Page 186 - Super Earth Encyclopedia

STORM SURGE

HURRICANE KATRINA

Every summer, hurricanes build up in the tropical North
Atlantic and sweep west toward America. In August 2005,
the fifth hurricane of the season—Hurricane Katrina—
veered north over the Gulf of Mexico and headed directly
for the region’s largest city, New Orleans. The strength of
the storm had pushed up a great mound of ocean water,
creating a storm surge that was up to 28 feet (8.5 meters)
higher than normal sea level. Topped by huge waves
swept onshore by the screaming winds, it broke through
the sea defenses like a tsunami. Most of the low-lying city
was flooded, whole neighborhoods were reduced to
ruins, and hundreds of people drowned.

AT A GLANCE
• LOCATION New Orleans, Louisiana

• DATE August 29–30, 2005
• HURRICANE FORCE Category 5,
weakening to Category 3 at landfall
• WIND SPEED More than 125 mph
(200 km/h)

STATS AND FACTS

WIND SPEED INLAND WATER
Katrina was one of
the five deadliest The highest Water was
recorded wind
swept up to
hurricanes in the speed was 12 miles (20 km)
history of the US. 175 mph inland.
At least two-thirds (280 km/h).
of the casualties FLOOD DEPTH was flooded, in places to depths
DISASTER ZONES the storm surge. m 2 of 20 ft (6 m) or more.
were victims of the
Eighty percent of New Orleans
flooding caused by
4
6
20
10
ft
ECONOMIC COST
108
BILLION
DOLLARS
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