View source for Hurricane Katrina

{{Short description|Category 5 Atlantic hurricane in 2005}}
{{Distinguish|Hurricane Catarina|Hurricane Karina}}
{{About|the 2005 Gulf of Mexico hurricane|other hurricanes named Katrina|List of storms named Katrina}}
{{Pp-semi-indef}}
{{Pp-move}}
{{Use American English|date=September 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox weather event
| image = Katrina 2005-08-28 1700Z.jpg
| caption = Katrina at peak intensity in the [[Gulf of Mexico]] on August 28
| formed = August 23, 2005
| extratropical = August 30, 2005
| dissipated = August 31, 2005
}}{{Infobox weather event/NWS
| winds = 150
| pressure = 902
}}{{Infobox weather event/Effects
| year = 2005
| fatalities = 1,392
| missing = 652
| damage = 125000000000
| damage-suffix = <br/>([[List of the costliest tropical cyclones|Tied as the costliest tropical cyclone on record]], costliest when adjusted for inflation)
| areas = {{flatlist|
* [[Bahamas]]
* [[Southeastern United States]] (especially [[Florida]], [[Louisiana]], and [[Mississippi]])
* [[Cuba]]
* [[Northeastern United States]]
* [[Eastern Canada]]
}}
| refs = 
}}{{Infobox weather event/Footer
| season = [[2005 Atlantic hurricane season]]
}}
{{Katrina}}
'''Hurricane Katrina''' was a powerful, devastating and historic [[tropical cyclone]] that caused 1,392 fatalities and damages estimated at $125&nbsp;billion in late August&nbsp;2005, particularly in the city of [[New Orleans]] and its surrounding area. It is tied with [[Hurricane Harvey]] as being the [[List of the costliest tropical cyclones|costliest tropical cyclone]] in the [[Atlantic basin]]. Katrina was the twelfth tropical cyclone, the fifth hurricane, and the third [[major hurricane]] of the [[2005 Atlantic hurricane season]]. It was also the fourth-most intense [[Atlantic hurricane]] to make landfall in the [[contiguous United States]], gauged by barometric pressure.

Katrina formed on August 23, 2005, with the merger of a tropical wave and the remnants of a [[tropical depression]]. After briefly weakening to a [[Tropical cyclone|tropical storm]] over south Florida, Katrina entered the [[Gulf of Mexico]] on August 26 and [[Rapid intensification|rapidly intensified]] to a [[Saffir–Simpson scale|Category 5 hurricane]] before weakening to a [[Saffir–Simpson scale|Category 3]] at its landfall on August 29 near [[Buras-Triumph, Louisiana]].

Eighty percent of New Orleans, as well as large areas in neighboring [[List of parishes of Louisiana|parishes]], were flooded. It is estimated that about 100,000 to 150,000 people remained in the City of New Orleans, despite mandatory evacuation orders. This prompted a massive national and international response effort, including federal, local, and private rescue operations. The largest loss of life was due to flooding caused by engineering flaws in the federally built hurricane protection system, particularly the [[Levee|levees]] around New Orleans. Multiple investigations concluded that the [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]], the organization tasked by Congress in the [[Flood Control Act of 1965]] to design and build the region's hurricane protection, was responsible for the breached [[2005 levee failures in Greater New Orleans|floodwalls]]. Later, a federal appeals court ruled that the Army Corps, despite being responsible, could not be held financially liable due to the [[Flood Control Act of 1928]].

The emergency response from federal, state, and local governments was widely criticized, leading to the resignation of [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) director [[Michael D. Brown]] and [[New Orleans Police Department]] (NOPD) superintendent [[Eddie Compass]]. Many other government officials faced criticism for their responses, especially New Orleans mayor [[Ray Nagin]], Louisiana governor [[Kathleen Blanco]], and President [[George W. Bush]]. However, several agencies, such as the [[United States Coast Guard]] (USCG), [[National Hurricane Center]] (NHC), and [[National Weather Service]] (NWS), were commended for their actions, with the NHC being particularly praised for its accurate forecasts well in advance.<ref name="KatrinaTCR" /> 

The destruction and loss of life caused by the storm prompted the name ''Katrina'' to be retired by the [[World Meteorological Organization]] in April 2006. On January 4, 2023, the NHC updated the Katrina fatality data based on a report by Rappaport (2014) which reduced the number from an estimated 1,833 to 1,392.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" />

== Meteorological history ==
{{Main|Meteorological history of Hurricane Katrina}}
{{For timeline}}
{{storm path|Katrina 2005 path.png|colors=new}}
Hurricane Katrina originated from the merger of a [[tropical wave]] and the mid-level remnants of [[Tropical Depression Ten (2005)|Tropical Depression Ten]] on August 19, 2005, near the [[Lesser Antilles]]. On August 23, the disturbance organized into Tropical Depression Twelve over the southeastern Bahamas. The storm strengthened into [[Tropical cyclone#Tropical storm|Tropical Storm]] Katrina on the morning of August 24. The tropical storm moved towards Florida and became a hurricane only two hours before making [[landfall]] between [[Hallandale Beach]] and [[Aventura, Florida|Aventura]] on the morning of August 25. The storm weakened over land, but it regained hurricane status about one hour after entering the Gulf of Mexico, and it continued strengthening over open waters. On August 27, the storm reached Category 3 intensity on the [[Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale]], becoming the third [[Tropical cyclone scales#Atlantic, Eastern and Central Pacific|major hurricane]] of the season. An [[eyewall replacement cycle]] disrupted the intensification but caused the storm to nearly double in size.<ref name="KatrinaTCR">{{cite report|url={{NHC TCR url|id=AL122005_Katrina}}|title=Hurricane Katrina: August 23–30, 2005|author=Knabb, Richard D|author2=Rhome, Jamie R|date=December 20, 2005|publisher=United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service|author3=Brown, Daniel P|author4=National Hurricane Center|access-date=January 8, 2016|format=PDF|type=Tropical Cyclone Report}}</ref> Thereafter, Katrina [[rapidly intensified]] over the "unusually warm" waters of the [[Loop Current]], from a Category 3 hurricane to a Category 5 hurricane in just nine hours.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|author1=Leben, Robert |author2=Born, George |author3=Scott, Jim |url=http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2005/358.html|title=CU-Boulder Researchers Chart Katrina's Growth In Gulf Of Mexico|publisher=[[University of Colorado at Boulder]]|date=September 15, 2005|access-date=May 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301014255/http://www.colorado.edu/news/releases/2005/358.html|archive-date=March 1, 2009}}</ref>

After attaining Category 5 hurricane status on the morning of August 28, Katrina reached its peak strength at 1800 [[UTC]], with maximum sustained winds of {{convert|175|mph|km/h|-1|abbr=on}} and a minimum central [[atmospheric pressure|pressure]] of {{convert|902|mbar|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4|lk=on}}. The pressure measurement made Katrina the fifth most intense Atlantic hurricane on record at the time, only to be surpassed by Hurricanes [[Hurricane Rita|Rita]] and [[Hurricane Wilma|Wilma]] later in the season; it was also the strongest hurricane ever recorded in the [[Gulf of Mexico]] at the time, before Rita broke the record.<ref name="KatrinaTCR"/> The hurricane subsequently weakened due to another eyewall replacement cycle, and Katrina made its second landfall at 1110 UTC on August 29, as a high-end Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of {{convert|125|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}, near [[Buras-Triumph, Louisiana]]. At landfall, hurricane-force winds extended outward {{convert|120|mi|km}} from the center and the storm's central pressure was {{convert|920|mbar|inHg|abbr=on}}. After moving over southeastern Louisiana and [[Breton Sound]], it made its third and final landfall near the Louisiana–Mississippi border with {{convert|120|mph|km/h|-1|abbr=on}} sustained winds, still at a mid-range Category 3 hurricane intensity.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/atlantic-hurricane-category-five-history-0|title=Monsters of the Atlantic: The Basin's Category 5 Hurricanes|work=The Weather Channel|access-date=September 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906093016/https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/atlantic-hurricane-category-five-history-0|archive-date=September 6, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Katrina maintained strength well into Mississippi, finally losing hurricane strength more than {{convert|150|mi|km}} inland near [[Meridian, Mississippi]]. It was downgraded to a tropical depression near [[Clarksville, Tennessee]]; its remnants were absorbed by a [[cold front]] in the eastern [[Great Lakes]] region on August 31. The resulting [[extratropical]] storm moved rapidly to the northeast and affected eastern Canada.<ref name="KatrinaTCR"/>

== Preparations ==

=== Federal government ===
[[File:BUSHLA.jpg|thumb|Flanked by [[Michael Chertoff]], [[Secretary of Homeland Security]], left, and Secretary of Defense [[Donald Rumsfeld]], President Bush meets with members of the Task Force on Hurricane Katrina Recovery on August 31, 2005.]]

