Hurricane Katrina occurred before I started this chronicle of climate anomalies, and I didn't feel right postdating an article that far back. At the same time, I didn't feel like this site could be complete without some sort of mention of the costliest and one of the deadliest hurricanes to ever hit the United States.
For a complete history of Hurricane Katrina, I recommend reading this excellent Wikipedia article. But in the interest of keeping the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in the forefront of our minds, here is a brief summary:
- Hurricane Katrina formed on August 23, 2005, and became the third-strongest hurricane to make landfall in the United States. It was the sixth strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded.
- Katrina was the costliest natural disaster in US history, causing $81.2 billion in damages.
- At least 1,836 people were kill by Hurricane Katrina and in the subsequent floods.
- 80% of New Orleans flooded as a result of rains and breached levees.
- Hurricane Katrina was followed by Hurricane Rita, the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded, and the worst tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico.
- The 2005 Atlantic Hurricane season was the most active in recorded history, accounting for 2,280 deaths and damages of over $128 billion.
