentucky was already suffering flooding from storms that had passed through during the weekend prior to Katrina's arrival. Part of Christian County High School, located just outside Hopkinsville, collapsed during the weekend [78].
Significant flooding has been reported in the Hopkinsville area. Many homes have been flooded and in addition, one person was killed in flood waters during Katrina that had already been high from the previous storm.
The Governor of Kentucky, Ernie Fletcher, has declared Christian, Todd and Trigg counties disaster areas due to flooding [79] and declared a statewide state of emergency [80].
Western New York had many reports of flooding, as well as damage caused by fallen trees as a result of Katrina. At least 4,500 customers were without power in the Buffalo [81] and Rochester [82] areas. Damage (primarily to trees which knocked into some neighborhoods) and flooding was also reported in the northern part of the state, near the Ontario border. About 1,100 customers lost power in that area. [83]
North Carolina avoided damage from the storm, but gas prices rose in response to interrupted supply lines. Local hospitals received some regional refugees.
In Ohio, some flooding and power outages have been reported (including about 2,500 in the easternmost part of the state alone), and several areas have been evacuated throughout the state. One hospital had to be evacuated as it lost power and its generator failed in Dennison, but it was restored later in the day. Two deaths have been blamed on the storm in Ohio - both indirect deaths from an accident caused by Katrina's rains in the Monroeville area. [84]
A force F-0 tornado hit Warren County on August 30, causing minor damage in Morrow and Salem Township. Three houses were damaged but no injuries were reported. [85]
On 30 August Southern Ontario reported heavy rain and tropical storm force wind gusts as Katrina passed over the area and before dissipating into a remnant low in the eastern part of Ontario. Port Colborne and Brockville appeared to receive the most rain, both with over 100 mm (4 inches) [86]. Other regions in the province reported 20-50 millimeters (1-2 inches) of rain, except near the New York border where up to 75 mm (3 inches) of rain was reported. [87]. There were some spotty reports of damage and flooding, primarily due to fallen trees.
In Pennsylvania, at least two tornadoes related to Katrina's outer bands affected the south-central part of the state south of Harrisburg. Numerous trees were brought down and several roofs damaged. [88]
On August 31 the storm system that contained Katrina (now partially absorbed by a front) continued to produce heavy rainfall down the St. Lawrence River Valley. Several villages in the northeastern part of Quebec have been isolated due to multiple washouts. Sections of roads were destroyed, effectively cutting these villages off via land travel, until the roads are repaired, which might require up to several weeks. In the meantime, affected areas will be supplied by boats normally supplying the Magdalen Islands.[89] It was absorbed by a front and crossed over uninhabited areas of Labrador before completely dissipating.
At the storm's peak, at least 80,000 customers were without power, primarily in the Memphis and Nashville areas [90].
Some damage has been reported, primarily due to fallen trees. However, there have been no deaths or injuries reported in Tennessee as a result of Katrina.
For the most part, Tennessee is also being used as a staging area for Gulf Coast refugees, particularly in and around Memphis.
Texas avoided any direct damage from Katrina, but the state has taken in an estimated 220,000 people who have sought refuge from Louisiana and has overwhelmed many local resources.
On August 31, the Harris County, Texas Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the State of Louisiana came to an agreement to allow at least 25,000 evacuees from New Orleans, especially those who were sheltered in the Louisiana Superdome, to move to the Astrodome until they could return home. The evacuation began on September 1. President George W. Bush announced on September 4 that additional evacuees would be airlifted to other states.
The Reliant Astrodome in Houston took on some of the 25,000 who had initially sought shelter in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, but quickly reached capacity and by September 2, was unable to accept additional hurricane refugees from the disaster. The Astrodome was reopened a few hours later, after it was announced that all events through December 2005 would be cancelled so as to open the building to an additional 11,000 evacuees. City officials then opened two additional buildings adjacent to the Dome, the Arena and the Center, as well as the George R. Brown Convention Center in downtown Houston to house additional guests.