The [[United States Coast Guard]] began pre-positioning resources in a ring around the expected impact zone and activated more than 400 reservists. On August 27, it moved its personnel out of the New Orleans region prior to the mandatory evacuation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hurricane Katrina: How the Coast Guard Got it Right|first=Amanda|last=Ripley|date=October 23, 2005|newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1122007-2,00.html|access-date=July 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521131513/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1122007-2,00.html|archive-date=May 21, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Aircrews from the Aviation Training Center, in Mobile, staged rescue aircraft from Texas to Florida.<ref name="CG leadership">{{cite report |first1=Bruce |last1=Jones |first2=David |last2=Callahan |title=Leadership Talent Emerges During Hurricane Katrina Aviation Rescue Operations |url=http://www.uscg.mil/leadership/news/archive/fall05.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080923014800/http://www.uscg.mil/LEADERSHIP/news/archive/fall05.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 23, 2008 |publisher=[[United States Coast Guard]] |access-date=July 6, 2014 |location=Mobile, Alabama}}
 [http://waterdamagerestorationdallastexas.com/removal/ Water Damage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428110950/http://waterdamagerestorationdallastexas.com/removal/ |date=April 28, 2017}}</ref> All aircraft were returning towards the Gulf of Mexico by the afternoon of August 29.  [[Aircrew]]s, many of whom lost their homes during the hurricane, began a round-the-clock rescue effort in New Orleans, and along the Mississippi and Alabama coastlines.<ref name="WP Coast Guard">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/05/AR2005090501418.html|title=Coast Guard's Response to Katrina a Silver Lining in the Storm|first=Stephen|last=Barr|date=September 6, 2005|access-date=July 6, 2014|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424091917/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/05/AR2005090501418.html|archive-date=April 24, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Presidency of George W. Bush|President George W. Bush]] declared a state of emergency in selected regions of Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi on August 27.<ref>{{cite news|first=George W.|last=Bush|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html|title=Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Louisiana|publisher=[[White House Office of the Press Secretary]]|date=August 27, 2005|access-date=July 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507075732/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050827-1.html|archive-date=May 7, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> "On Sunday, August 28, President Bush spoke with Governor Blanco to encourage her to order a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans."<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-109srpt322/pdf/CRPT-109srpt322.pdf|title=Congressional Reports: S. Rpt. 109-322 – Hurricane Katrina: A Nation Still Unprepared|publisher=[[Federal Digital System]]|date=2006|access-date=July 6, 2014|page=235|location=Washington, D.C.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905092256/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-109srpt322/pdf/CRPT-109srpt322.pdf|archive-date=September 5, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> However, during the testimony by former [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) chief [[Michael D. Brown|Michael Brown]] before a U.S. House subcommittee on September 26, Representative [[Stephen Buyer]] (R-IN) inquired as to why Bush's declaration of state of emergency of August 27 had not included the coastal parishes of Orleans, Jefferson, and Plaquemines.<ref name="Brown testimony">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/27/national/nationalspecial/27text-brown.html?ei=5070&en=eda6637e28de37c1&ex=1188792000&pagewanted=all|title=Former FEMA Director Testifies Before Congress|date=September 27, 2005|access-date=July 6, 2014|newspaper=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005013330/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/27/national/nationalspecial/27text-brown.html?ei=5070&en=eda6637e28de37c1&ex=1188792000&pagewanted=all|archive-date=October 5, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The declaration actually did not include any of Louisiana's coastal parishes, whereas the coastal counties were included in the declarations for [[Mississippi]] and [[Alabama]].<ref>{{cite news|first=George W.|last=Bush|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050828.html|title=Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Mississippi|publisher=White House Office of the Press Secretary|date=August 28, 2005|access-date=July 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507035330/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050828.html|archive-date=May 7, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=George W.|last=Bush|url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050828-3.html|title=Statement on Federal Emergency Assistance for Alabama|publisher=White House Office of the Press Secretary|date=August 28, 2005|access-date=July 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507105626/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/08/20050828-3.html|archive-date=May 7, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Brown testified that this was because Louisiana [[Kathleen Blanco|Governor Blanco]] had not included those parishes in her initial request for aid, a decision that he found "shocking". After the hearing, Blanco released a copy of her letter, which showed she had requested assistance for "all the southeastern parishes including the City of New Orleans" as well as specifically named 14 parishes, including Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines.<ref>{{cite report|first=Kathleen|last=Blanco|author-link=Kathleen Blanco|url=http://jjic.gov.state.la.us/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf|title=Governor Blanco asks President to Declare an Emergency for the State of Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina|date=August 28, 2005|access-date=April 14, 2010|publisher=Government of the State of Louisiana|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304155101/http://jjic.gov.state.la.us/Disaster%20Relief%20Request.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2012|location=Baton Rouge, Louisiana}}</ref>

Voluntary and mandatory evacuations were issued for large areas of southeast Louisiana as well as coastal Mississippi and Alabama. About 1.2&nbsp;million residents of the Gulf Coast were covered under a voluntary or mandatory evacuation order.<ref name="KatrinaTCR"/>

