HURRICANE KATRINA

WHAT IS A HURRICANE?

• A Tropical Cyclone - Intense low pressure system that forms over the ocean
• High winds
• Wind speeds exceed 74mph
• usually cause floods, rain, and unpredictable weather after hitting land
• Uses energy from warm water - occur in tropical places

WEATHER INVOLVED

• Thunderstorms
• Tropical Depression
• High Winds
• Low Pressure System
• Floods - Storm Surge

BEFORE
Before it became an actual hurricane, thunderstorms created a low pressure system close to the Atlantic Ocean's surface, drawing up more warm air and then cooling to create condensation which then caused more warm air to rise creating a wind system and a Tropical Cyclone (Hurricane).

DURING
She made landfall in Louisiana at 6:10am, with storm surges recorded up to 30ft. After breaching 53 levees and the 17th street canal, 80% of New orleans was underwater. Her wind speeds were up to 140mph. As she moved inland, she decreased to a tropical storm leaving only rain and tornadoes. Lowest Pressure recorded: 902 millibars

AFTERMATH
The hurricane left an estimated 1,836 people dead, and millions more homeless. Storm surges left over 80% of New Orleans underwater. Families were devistated with the loss of family, homes, and pets.

EFFECTS ON PEOPLE

• 1,836 People died
• Over 1 million homes damaged or destroyed
• Millions of people left homeless
• Loss of clean water and power
• Years of full recovery

EFFECTS ON ENVIRONMENT

• Fallen trees
• Flooding
• Softened ground
• Loss of Wildlife
• Inflitrated Groundwater (Oil Spills)

MONETARY DAMAGE (2014$)

• $125 billion in insurred/economic damages by today
• 79% of people affected rebuilt their homes
• Some people are still in poverty today

TRACKING DEVICES USED

• NOAA- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• USCG- United States Coast Gaurd
• NHC- National Hurricane Center
• NWS- National Weather Service

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• More than half of all victims were senior citizens
• 705 people are still recorded as missing from the hurricane
• The floods were 20 feet deep in some places
• 70 other countries pledged monetary donations to help
• Costliest hurricane in US history

STORM SURGE VIDEO