Hurricane Katrina effects by region

 

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 September 1, 2005 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 be dispatched to the gulf region, where she will serve as flagship for the naval force.

By September 2, NOAA had published satelite photography of many of the effected regions.

New Orleans

Eighty percent of New Orleans is now flooded, with some parts of the city under 20 feet of water. Two levees were breached, including the 17th Street Canal levee. In an earlier report, three people died of dehydration during the evacuation phase and another four died at the Superdome. 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. Many refugees are trapped in flooded houses and rooftops waiting to be rescued. On August 30, Louisiana governor Kathleen Blanco ordered the complete evacuation people seeking shelter in the Superdome. 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 it is now expected that the city will flood to the level of Lake Pontchartrain, currently four feet above sea level. A shark has been spotted cruising the flooded streets of New Orleans and fireants and thousands of snakes have been unleashed due to the heavy flooding and Lake Pontchartrain being drained into the majority of the city.

Among the many rumors circulating in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is the claim that sharks have been seen prowling the flooded byways of New Orleans. "Sharks were reported swimming in the streets," declared an overseas newspaper account credited to AP and Reuters. "Sharks and alligators are eating people in downtown New Orleans," an unidentified rumormonger was overheard saying in Shrevesport.

While I wouldn't want to chalk these reports up entirely to hysteria, I think we can safely say they're a tad exaggerated. Sifting through earlier news accounts in an effort to track the rumor back to its origin, I found repeated references to unnamed "authorities" and "officials" reporting one "3-foot shark cruising the city." Which authorities? Which officials? Digging further, I could only find mention of one by name: Mayor Aaron Broussard of Jefferson Parish (a New Orleans suburb), who, according to the August 30 issue of the Palm Beach Post, "told residents Tuesday that at least one 3-foot shark had been spotted."

Again, that's one small shark reportedly sighted - exactly where and by whom, we don't know - and as far as we know he hadn't eaten anybody.

In answer to the most obvious objection - yes, at least one kind of shark, the bull shark, is known to be able to survive for some time in fresh water. In fact, a bull shark was once found 1,750 miles up the Mississippi River.

As for alligator sightings, those are to be expected in Louisiana waters, as are snake sightings, and even the occasional floating ant ball.

 On August 31, the mayor stated that the city will probably remain uninhabitable for at least 3 to 4 months. The Associated Press reported that mayor also stated that the death toll would be hundreds, probably thousands in New Orleans.

Reconstruction of New Orleans

Over 150,000 properties in New Orleans were damaged or destroyed by wind, water, and fire in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
This article attempts to outline the immense reconstruction efforts that will be needed once the water has been drained from the city.

Federal officials have determined that it will take at least nine months to drain the water from New Orleans and rebuilding efforts would not commence until the summer of 2006 at the earliest. The wind damage was not severe as had been projected by meteorologists and most buildings survived intact. However, the failure of several levee systems caused extensive flooding in New Orleans and surrounding parishes and will result in extensive water damage to most affected buildings. Therefore, while most homes and buildings are intact they will have to be bulldozed and rebuilt. It is unclear who will oversee the city planning efforts.


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.

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" .

As of 9:35 a.m. on August 30, Plaquemines Parish is essentially under martial law
(or its equivalent in Louisiana).

Contrary to many media reports, martial law has not been declared in New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, because no such term exists in Louisiana state law. Rather, a state of emergency has been declared, which does give some powers similar to that of martial law. On the evening of August 31, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin did declare "martial law" (in name at least) in the city and said that "officers don't have to worry about civil rights and Miranda rights in stopping the looters." Another common rule during riots and disasters is a curfew from sunset until sunrise.

 "What Is Martial Law? And is New Orleans under it?"

Reports from various sources confirm that the southern part of this parish has been "reclaimed" by the Mississippi River.

St. Bernard Parish

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."

Thursday, September 1, 2005 it was reported that unruly crowds disrupt, prevent hospital evacuations. Doctors at two desperately crippled hospitals in New Orleans called The Associated Press Thursday morning pleading for rescue, saying they were nearly out of food and power and had been forced to move patients to higher floors to escape looters.

Hospitals weren't the only facilities with troubles.

Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, who has been working with search and rescue, confirmed that 30 people died at a nursing home in St. Bernard Parish and 30 others were being evacuated. He did not give any further details.

Mississippi

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency officials have also recorded deaths in Hinds, Warren, and Leake counties. About 800,000 people are suffering power outages in Mississippi according to the Clarion Ledger. This is almost a third of the population. Rescuers are now reaching and saving residents from rooftops.