==== National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ====
On the afternoon of August 26, the [[National Hurricane Center]] (NHC) realized that Katrina had yet to make the turn toward the Florida Panhandle and ended up revising the predicted track of the storm from the panhandle to the Mississippi coast.<ref name="NHC disc 014">{{cite report|first=Stacy R.|last=Stewart|work=National Hurricane Center|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|title=Hurricane Katrina Discussion Number 14|date=August 26, 2005|access-date=July 6, 2014|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al122005.discus.014.shtml?|location=Miami, Florida|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002045708/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/dis/al122005.discus.014.shtml|archive-date=October 2, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> The National Weather Service's New Orleans/Baton Rouge office issued a [[National Weather Service bulletin for New Orleans region|vividly worded bulletin]] on August 28 predicting that the area would be "uninhabitable for weeks" after "devastating damage" caused by Katrina, which at that time rivaled the intensity of [[Hurricane Camille]].<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/warn_archive/LIX/NPW/0828_214001.txt|title=Urgent – Weather Message|work=[[National Weather Service New Orleans/Baton Rouge, Louisiana]]|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|date=August 28, 2005|access-date=July 30, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060301101418/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/warn_archive/LIX/NPW/0828_214001.txt|archive-date=March 1, 2006|location=New Orleans, Louisiana}}</ref> During video conferences involving the president later that day and on August 29, NHC director [[Max Mayfield]] expressed concern that Katrina might push its storm surge over the city's levees and flood walls. In one conference, he stated, "I do not think anyone can tell you with confidence right now whether the levees will be topped or not, but that's obviously a very, very great concern."<ref name="Levee Breach Warning">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/02/fema.tapes/index.html|title=Transcripts, tape show Bush, Brown warned on Katrina|date=March 2, 2006|access-date=July 6, 2014|newspaper=[[CNN]]|location=Washington, D.C.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701165301/http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/02/fema.tapes/index.html|archive-date=July 1, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Gulf Coast ===
==== Florida ====
In Florida, Governor [[Jeb Bush]] declared a [[state of emergency]] on August 24 in advance of Hurricane Katrina's landfall.<ref name="Florida-preps">Staff writer. [http://floridadisaster.org/eoc/eoc_activations/katrina05/reports/Sitrep_Katrina_082605_3.pdf "Hurricane Katrina Situation Report No. 3"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060624012053/http://floridadisaster.org/eoc/eoc_activations/katrina05/reports/Sitrep_Katrina_082605_3.pdf |date=June 24, 2006}} ''Florida State Emergency Response Team''. August 26, 2005. Retrieved June 6, 2006.</ref> By the following day, Florida's Emergency Operations Center was activated in [[Tallahassee]] to monitor the progress of the hurricane.<ref>{{cite report|publisher=[[Federal Emergency Management Agency]]|date=August 25, 2005|title=Officials Urge Preparedness As Katrina Intensifies|access-date=April 11, 2012|url=http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18417|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608050649/http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=18417|archive-date=June 8, 2010}}</ref> Before Katrina moved ashore, schools and businesses were closed in the Miami area. Cruise ships altered their paths due to seaports in southeastern Florida closing.<ref>{{cite news|agency=Reuters |title=Hurricane Katrina drenches Florida |date=August 26, 2005 |publisher=Television New Zealand |access-date=April 10, 2012 |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411319/606925 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221000944/http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411319/606925 |archive-date=December 21, 2013}}</ref> Officials in Miami-Dade County advised residents in mobile homes or with special needs to evacuate. To the north in Broward County, residents east of the [[Intracoastal Waterway]] or in mobile homes were advised to leave their homes. Evacuation orders were issued for offshore islands in [[Palm Beach County]], and for residents in mobile homes south of Lantana Road. Additionally, a mandatory evacuation was ordered for vulnerable housing in [[Martin County, Florida|Martin County]].<ref name="Florida-preps"/> Shelters were opened across the region.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|first=Shadi|last=Rahimi|title=Tropical Storm Becomes a Hurricane as it Nears Florida|date=August 25, 2005|access-date=April 10, 2012|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/25/national/24cnd-storm.html}}</ref> Officials closed the [[Miami International Airport]],<ref name="afp827">{{cite news|agency=Agence France-Presse|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 27, 2005|title=Reeling from hurricane, Florida braces for 2nd hit|access-date=April 10, 2012|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/26/travel/26iht-travel27.html}}</ref> [[Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport]], [[Key West International Airport]], and [[Florida Keys Marathon Airport]] due to the storm. In Monroe and [[Collier County, Florida|Collier]] counties, schools were closed, and a shelter was opened in [[Immokalee, Florida|Immokalee]].<ref name="nyt826">{{cite news|first1=Joseph B. |last1=Treaster |first2=Shadi |last2=Rahimi |title=Hurricane Moves Over Gulf After Soaking Southern Florida|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 26, 2005|access-date=April 10, 2012|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/26/national/26cnd-katrina.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2}}</ref>

==== Alabama ====
On August 28, Alabama Governor [[Bob Riley]] declared a state of emergency for the approaching Hurricane Katrina. On the same day, he requested President Bush to declare "expedited major disaster declaration" for six counties of South Alabama, which was quickly approved. Three hundred fifty national guardsmen were called on duty by August 30.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=3775450 |title=Riley declares state of emergency due to Katrina threat |access-date=October 8, 2006 |year=2005 |publisher=KATC, WorldNow |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928065227/http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=3775450 |archive-date=September 28, 2007}}</ref> The state of Mississippi activated its [[United States National Guard|National Guard]] on August 26 in preparation for the storm's landfall. Additionally, the state government activated its Emergency Operations Center the next day, and local governments began issuing evacuation orders. By 6:00&nbsp;p.m. [[Central Time Zone (North America)|CDT]] on August 28, 11 counties and cities issued evacuation orders, a number which increased to 41 counties and 61 cities by the following morning. Moreover, 57 emergency shelters were established on coastal communities, with 31 additional shelters available to open if needed.<ref name="CongressInvestigation">{{cite book|author=United States Congress|date=February 19, 2006|title=A Failure of Initiative: Final Report of the Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and Response to Hurricane Katrina|publisher=[[Government Printing Office]]|location=Washington, DC|access-date=May 20, 2011|url=http://www.gpoaccess.gov/katrinareport/fullreport.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326065222/http://www.gpoaccess.gov/katrinareport/fullreport.pdf|archive-date=March 26, 2009|author-link=United States Congress}}</ref>

By Sunday, August 28, most infrastructure along the Gulf Coast had been shut down, including all freight and [[Amtrak]] rail traffic into the evacuation areas as well as the [[Waterford Nuclear Generating Station]]. Since Hurricane Katrina, Amtrak's [[Sunset Limited]] service has never been restored past New Orleans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/mobile-alabama-amtrak-service-restoration|title = Amtrak line to be restored to Gulf Coast by 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Copy/Simple_Copy_Popup&c=am2Copy&cid=1093554014709 |title=Service Alert: Hurricane Katrina Update – City of New Orleans, Crescent, Sunset Limited – Revised Service Information |date=September 1, 2005 |publisher=[[Amtrak]] |access-date=May 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922031250/http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak%2Fam2Copy%2FSimple_Copy_Popup&c=am2Copy&cid=1093554014709 |archive-date=September 22, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==== Louisiana ====
{{See also|Hurricane preparedness in New Orleans}}
In Louisiana, the state's hurricane evacuation plan calls for local governments in areas along and near the coast to evacuate in three phases, starting with the immediate coast 50 hours before the start of tropical-storm-force winds. Persons in areas designated Phase II begin evacuating 40 hours before the onset of tropical storm winds and those in Phase III areas (including New Orleans) evacuate 30 hours before the start of such winds.<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Louisiana Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness |title=Louisiana Citizen Awareness and Disaster Evacuation Guide |access-date=July 20, 2006 |url=http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/evacinfo/stateevacrtes.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060714152101/http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/evacinfo/stateevacrtes.htm |archive-date=July 14, 2006}}</ref> Many private caregiving facilities that relied on bus companies and ambulance services for evacuation were unable to evacuate their charges because they waited too long.<ref name="providermag">{{cite web|last1=Connole|first1=Patrick|title=Long Term Care Providers Tackle Disaster Preparedness In A Post-Katrina World|magazine=Provider Magazine |date=February 1, 2011|url=https://www.providermagazine.com/Monthly-Issue/2011/Pages/0211/Disaster-Preparedness-In-A-Post-Katrina-World.aspx|access-date=October 11, 2020}}</ref> Louisiana's Emergency Operations Plan Supplement 1C (Part II, Section II, Paragraph D) calls for use of school and other public buses in evacuations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/blaw/DOD/manual/full%20text%20documents/State%20Authorities/La.%20EOP_Supplement1c.pdf|title=State Of Louisiana Emergency Operations Plan Supplement 1C|date=July 2000|access-date=May 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060909235959/http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/blaw/DOD/manual/full%20text%20documents/State%20Authorities/La.%20EOP_Supplement1c.pdf|archive-date=September 9, 2006}}</ref> Although buses that later flooded were available to transport those dependent on public transportation, not enough bus drivers were available to drive them since Governor Blanco did not sign an emergency waiver to allow any licensed driver to transport evacuees on school buses.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vtpi.org/katrina.pdf|first=Todd|last=Litman|publisher=Victoria Transport Policy Institute|date=April 13, 2006|access-date=May 20, 2011|title=Lessons From Katrina and Rita: What Major Disasters Can Teach Transportation Planners|page=5|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325121112/http://vtpi.org/katrina.pdf|archive-date=March 25, 2009}}</ref>

