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Hurricane Katrina's Mountain of Numbers
August 28, 2021 at 11:08 PM EDT
By WeatherBug Sr. Meteorologist, James West
Hurricane Katrina roared ashore along the Mississippi and Louisiana coast in the early morning hours of August 29, 2005, leaving behind a mountain of destruction from New Orleans to the Florida Panhandle. This storm also left behind a mountain of numbers, including:
Direct Damage Costs: Direct property damage is estimated at $108 B (2005 actual); $132 B (2015 adjusted). This is nearly quadruple 1992`s Hurricane Andrew damage. Economic costs estimate exceed $150 B.
Other Damages: 1.3 million acres or the size of Delaware of forest was destroyed in Mississippi, producing $5 billion in losses.
U.S. Fatalities: Death toll of 1,836 makes it the fifth deadliest in U.S. history. Deadliest since 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane.
Storm Strength : At the time, fifth strongest (based on central pressure) in Atlantic Basin recorded history and strongest ever in Gulf of Mexico. Stronger 2005 storms Rita and Wilma subsequently dropped it to seventh place and third place respectively.
Storm Surge: Wall of water generated from Katrina`s landfall pushed 6 to 12 miles inland along Mississippi and Alabama coast. Crossed Interstate 10 for several miles.
Disaster Area Size: Federal disaster declaration covered 90,000 square miles, nearly the size of Minnesota.
Power Outages: Estimated 3-million people from Texas to Florida lost power due to Katrina. Louisiana and Mississippi each reported nearly 1 million outages.
South Florida: 14 fatalities, $1-2 B in damage from first landfall on August 25, 2005.
Deadly Tornadoes: Katrina-spawned twisters killed at least 1 person and 140,000 baby chickens in Georgia.
The Atlantic Hurricane Season in 2005 was the most active in history, with 28 formed tropical and subtropical storms. Fifteen of the storms strengthened into hurricanes, and seven became major hurricanes-Category 3 or greater. The impact of the hurricane season caused about $160 billion in damages, and was responsible for an estimated 3,865 deaths. A decade later, Katrina remains to be one of the most memorable hurricanes of the 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
Source: NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Wikipedia; Originally published August 27, 2010 as part of 5-year Katrina Anniversary.
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Story Image: A satellite image of Hurricane Katrina as it approaches the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2010. (NOAA, NASA)
Direct Damage Costs: Direct property damage is estimated at $108 B (2005 actual); $132 B (2015 adjusted). This is nearly quadruple 1992`s Hurricane Andrew damage. Economic costs estimate exceed $150 B.
Other Damages: 1.3 million acres or the size of Delaware of forest was destroyed in Mississippi, producing $5 billion in losses.
U.S. Fatalities: Death toll of 1,836 makes it the fifth deadliest in U.S. history. Deadliest since 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane.
Storm Strength : At the time, fifth strongest (based on central pressure) in Atlantic Basin recorded history and strongest ever in Gulf of Mexico. Stronger 2005 storms Rita and Wilma subsequently dropped it to seventh place and third place respectively.
Storm Surge: Wall of water generated from Katrina`s landfall pushed 6 to 12 miles inland along Mississippi and Alabama coast. Crossed Interstate 10 for several miles.
Disaster Area Size: Federal disaster declaration covered 90,000 square miles, nearly the size of Minnesota.
Power Outages: Estimated 3-million people from Texas to Florida lost power due to Katrina. Louisiana and Mississippi each reported nearly 1 million outages.
South Florida: 14 fatalities, $1-2 B in damage from first landfall on August 25, 2005.
Deadly Tornadoes: Katrina-spawned twisters killed at least 1 person and 140,000 baby chickens in Georgia.
The Atlantic Hurricane Season in 2005 was the most active in history, with 28 formed tropical and subtropical storms. Fifteen of the storms strengthened into hurricanes, and seven became major hurricanes-Category 3 or greater. The impact of the hurricane season caused about $160 billion in damages, and was responsible for an estimated 3,865 deaths. A decade later, Katrina remains to be one of the most memorable hurricanes of the 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
Source: NOAA, National Hurricane Center, Wikipedia; Originally published August 27, 2010 as part of 5-year Katrina Anniversary.
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Story Image: A satellite image of Hurricane Katrina as it approaches the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2010. (NOAA, NASA)