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

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.

Limited information is coming out of Hancock County. Sporadic reports from citizen journalists are posted at WLOX-TV.

The Clarion-Ledger reports the bridge between Bay St. Louis and Pass Christian is out. The roads in Pass Christian are filled with rubble. Casinos were ripped from their moorings and pushed inland. Destruction was heavy to residences and businesses. Some looting was reported.

Southern Diamondhead (near Bay St. Louis) was devastated, but Northern Diamondhead seems to be in relatively good shape.

Every inch of roadway decking on the bridge had been stripped by Hurricane Katrina's storm surge, which ate away at least 15 feet of the road onshore as well.

The Houston Chronicle reports Hurricane Katrina's ferocious eye passed directly over Bay St. Louis, causing catastrophic damage to homes, buildings and power lines. Nearly every residential street to the coast, about two blocks from the shore, was clogged with 8-foot piles of debris.

Harrison County

Harrison County, Mississippi 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. As of 8PM, 30 August, 100 people were confirmed dead. Joe Spraggins, civil defence director for Harrison County, added that the number of dead could eventually reach several hundred.
On September 1, county officials reported the death toll was 126.

In the city of Biloxi, Mississippi 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.

 Familiar landmarks destroyed

At DeBuys Road at U.S. 90., the Olive Garden and Red Lobster restaurants were obliterated.

In Biloxi at Edgewater Village, most of that shopping strip mall was devastated. The McDonald's is gone, the Village Sports Pub is gone.

The Hard Rock Casino on Casino Row in Biloxi, which was scheduled to open next week, will have to be rebuilt. The superstructure was severely damaged.

There have been reports that there are several casino barges that were pulled out of water and onto land.

Elvis Gates, a State Farm insurance agent in Long Beach, went to downtown to survey damage. He found nothing left. ``Everything south of Second Street is gone. The harbor is gone.''

St. Thomas the Apostlic Catholic Church, which sits on U.S. 90, celebrated its 100th anniversary in August. It is now gone.

When Camille hit in 1969, Long Beach residents were able to hold Mass in St. Thomas School gym. There is nothing left of that but the superstructure.

First Baptist Chruch in Long Beach has been leveled. Other reports indicate that everything south of the tracks received catastrophic damage. Part of U.S. 90 collapsed in front of Edgewater Village.

In addition, most of the currently reported deaths
 (as of 6 am CDT, the total death toll is 55)
 occurred in Biloxi. Residents that survived Hurricane Camille state that Katrina was "much worse," with a storm surge reportedly reaching further inland than the previous catastrophic storm.

Thirty of those confirmed deaths in Harrison County were at the St. Charles apartment complex, near the beach in casino resort town of Biloxi, said Kelly Jakubic with the county's Emergency Operations Center. The apartment complex was reported, by local news sources, to have collapsed with dozens of residents inside. A spokeman for the City of, Vincent Creel, said that hundreds may have been killed when a 30-foot (9 metre) storm surge came ashore.

Initial assessments at Keesler Air Force Base, located in Biloxi, indicate extensive damage, however there do not appear to be any fatalities of base personnel and their dependents who rode out the storm in shelters on base.
 As well, the pet shelter remained in good shape.

Interstate 10 between Gulfport and Biloxi is impassible due to debris in the vicinity of Biloxi River.


Interstate 10 is the southernmost east-west, coast-to-coast interstate highway in the United States. It stretches from California State Highway 1, (CA/SR-1), also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, in Santa Monica, California to Interstate 95 in Jacksonville, Florida.

As of 5 PM 8/30, the following roads are closed until crews can clean the area:

  • Interstate 10 and Highway 90 from the Louisiana state border to the Alabama state border;

  • Highway 49 from Jackson to Gulfport, Mississippi;

  • Interstate 59 from Meridian to Picayune;

  • Highway 63 from Lucedale to Moss Point;

  • Highway 607;

  • Highway 84 from Collins to Alabama;

  • Highway 98 from Mobile to Hattiesburg.

Helicopter video from WLBT http://www.wlbt.com/ confirms the Biloxi-Ocean Springs bridge totally gone.

Mississippi newspapers are reporting that Beauvoir, the last home and Presidential Library of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, was totally destroyed. In addition to the home, the site also housed the Jefferson Davis Presidential Library and was a Biloxi tourist attraction.

Authorities in Gulfport, Mississippi told CNN that 10 feet of water cover downtown streets. An Armed Forces Retirement Facility within two blocks of the coastline was flooded on Monday, forcing patients, staff, and equipment to the upper floors. Additionally, three fire stations in the city reported various degrees of structural damage.