By August 26, many of the computer models had shifted the potential path of Katrina {{convert|150|mi|km}} westward from the Florida Panhandle, putting the city of New Orleans directly in the center of their track probabilities; the chances of a direct hit were forecast at 17%, with strike probability rising to 29% by August 28.<ref>[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/prb/al122005.prblty.015.shtml "Hurricane Katrina Probabilities Report Number 15"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220192914/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/prb/al122005.prblty.015.shtml |date=February 20, 2006}} and [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/prb/al122005.prblty.021.shtml Hurricane Katrina Probabilities "Report Number 21"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060220192958/http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/prb/al122005.prblty.021.shtml |date=February 20, 2006}} ''National Hurricane Center''. August 26, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> This scenario was considered a potential catastrophe because some parts of New Orleans and the metro area are below sea level. Since the storm surge produced by the hurricane's right-front quadrant (containing the strongest winds) was forecast to be {{convert|28|ft|m|1}}, while the levees offered protection to {{convert|23|ft|m|1}}, emergency management officials in New Orleans feared that the storm surge could go over the tops of levees protecting the city, causing major flooding.<ref>Drye, Willie. [https://web.archive.org/web/20050905140525/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/08/0829_050829_hurricane.html "Hurricane Katrina Pulls Its Punches in New Orleans"].  ''[[National Geographic]]''. August 29, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref>

At a news conference at 10&nbsp;am. EDT on August 28, shortly after Katrina was upgraded to a Category 5 storm, New Orleans mayor [[Ray Nagin]] ordered the first-ever [[emergency evacuation|mandatory evacuation]] of the city, calling Katrina "a storm that most of us have long feared".<ref>Staff Writer. [https://www.foxnews.com/story/katrina-heads-for-new-orleans "Katrina Heads for New Orleans"]. [https://www.foxnews.com/story/katrina-heads-for-new-orleans] ''[[Fox News]]/[[Associated Press]]''. August 29, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> The city government also established several "refuges of last resort" for citizens who could not leave the city, including the massive [[Louisiana Superdome]], which sheltered approximately 26,000 people and provided them with food and water for several days as the storm came ashore.<ref>Staff Writer. [http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_08_28.html#074657 "26,000 shelter at Superdome"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050907082618/http://www.nola.com/newslogs/breakingtp/index.ssf?/mtlogs/nola_Times-Picayune/archives/2005_08_28.html |date=September 7, 2005}} ''Times-Picayune''. August 28, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref><ref>''Diary From the Dome'' is a 2008 memoir written by a tourist who was stuck inside the Superdome during Katrina and the levee failures. It offers an overview of the conditions inside the stadium as well as a critique of the media's coverage of the disaster.</ref> Some estimates claimed that 80% of the 1.3&nbsp;million residents of the greater New Orleans metropolitan area evacuated, leaving behind substantially fewer people than remained in the city during the [[Hurricane Ivan]] evacuation.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0508/29/asb.01.html|title=Hurricane Katrina Pummels Three States|last=Brown|first=Aaron|date=August 29, 2005|publisher=CNN|access-date=May 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110521230304/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0508/29/asb.01.html|archive-date=May 21, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Impact ==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:0 1em 0.5em;"
|+ Deaths by state
|-
| [[Alabama]] || 2
|-
| Florida || 14
|-
| [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] || 2
|-
| [[Kentucky]] || 1
|-
| [[Louisiana]] || 986–1,577*
|-
| [[Mississippi]] || 238
|-
| [[Ohio]] || 2
|-
! Total !! 1,245–1,836<ref name="MWR 2005AHS">{{cite journal |first1=John L. II |last1=Beven |first2=Lixion A. |last2=Avila |first3=Eric S. |last3=Blake |first4=Daniel P. |last4=Brown |first5=James L. |last5=Franklin |first6=Richard D. |last6=Knabb |first7=Richard J. |last7=Pasch |first8=Jamie R. |last8=Rhome |first9=Stacy R. |last9=Stewart |date=March 2008 |title=Annual Summary: Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2005 |journal=[[Monthly Weather Review]] |volume=136 |issue=3 |pages=1131–1141 |access-date=July 6, 2014 |url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/2005.pdf |doi=10.1175/2007MWR2074.1 |bibcode=2008MWRv..136.1109B |citeseerx=10.1.1.212.8973 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080910002905/http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/2005.pdf |archive-date=September 10, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="DHHLouisiana">{{cite journal|first1=Joan |last1=Brunkard |first2=Gonza |last2=Namulanda |first3=Raoult |last3=Ratard |journal=Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness |date=August 28, 2008 |title=Hurricane Katrina deaths, Louisiana, 2005 |doi=10.1097/DMP.0b013e31818aaf55 |volume=2 |issue=4 |pages=215–223 |pmid=18756175 |doi-access=free |issn = 1935-7893 }}</ref>
|-
| Missing || 652<ref name="louisiana1">{{cite report|url=http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/page.asp?ID=192&Detail=5248|title=Reports of Missing and Deceased|publisher=[[Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals]]|date=August 2, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211020954/http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov/offices/page.asp?ID=192&Detail=5248|archive-date=February 11, 2012|location=Baton Rouge, Louisiana}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-09-21 |title=New Orleans: Prisoners Abandoned to Floodwaters {{!}} Human Rights Watch |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2005/09/21/new-orleans-prisoners-abandoned-floodwaters |access-date=2024-10-19 |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|colspan=2 | <small>*Includes out-of-state evacuees <br />counted by Louisiana</small>
|}

On August 29, 2005, Katrina's [[storm surge]] caused 53 breaches to various flood protection structures in and around the greater New Orleans area, submerging 80% of the city. A June 2007 report by the [[American Society of Civil Engineers]] indicated that two-thirds of the flooding was caused by the multiple failures of the city's floodwalls.<ref name="ASCE HKERP report">{{cite report|url=http://www.asce.org/files/pdf/ERPreport.pdf|title=The New Orleans Hurricane Protection System: What Went Wrong and Why|first=Christine F.|last=Andersen|year=2007|publisher=[[American Society of Civil Engineers]] Hurricane Katrina External Review Panel|access-date=August 27, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702194739/http://www.asce.org/files/pdf/ERPreport.pdf|archive-date=July 2, 2007|location=Reston, Virginia|display-authors=etal}}</ref> The storm surge also devastated the coasts of Mississippi and Alabama, making Katrina one of the most costly [[natural disasters]] in the history of the United States<ref name="Costliest TC's">{{cite report|archive-date=January 27, 2018|url-status=live |date=January 12, 2018 |title=Costliest U.S. tropical cyclones tables update|access-date=January 12, 2018|publisher=United States National Hurricane Center|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/news/UpdatedCostliest.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127083930/https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/news/UpdatedCostliest.pdf}}</ref> and the deadliest hurricane since the [[1928 Okeechobee hurricane]]. The total damage from Katrina is estimated at $125&nbsp;billion (2005 U.S. dollars).<ref name="KatrinaTCR"/><ref name="katreport">{{cite report|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |work=National Weather Service |title=Hurricane Katrina Service Assessment Report |date=June 2006 |access-date=July 6, 2014 |url=http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/Katrina.pdf |location=Silver Spring, Maryland |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219105454/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/assessments/pdfs/Katrina.pdf |archive-date=December 19, 2013}}</ref> 

The death toll from Katrina is uncertain, with reports differing by hundreds. According to the National Hurricane Center, 1,836 fatalities can be attributed to the storm: one in [[Kentucky]], two each in Alabama, [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], and [[Ohio]], 14 in Florida, 238 in Mississippi, and 1,577 in Louisiana.<ref name="MWR 2005AHS"/><ref name="louisiana1"/> However, 135 people remain categorized as missing in Louisiana,<ref name="louisiana1"/> and many of the deaths are indirect, but it is almost impossible to determine the exact cause of some of the fatalities.<ref name="KatrinaTCR"/> A 2008 report by the Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness journal indicates that 966&nbsp;deaths can be directly attributed to the storm in Louisiana, including out of state evacuees, and another 20 indirectly (such as firearm-related deaths and gas poisoning). Due to uncertain causes of death with 454&nbsp;evacuees, an upper-bound of 1,440 is noted in the paper.<ref name="DHHLouisiana"/> A follow-up study by the Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals determined that the storm was directly responsible for 1,170&nbsp;fatalities in Louisiana.<ref name="DHHLouisiana2">{{cite web |first1=Poppy |last1=Markwell |first2=Raoult |last2=Ratard |publisher=Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals |access-date=August 25, 2015 |title=Deaths Directly Caused by Hurricane Katrina |url=http://dhh.louisiana.gov/assets/oph/Center-PHCH/Center-CH/stepi/specialstudies/KatrinaDeath1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107162205/http://dhh.louisiana.gov/assets/oph/Center-PHCH/Center-CH/stepi/specialstudies/KatrinaDeath1.pdf |archive-date=January 7, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Federal disaster declarations covered {{convert|90000|sqmi|km2}} of the United States, an area almost as large as the United Kingdom. The hurricane left an estimated three million people without electricity. On September 3, 2005, [[Homeland Security]] Secretary [[Michael Chertoff]] described the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as "probably the worst catastrophe or set of catastrophes" in the country's history, referring to the hurricane itself plus the flooding of New Orleans.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0509/03/cst.04.html|title=The Aftermath of Katrina|newspaper=CNN|date=September 3, 2005|access-date=July 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150425142259/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0509/03/cst.04.html|archive-date=April 25, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Even in 2010, debris remained in some coastal communities.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/06/27/1555968/spill-colors-fabric-of-gulf-coastal.html |title=Spill colors fabric of Gulf coastal life |newspaper=[[The McClatchy Company]] |first=Lesley |last=Clark |date=June 20, 2010 |access-date=July 6, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100720121507/http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/06/27/1555968/spill-colors-fabric-of-gulf-coastal.html |archive-date=July 20, 2010}}</ref>