When the Houston shelters began to reach capacity on September 2, Texas Governor Rick Perry activated an emergency plan that made space for an additional 25,000 in each of San Antonio and the Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington, Texas Metroplex and smaller shelters in communities across Texas. Beginning with a convoy of 50 buses (2,700 people) that arrived at the Dallas Reunion Arena at 3:00 a.m. CST September 3, a wave of over 120,000 additional evacuees began pouring into Texas at a rate, such that as of September 5, it was estimated there are roughly 139,000 evacuees in official shelters in the state, adding to the estimated 90,000 already in hotels and homes. Dallas quickly sought help from nearby cities to help accommodate more evacuees. A staging area at the unused Big Town Mall in Mesquite was opened, but was also overloaded quickly. Fort Worth and Arlington have accepted some evacuees and towns from as far away as Bonham and even Tulsa, Oklahoma have offered to help.
By the afternoon of September 5, with a total estimated number of over 230,000 evacuees in Texas, Governor Perry ordered that buses begin being diverted to other shelters outside the state resulting in 20,000 being sent to Oklahoma and 30,000 being sent to Arkansas. By September 6, Texas had an estimated 250,000 evacuees and Governor Perry was forced to declare a state of emergency in Texas and issued an impassioned plea to other states to begin taking the 40,000-50,000 evacuees that were still in need of shelter.
Many communities in Texas have opened up many of their services to evacuees from Louisiana, offering speedier enrollment for children into local school districts, access to the Texas food stamp program and health services for those being treated for diseases like tuberculosis and HIV. Texas state parks are open free of charge to evacuees.
More than 300 students from Tulane University, including the school's football team, were displaced to Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
The New Orleans Saints NFL football team, who are also displaced from the Superdome, their home facility, have moved to San Antonio. The Saints' 2005 home games were split between the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas and Louisiana State University's Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. On December 30, 2005, the team and the league announcing that the club will play a split schedule again in 2006 between Baton Rouge and New Orleans' Louisiana Superdome, with the first game at the Superdome on September 24 of that year. However, it is undetermined where the Saints will play in 2007 and beyond.
In Virginia, a tornado related to Katrina's outer bands touched down in Marshall, damaging at least 13 homes. In addition, electricity was cut for about 4,000 customers. No deaths or injuries were reported. [91]
Significant flooding has been reported in several communities in West Virginia, including Sissonville, forcing some local evacuations [92].
Tornadoes
There were at least 33 (and possibly up to 39) confirmed tornadoes associated with Hurricane Katrina, with 1 tornado in the Florida Keys, 11 tornadoes in Mississippi, 4 tornadoes in Alabama, and 17 tornadoes in Georgia. In addition, there was 1 tornado in Virginia and 5 tornadoes in Pennsylvania which were originally thought to be related to Katrina but were not mentioned as such in the National Hurricane Center's Tropical Cyclone Report. Most of the tornadoes were rated F0 or F1, but three tornadoes were rated F2 in Georgia, and two were rated F2 in Mississippi. Tornadoes were reported in places including Adams and Cumberland Counties in Pennsylvania, in Fauquier County, Virginia, in Carroll County, Georgia, in Carrollton, Georgia, in White County, Georgia, in Helen, Georgia, and in Fort Valley, Georgia. Several other weak tornadoes were reported by television stations in and around Mobile, Alabama, and Oktibbeha County, Lowndes County and Harrison County in Mississippi.
One death was reported from an F2 tornado near Roopville, Georgia, and 500,000 chickens were killed or set free after about 15 poultry houses were damaged. Several injuries were reported with other tornadoes across Georgia. There was major damage in Helen, Georgia by an F2 tornado, which destroyed homes and a hotel. In Fort Valley, Georgia, another tornado ripped through a credit union and destroyed local houses and trees.
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