Hardy Jackson

Hardy Jackson is a resident of Biloxi, Mississippi who lost his wife of 29 years, Tonette Jackson, during Hurricane Katrina.

A short interview with him by Jennifer Mayerle, a local TV reporter for WKRG, was broadcast internationally, and Jackson's story was widely recorded in blogs, newspaper articles and TV reports.

Broadcasting a live feed, Mayerle had been describing the destruction to Biloxi caused by Hurricane Katrina when she encountered Jackson and his children. Jackson emotionally described how his house was split in two by the storm surge. He held onto his wife, but she told him "You can't hold me, take care of the kids," and slipped away.
At the end of the report Mayerle as well was deeply affected.

The body of his wife was reportedly found September 1, 2005 in Gulfport, Mississippi.
 Jackson was ready to walk there but accepted a ride from WKRG the next morning to see the body of his wife at the makeshift morgue in Gulfport, but was then told she was more likely elsewhere in Biloxi. Jackson had found a photograph of her in the remains of their house, and was shown repeatedly saying, "I tried, why'd you let go?"
When shown messages from well-wishers, he responded, "There's still good people in the world. Thank you."

Other coastal states


Florida

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. A family of five feared dead was rescued by the United States Coast Guard. Furthermore, more than 1 million customers were left without electricity, and damage in Florida was estimated at between $1 and $2 billion. The American Red Cross will be providing substantial support to those affected.

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.


Alabama

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.

An oil platform has grounded near Dauphin Island.

Damage is 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.

More than 584,000 people are without power in Alabama.

Tornadoes have been reported near Brewton, Alabama.

Only two deaths have been reported in Alabama so far, both in a traffic accident related to Katrina.


Georgia

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, and one additional fatality was reported.

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.

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 gas caused by Hurricane Katrina, which disrupted oil pumps in the Gulf of Mexico.


Other states
and
 Canadian provinces


Texas

Texas avoided any direct damage from Katrina, but the state has taken in hundreds of thousands of people who have sought refuge from Louisiana. 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 filled up quickly and had to turn away some evacuees. The city of San Antonio is also preparing to accept an additional 25,000 evacuees to be housed at a city-owned warehouse on the site of the now-closed Kelly Air Force Base and the city of Dallas will also accept another 25,000 evacuees.

The American Red Cross began using Reunion Arena in Dallas as a central shelter in that city. After initially accepting about 600 people, they are now preparing to handle a total of 12,000 people at the little-used arena with the remaining evacuees moving to a 200,000 square foot area in the Dallas Convention Center. Fort Worth is also evaluating ways to accept evacuees as well. Texas state parks are open free of charge to evacuees.

More than 300 students from Tulane University, including the school's football team, who were displaced by the hurricane are currently staying at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

The New Orleans Saints NFL football team, who are also displaced from the Superdome, which is their home facility, are currently staying in San Antonio. A practice facility is still being determined for them and they will likely remain in San Antonio for some time. It remains uncertain, at this time, what will happen with the Saints' upcoming season, though it appears that they will likely utilize their San Antonio practice facility as their "home" stadium for the time being (Tom Benson, the Saints owner, lives in San Antonio), although Tiger Stadium at LSU in Baton Rouge is also being considered.

The New Orleans Hornets NBA basketball team is currently utilizing office space at the Toyota Center in Houston, where the Houston Rockets play. The team's training camp will be held at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado for at least two weeks.

Arkansas

Arkansas has also avoided damage from Katrina, and has also taken in many refugees, particularly in the southern and delta counties of the state, though shelters have opened as far north as Springdale, Arkansas. Arkansas is providing deep discounts on spaces at its state parks, waiving pet restrictions, and allowing refugees 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).

Tennessee

At the storm's peak, at least 80,000 customers were without power, primarily in the Memphis and Nashville areas.

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.

Kentucky

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.

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 and declared a statewide state of emergency.

North Carolina

North Carolina avoided damage from the storm, but gas prices were especially high and hospitals here are taking in regional refugees.

Virginia

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.

 Ohio

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.

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.

West Virginia

Significant flooding has been reported in several communities in West Virginia, including Sissonville, forcing some local evacuations.

Pennsylvania

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.

New York

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 and Rochester 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.

Ontario

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). 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.
 There were some spotty reports of damage and flooding, primarily due to fallen trees.

Quebec

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. It was absorbed by a front and crossed over uninhabited areas of Labrador before completely dissipating.

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