=== Bahamas and Cuba ===
Before striking South Florida, Katrina traversed the Bahamas as a tropical storm. However, minimal impact was reported, with only "fresh breezes" on various islands.<ref name="wmo">{{cite report|url=https://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/FINAL-REPORT-HC-28.pdf|title=RA IV Hurricane Committee Twent-Eight Session|date=2006|publisher=[[World Meteorological Organization]]|pages=58|access-date=January 30, 2015|location=San Juan, Puerto Rico|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303184209/http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/www/tcp/documents/FINAL-REPORT-HC-28.pdf|archive-date=March 3, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Although Hurricane Katrina stayed well to the north of [[Cuba]], on August 28 it brought tropical-storm-force winds and rainfall of over {{convert|8|in|mm|abbr=on}} to western regions of the island. Telephone and power lines were damaged and around 8,000&nbsp;people were evacuated in the [[Pinar del Río Province]]. According to Cuban television reports the coastal town of Surgidero de Batabanó was 90% underwater.<ref name="Cuba damage">Staff Writer. [http://www.terradaily.com/2005/050828175451.y7y367k2.html "Flooding and power outages as 'Katrina' batters western Cuba"]. {{Webarchive|url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160521180357/http%3A//www.terradaily.com/2005/050828175451.y7y367k2.html |date=May 21, 2016}}</ref>

=== United States ===
{{main|Effects of Hurricane Katrina in the Southeastern United States}}
[[File:1988- US Gulf Coast hurricane diameters.svg |thumb |Hurricane Katrina was one of the largest-diameter US Gulf Coast hurricanes.<ref name=WashPost_20240926/> Though large size does not imply ''strength''—which is based on sustained wind measurements—it can mean that more people are exposed to its hazards.<ref name=WashPost_20240926>{{cite news |last1=Dance |first1=Scott |last2=Ducroquet |first2=Simon |last3=Muyskens |first3=John |title=See how Helene dwarfs other hurricanes that have hit the Gulf Coast |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/09/26/hurricane-helene-storm-size-miles/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240926211941/https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2024/09/26/hurricane-helene-storm-size-miles/ |archive-date=September 26, 2024 |url-status=live }}</ref>]]

==== Florida ====
[[File:Hurricane damage to mobile home in Davie Florida.jpg|thumb|Damage to a mobile home in [[Davie, Florida]] following Hurricane Katrina]]
Hurricane Katrina first made landfall between [[Hallandale Beach]] and [[Aventura, Florida]] on August 25. The storm dropped heavy rainfall in portions of the [[Miami metropolitan area]], with a peak total of {{convert|16.43|in|mm|abbr=on}} in [[Perrine, Florida|Perrine]]. As a result, local flooding occurred in [[Miami-Dade County]], damaging approximately 100&nbsp;homes. Farther south in the Florida Keys, a [[tornado]] was spawned in [[Marathon, Florida|Marathon]] on August 26. The tornado damaged a hangar at the airport there and caused an estimated $5&nbsp;million in damage.<ref name="Marathon Tornado">Devenas, Andy [https://web.archive.org/web/20060624012057/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/key/HTML/Marathon_Report.pdf "Marathon Tornado Survey Report"]. ''[[National Weather Service]] Forecast Office [[Key West, Florida]]'' Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> The rains caused flooding, and the combination of rains and winds downed trees and power lines, leaving 1.45&nbsp;million people without power. Damage in South Florida was estimated at $523&nbsp;million, mostly as a result of crop damage. Twelve deaths occurred in South Florida, of which three were caused by downed trees in Broward County, three from drowning in Miami-Dade County, three were from carbon monoxide poisoning caused by generators, one was due to a vehicle accident, one occurred during debris cleanup, and one was associated with a lack of electricity.

Significant impacts were also reported in the [[Florida Panhandle]]. Although Katrina moved ashore in Louisiana and Mississippi, its outer periphery produced a {{convert|5.37|ft|m|abbr=on}} storm surge in [[Pensacola]]. High waves caused beach erosion and closed nearby roadways. There were five tornadoes in the northwestern portion of the state, though none of them caused significant damage. Throughout the Florida Panhandle, the storm resulted in an estimated $100&nbsp;million in damage. There were two indirect fatalities from Katrina in [[Walton County, Florida|Walton County]] as a result of a traffic accident.<ref name="KatrinaTCR"/> In the Florida Panhandle, 77,000&nbsp;customers lost power.<ref>Associated Press, "Katrina at a Glance" (August 31, 2005), page 4A, ''Mobile Register'', web: [http://www.al.com/mobileregister/pdf/register083105a.pdf MobileRegister-083105-PDF] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081001220638/http://www.al.com/mobileregister/pdf/register083105a.pdf |date=October 1, 2008}}.</ref> Overall, the hurricane killed 14&nbsp;people and caused at least $623&nbsp;million in damage.

==== Louisiana ====
[[File:PostVeniceLG.jpg|thumb|Flooding in [[Venice, Louisiana]]]]
[[File:Hurricane-Katrina-Buras-Louisiana-watertower-EPA.jpg|thumb|A fallen water tower in [[Buras-Triumph, Louisiana]], where Katrina made landfall]]
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall near [[Buras-Triumph, Louisiana]], with {{convert|125|mph|km/h|-1|abbr=on}} winds, as a strong Category 3 hurricane. Although the storm surge to the east of the path of the eye in Mississippi was higher, a significant surge affected the Louisiana coast. The height of the surge is uncertain because of a lack of data, although a tide gauge in [[Plaquemines Parish]] indicated a storm tide in excess of {{convert|14|ft|m|1}}, and a {{convert|12|ft|m|1|adj=on}} storm surge was recorded in [[Grand Isle, Louisiana|Grand Isle]]. The hurricane made its final landfall near the mouth of the [[Pearl River (Mississippi–Louisiana)|Pearl River]], with the eye straddling [[St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana]], and [[Hancock County, Mississippi]], on the morning of August 29 at about 9:45&nbsp;am. CDT.<ref name="KatrinaTCR"/>

Hurricane Katrina also brought heavy rain to Louisiana, with {{convert|8|-|10|in|mm}} falling on a wide swath of the eastern part of the state. In the area around [[Slidell, Louisiana|Slidell]], the rainfall was even higher, and the highest rainfall recorded in the state was approximately {{convert|15|in|mm}}. As a result of the rainfall and storm surge the level of [[Lake Pontchartrain]] rose and caused significant flooding along its northeastern shore, affecting communities from Slidell to [[Mandeville, Louisiana|Mandeville]]. Several bridges were destroyed, including the [[I-10 Twin Span Bridge]] connecting Slidell to New Orleans.<ref name="KatrinaTCR"/> Almost 900,000 people in Louisiana lost power as a result of Hurricane Katrina.<ref name="Power failures">Staff Writer. [http://www.oe.netl.doe.gov/docs/katrina/katrina_083005_1600.pdf "Hurricane Katrina Situation Report#11"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108202531/http://www.oe.netl.doe.gov/docs/katrina/katrina_083005_1600.pdf |date=November 8, 2006}} ''Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) [[United States Department of Energy]]''. August 30, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref>

Katrina's storm surge inundated all parishes surrounding Lake Pontchartrain, including [[St. Tammany]], Tangipahoa, [[St. John the Baptist]], and [[St. Charles Parish, Louisiana|St. Charles]] Parishes. St. Tammany Parish received a two-part storm surge. The first surge came as Lake Pontchartrain rose and the storm blew water from the Gulf of Mexico into the lake. The second came as the eye of Katrina passed, westerly winds pushed water into a bottleneck at the Rigolets Pass, forcing it farther inland. The range of surge levels in eastern St. Tammany Parish is estimated at {{convert|13|-|16|ft|m}}, not including wave action.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fema.gov/pdf/hazard/flood/recoverydata/katrina/katrina_la_overview-n.pdf |title=FEMA: Louisiana Katrina Surge Inundation Map, January 2006 |access-date=November 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111216044045/http://www.fema.gov/pdf/hazard/flood/recoverydata/katrina/katrina_la_overview-n.pdf |archive-date=December 16, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Hard-hit [[St. Bernard Parish]] was flooded because of breaching of the levees that contained a navigation channel called the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MR-GO) and the breach of the 40 Arpent canal levee that was designed and built by the [[Orleans Levee Board]]. The search for the missing was undertaken by the St. Bernard Fire Department because of the assets of the [[United States Coast Guard]] being diverted to New Orleans. In the months after the storm, many of the missing were tracked down by searching flooded homes, tracking credit card records, and visiting homes of family and relatives.<ref>Cannizaro, Steve. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060827225149/http://www.sbpg.net/cannizaro121705a.html "List of Missing Residents Down to 47, and More..."<!-- ellipsis in the original -->]. ''St. Bernard Parish Government (press release)''. December 17, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref>
According to the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, in St. Bernard Parish, 81% (20,229) of the housing units were damaged. In St. Tammany Parish, 70% (48,792) were damaged and in Plaquemines Parish 80% (7,212) were damaged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huduser.org/publications/pdf/GulfCoast_Hsngdmgest.pdf|title=Current Housing Unit Damage Estimates, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma|publisher=U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development|date=February 12, 2006|access-date=June 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926231657/http://www.huduser.org/Publications/pdf/GulfCoast_HsngDmgEst.pdf|archive-date=September 26, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref>

In addition, the combined effect of Hurricanes Katrina and [[Hurricane Rita|Rita]] was the destruction of an estimated {{convert|562|km2|sqmi}} of coastal wetlands in Louisiana.<ref>Rosenzweig, C., G. Casassa, D.J. Karoly, A. Imeson, C. Liu, A. Menzel, S. Rawlins, T.L. Root, B. Seguin, P. Tryjanowski. (2007). "Assessment of observed changes and responses in natural and managed systems. Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability". Chapter 1 in ''Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change'', (M.L. Parry, O.F. Canziani, J.P. Palutikof, P.J. van der Linden and C.E. Hanson, Eds.), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. (url : http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg2/ar4-wg2-chapter1.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306152944/http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg2/ar4-wg2-chapter1.pdf |date=March 6, 2009}}). p. 92. Accessed December 19, 2011.</ref>

===== New Orleans =====
{{Main|Effects of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans|2005 levee failures in Greater New Orleans}}
[[File:Katrina 2005-08-29 1445Z.jpg|thumb|upright|Hurricane Katrina making landfall at the Louisiana-Mississippi border]]
[[File:KatrinaNewOrleansFlooded edit2.jpg|thumb|upright|Flooded I-10/I-610/West End Blvd [[interchange (road)|interchange]] and surrounding area of northwest New Orleans and Metairie, Louisiana]]
As the eye of Hurricane Katrina swept to the northeast, it subjected the city to hurricane conditions for hours. Although power failures prevented accurate measurement of wind speeds in New Orleans, there were a few measurements of hurricane-force winds; based on this information, the NHC concluded that much of the city likely experienced sustained winds of Category 1 or 2 hurricane strength.

Katrina's storm surge caused 53 levee breaches in the [[Flood Control Act of 1965|federally built levee system]] protecting metro New Orleans and the failure of the 40 Arpent Canal levee. Failures occurred in New Orleans and surrounding communities, especially St. Bernard Parish. The [[Mississippi River Gulf Outlet]] (MR-GO) breached its levees in approximately 20 places, flooding much of eastern New Orleans, most of [[St. Bernard Parish]] and the East Bank of [[Plaquemines Parish]]. The major levee breaches in the city included breaches at the [[17th Street Canal]] levee, the [[London Avenue Canal]], and the wide, navigable [[Industrial Canal]], which left approximately 80% of the city flooded.<ref>Murphy, Verity. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4307972.stm "Fixing New Orleans' thin grey line"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061001094924/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4307972.stm |date=October 1, 2006}} ''[[BBC News]]'' October 4, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref>

Most of the major roads traveling into and out of the city were damaged. The only major intact highway routes out of the city were the westbound [[Crescent City Connection]] and the Huey P. Long Bridge, as large portions of the I-10 Twin Span Bridge traveling eastbound towards Slidell, Louisiana had collapsed. Both the [[Lake Pontchartrain Causeway]] and the Crescent City Connection only carried emergency traffic.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gordon |first=Meghan |date=August 31, 2005 |title=Causeway closed but hardly damaged |url=/http://www.nola.com/katrina/index.ssf/2005/08/causeway_closed_but_hardly_damaged.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303184141/http://www.nola.com/katrina/index.ssf/2005/08/causeway_closed_but_hardly_damaged.html |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=2016-03-03 |website=NOLA.com}}</ref> However, access to downtown New Orleans and the "shelter of last resort" at the Convention Center was never closed because River Road in Jefferson Parish and Leake Avenue and Tchoupitoulas Street in New Orleans were not flooded, and would have allowed access throughout the immediate post-storm emergency period.

On August 29, at 7:40&nbsp;am. CDT, it was reported that most of the windows on the north side of the [[Hyatt Regency New Orleans]] had been blown out, and many other high rise buildings had extensive window damage.<ref>Transcript from, ''[[The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer]]''. [https://archive.today/20120907214257/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/weather/july-dec05/katrina_8-29.html "Hurricane Damages Gulf Coast"].  ''[[PBS]]''. August 29, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> The [[Hyatt]] was the most severely damaged hotel in the city, with beds reported to be flying out of the windows. Insulation tubes were exposed as the hotel's glass exterior was completely sheared off.<ref>Mowbray, Rebecca. [http://www.nola.com/hurricane/katrina/stories/083005_a15_hotels.html "Evacuations to hotels come with own set of hazards"]. {{webarchive|url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090701215949/http://www.nola.com/hurricane/katrina/stories/083005_a15_hotels.html |date=July 1, 2009}} ''Times-Picayune''. August 30, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref>

The [[Mercedes-Benz Superdome|Superdome]], which was sheltering many people who had not evacuated, sustained significant damage.<ref name="Gibson">{{cite news|last=Gibson|first=Christine|title=Our 10 Greatest Natural Disasters|publisher=American Heritage|date=August 1, 2006|access-date=February 22, 2016|url=http://www.americanheritage.com/content/our-10-greatest-natural-disasters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304185615/http://www.americanheritage.com/content/our-10-greatest-natural-disasters|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Two sections of the Superdome's roof were compromised and the dome's waterproof membrane was essentially peeled off. [[Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport]] was closed before the storm but did not flood. On August 30, it was reopened to humanitarian and rescue operations. Limited commercial passenger service resumed at the airport on September 13 and regular carrier operations resumed in early October.<ref name="New Orleans Airport">{{cite web|title=Hurricane Katrina from the Airport's Point of View |publisher=Web Archive of Fly MSY website |date=September 21, 2005 |access-date=February 22, 2016 |url=http://www.flymsy.com/Katrinastory.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060312180732/http://www.flymsy.com/Katrinastory.htm |archive-date=March 12, 2006}}</ref>

Levee breaches in New Orleans also caused a significant number of deaths, with over 700 bodies recovered in New Orleans by October 23, 2005.<ref>Warner, Coleman; Travis, Robert. [https://web.archive.org/web/20051027003351/http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-4%2F113005097377980.xml "Where They Died"]. ''Times-Picayune''. October 23, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> Some survivors and evacuees reported seeing dead bodies lying in city streets and floating in still-flooded sections, especially in the east of the city. The advanced state of decomposition of many corpses, some of which were left in the water or sun for days before being collected, hindered efforts by coroners to identify many of the dead.<ref>O'Neill, Ann. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/09/katrina.morgue/index.html "Identifying victims a grueling task"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901054457/http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/09/katrina.morgue/index.html |date=September 1, 2006}} ''CNN''. September 9, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref>

[[File:New Orleans Survivor Flyover.jpg|thumb|A U.S. coast guardsman searches for survivors in New Orleans in the Katrina aftermath.]]
The first deaths reported from the city were reported shortly before midnight on August 28, as three [[nursing home]] patients died during an evacuation to [[Baton Rouge]], most likely from dehydration. An estimated 215 bodies were found in nursing homes and hospitals in New Orleans,<ref name="USA20051017">{{cite news |first1=Robert |last1=Davis |first2=Kevin |last2=Johnson |title=La. looks into 215 Katrina deaths – Inquiry includes euthanasia report |newspaper=USA Today |location=Arlington, VA |date=October 17, 2005}}</ref> the largest number being at [[Memorial Medical Center and Hurricane Katrina|Memorial Medical Center]] where 45 corpses were recovered.<ref>{{cite news|last=Canfield|first=Sabrina|title=Hospital Settles Katrina Deaths Class Action|url=http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/03/24/35204.htm|access-date=March 4, 2014|newspaper=Courthouse News Service|date=March 24, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923210827/http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/03/24/35204.htm|archive-date=September 23, 2015}}</ref> Some 200 patients at [[Charity Hospital (New Orleans)|Charity Hospital]] were not evacuated until Friday, September 2, having been without power or fresh water for five days.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/03/katrina.hospitals/ |title=Patients finally rescued from Charity Hospital |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=cnn.com |publisher=Cable News Network |access-date=August 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160828021301/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/03/katrina.hospitals/ |archive-date=August 28, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> While there were also early reports of fatalities amid mayhem at the Superdome, only six deaths were confirmed there, with four of these originating from [[natural causes]], one from a drug overdose, and one a suicide. At the Convention Center, four bodies were recovered. One of the four is believed to be the result of a homicide.<ref name="thevenot">Thevenot, Brian; Russell, Gordon. [http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002520986_katmyth26.html "Reports of anarchy at Superdome overstated"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051023070941/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002520986_katmyth26.html |date=October 23, 2005}} ''Seattle Times''. September 26, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref>

There is evidence that many prisoners were abandoned in their cells during the storm, while the guards sought shelter. Hundreds of prisoners were later registered as "unaccounted for".<ref>[http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/08/27/imprisoned-disaster-political-will-and-hurricane-katrina/ The Fate of Prisoners during Hurricane Katrina] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121204023801/http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/08/27/imprisoned-disaster-political-will-and-hurricane-katrina/ |date=December 4, 2012}}, ''The Society Pages'', August 27, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2012.</ref><ref>[http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/oct2005/katr-o01.shtml New Orleans prisoners left to drown after Katrina struck] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028035429/http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/oct2005/katr-o01.shtml |date=October 28, 2012}}, ''World Socialist Web Site'', October 1, 2005. Retrieved November 28, 2012.</ref><ref>[https://www.aclu.org/files/pdfs/prison/oppreport20060809.pdf Abandoned & Abused: Report on the effects of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans Prisons (PDF)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326051655/https://www.aclu.org/files/pdfs/prison/oppreport20060809.pdf|date=March 26, 2016}} ([https://www.aclu.org/prisoners-rights/abandoned-and-abused Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314210237/https://www.aclu.org/prisoners-rights/abandoned-and-abused|date=March 14, 2015}}), ''American Civil Liberties Union'', August 9, 2006. Retrieved November 28, 2012.</ref>

==== Mississippi ====
[[File:Structural Bridge Damage.jpg|thumb|[[U.S. Route 90]]'s Bay St. Louis Bridge on Pass Christian was destroyed as a result of Katrina.]]
The Gulf coast of Mississippi suffered extremely severe damage from the impact of Hurricane Katrina on August 29, leaving 238 people dead, 67 missing, and billions of dollars in damage: bridges, barges, boats, piers, houses, and cars were washed inland.<ref name=HBrecov>{{cite web|title=Information Relating to the Federal Appropriations for Katrina Recovery |date=January 6, 2006 |access-date=September 27, 2006 |first=Haley |last=Babour |publisher=Office of the Governor, Mississippi |url=http://www.governorbarbour.com/Recovery/news/2006/jan/information.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928025331/http://www.governorbarbour.com/Recovery/news/2006/jan/information.html |archive-date=September 28, 2007}}</ref> Katrina traveled up the entire state; as a result, all 82 counties in Mississippi were declared disaster areas for federal assistance, 47 for full assistance.<ref name=HBrecov/>

After making a brief initial landfall in Louisiana, Katrina had made its final landfall near the state line, and the eyewall passed over the cities of Bay St. Louis and Waveland as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of {{convert|120|mph|km/h|-1|abbr=on}}.<ref name="KatrinaTCR"/> Katrina's powerful right-front quadrant passed over the west and central Mississippi coast, causing a powerful {{convert|27|ft|m|1|adj=on}} storm surge, which penetrated {{convert|6|mi|km|0}} inland in many areas and up to {{convert|12|mi|km|0}} inland along bays and rivers; in some areas, the surge crossed [[Interstate 10]] for several miles.<ref name="KatrinaTCR"/> Hurricane Katrina brought strong winds to Mississippi, which caused significant tree damage throughout the state. The highest unofficial reported wind gust recorded from Katrina was one of {{convert|135|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in [[Poplarville]], in [[Pearl River County]].<ref name="KatrinaTCR"/>

[[File:Hurricane katrina damage gulfport mississippi.jpg|thumb|left|Damage to [[Long Beach, Mississippi]] following Hurricane Katrina]]
The storm also brought heavy rains with {{convert|8|-|10|in|mm}} falling in southwestern Mississippi and rain in excess of {{convert|4|in|mm}} falling throughout the majority of the state. Katrina caused eleven tornadoes in Mississippi on August 29, some of which damaged trees and power lines.<ref name="KatrinaTCR"/>

Battered by wind, rain and storm surge, some beachfront neighborhoods were completely leveled. Preliminary estimates by Mississippi officials calculated that 90% of the structures within half a mile of the coastline were completely destroyed,<ref name="CBS Miss">Staff Writer. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/mississippi-coast-areas-wiped-out/ "Mississippi Coast Areas Wiped Out"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060827100659/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/09/01/katrina/main810916.shtml |date=August 27, 2006}} ''[[CBS News]]''. September 1, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> and that storm surges traveled as much as {{convert|6|mi|km|0}} inland in portions of the state's coast.<ref name="katreport"/> One apartment complex with approximately thirty residents seeking shelter inside collapsed. More than half of the 13 casinos in the state, which were floated on barges to comply with Mississippi land-based gambling laws, were washed hundreds of yards inland by waves.<ref name="CBS Miss"/>

A number of streets and bridges were washed away. On [[U.S. Highway 90]] along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, two major bridges were completely destroyed: the Bay St. Louis–Pass Christian<ref name="KatrinaTCR"/> bridge, and the Biloxi–[[Ocean Springs]] bridge. In addition, the eastbound [[Span (architecture)|span]] of the I-10 bridge over the [[Pascagoula River]] estuary was damaged. In the weeks after the storm, with the connectivity of the coastal U.S. Highway 90 shattered, traffic traveling parallel to the coast was reduced first to State Road 11 (parallel to I-10) then to two lanes on the remaining I-10 span when it was opened.

[[File:Pascagoula destroyed condos from Katrina.jpg|thumb|Surge damage in [[Pascagoula, Mississippi]]]]
All three coastal counties of the state were severely affected by the storm. Katrina's surge was the most extensive, as well as the highest, in the documented history of the United States; large portions of [[Hancock County, Mississippi|Hancock]], [[Harrison County, Mississippi|Harrison]], and [[Jackson County, Mississippi|Jackson]] counties were inundated by the storm surge, in all three cases affecting most of the populated areas.<ref>{{cite web | author = Federal Emergency Management Agency | title = Mississippi Hurricane Katrina Surge Inundation and Advisory Base Flood Elevation Map Panel Overview | date = November 2005 | access-date = July 16, 2006 | publisher = FEMA | url = http://www.fema.gov/pdf/hazard/flood/recoverydata/katrina/ms_overview.pdf | author-link = Federal Emergency Management Agency | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151120205158/http://www.fema.gov/pdf/hazard/flood/recoverydata/katrina/ms_overview.pdf | archive-date = November 20, 2015 | url-status = live}}</ref> Surge covered almost the entire lower half of Hancock County, destroying the coastal communities of [[Clermont Harbor, Mississippi|Clermont Harbor]] and Waveland, much of Bay St. Louis, and flowed up the Jourdan River, flooding Diamondhead and [[Kiln, Mississippi|Kiln]]. In Harrison County, [[Pass Christian]] was completely inundated, along with a narrow strip of land to the east along the coast, which includes the cities of Long Beach and Gulfport; the flooding was more extensive in communities such as D'Iberville, which borders Back Bay. [[Biloxi]], on a peninsula between the Back Bay and the coast, was particularly hard hit, especially the low-lying Point Cadet area. In Jackson County, storm surge flowed up the wide river [[estuary]], with the combined surge and freshwater flooding cutting the county in half. Remarkably, over 90% of Pascagoula, the easternmost coastal city in Mississippi, and about {{convert|75|mi|km|-1}} east of Katrina's landfall near the Louisiana-Mississippi border was flooded from storm surge at the height of the storm. Other large Jackson County neighborhoods such as Porteaux Bay and Gulf Hills were severely damaged with large portions being completely destroyed, and [[St. Martin, Mississippi|St. Martin]] was hard hit; Ocean Springs, [[Moss Point]], Gautier and [[Escatawpa]] also suffered major surge damage.

Mississippi Emergency Management Agency officials also recorded deaths in [[Forrest County, Mississippi|Forrest]], [[Hinds County, Mississippi|Hinds]], [[Warren County, Mississippi|Warren]], and [[Leake County, Mississippi|Leake]] counties. Over 900,000 people throughout the state experienced power outages.<ref name="Power failures"/>

==== Alabama ====
[[File:KatrinaMobileCourthouseSteps.jpg|thumb|Flood waters come up the steps of [[Mobile, Alabama|Mobile]]'s federal courthouse.]]
Although Hurricane Katrina made landfall well to the west, Alabama and the Florida Panhandle were both affected by tropical-storm-force winds and a storm surge varying from {{convert|12|to(-)|16|ft|m}} around [[Mobile Bay]],<ref name=KatrinaTCR/> with higher waves on top. Sustained winds of {{convert|67|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} were recorded in [[Mobile, Alabama]], and the storm surge there was approximately {{convert|12|ft|m}}.<ref name="KatrinaTCR"/> The surge caused significant flooding several miles inland along Mobile Bay. Four tornadoes were also reported in Alabama.<ref name=KatrinaTCR/> Ships, oil rigs, boats and fishing [[pier]]s were washed ashore along Mobile Bay: the cargo ship M/V ''Caribbean Clipper'' and many fishing boats were grounded at [[Bayou La Batre]].

An [[Oil platform|oil rig]] under construction along the [[Mobile River]] broke its moorings and floated {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} northwards before striking the Cochrane Bridge just outside Mobile. No significant damage resulted to the bridge and it was soon reopened. The damage on [[Dauphin Island]] was severe, with the surge destroying many houses and cutting a new canal through the western portion of the island. An offshore oil rig also became grounded on the island. As in Mississippi, the storm surge caused significant beach erosion along the Alabama coastline.<ref name="KatrinaTCR"/> More than 600,000 people lost power in Alabama as a result of Hurricane Katrina and two people died in a traffic accident in the state. Residents in some areas, such as Selma, were without power for several days.<ref name="Power failures"/>

==== Other U.S. states ====
{{more citations needed section|date=August 2017}}
[[File:Katrina Bayou La Batre 2005 boats ashore.jpg|thumb|[[Bayou La Batre]]: cargo ship and fishing boats were grounded]]
Northern and central [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] were affected by heavy rains and strong winds from Hurricane Katrina as the storm moved inland, with more than {{convert|3|in|mm}} of rain falling in several areas. At least 18 tornadoes formed in Georgia on August 29, 2005, the most on record in that state for one day in August. The most serious of these tornadoes was an F2 tornado which affected [[Heard County]] and [[Carroll County, Georgia|Carroll County]]. This tornado caused three injuries and one fatality and damaged several houses. The other tornadoes caused significant damages to buildings and agricultural facilities. In addition to the fatality caused by the F2 tornado, there was another fatality in a traffic accident.<ref>Westbrook, Robby; WFO Peachtree City Staff. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080605060853/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/ffc/html/katrina05.shtml "Katrina Spawns Tornadoes in Georgia – August 29, 2005"]. ''[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]''. December 1, 2005. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref>

Eastern [[Arkansas]] received light rain from the passage of Katrina.<ref name="rain">{{cite web|year=2005|title=Hurricane Katrina Rainfall Summary|publisher=[[Hydrometeorological Prediction Center]]|access-date=November 4, 2006|url=http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/katrina2005.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514150939/http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical/rain/katrina2005.html|archive-date=May 14, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Gusty winds downed some trees and power lines, though damage was minimal. Katrina also caused a number of power outages in many areas, with over 100,000 customers affected in [[Tennessee]], primarily in the [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] and [[Nashville]] areas.

[[File:Katrina 2005 rainfall.gif|thumb|right|Total rainfall from Katrina in the United States. Data for the [[New Orleans]] area is not available.]]
In [[Kentucky]], rainfall from Katrina compounded flooding from a storm that had moved through during the previous weekend. A 10-year-old girl drowned in [[Hopkinsville]]. Dozens of businesses were closed and several families evacuated due to rising floodwaters.<ref>Staff Writer. [http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=3782760 "Hopkinsville Swamped By Floodwaters; 10-Year-Old Drowns"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070709155439/http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=3782760 |date=July 9, 2007}} ''[[WAVE (TV)|WAVE]]''. September 6, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> As a result of the flooding, Kentucky Governor [[Ernie Fletcher]] declared three counties disaster areas and a statewide state of emergency.<ref>Staff Writer. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060523081840/http://www.wkyt.com/Global/story.asp?S=3782559 "Gov. Fletcher Declares Three Kentucky Counties Disaster Areas"]. ''[[WKYT]]''. Accessed on April 18, 2006. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref><ref>Blanton, Carla; Goins, Michael; Whitaker, Jodi. [https://web.archive.org/web/20070903093942/http://kentucky.gov/Newsroom/governor/050830stateofemerg.htm "Governor Fletcher declares state of emergency in Kentucky"]. ''Commonwealth of Kentucky'' (Press Release). August 30, 2005. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref> Additionally, wind gusts up to {{convert|72|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} resulted in some damage. Downed trees and power lines were reported in several counties in western Kentucky, especially [[Calloway County, Kentucky|Calloway]] and [[Christian County, Kentucky|Christian]] counties. Overall, more than 10,000&nbsp;utility customers in western Kentucky experienced power outages. The remnants of Katrina spawned a tornado in [[Virginia]], damaging at least 13&nbsp;homes in [[Marshall, Virginia|Marshall]]. In addition, approximately 4,000&nbsp;people lost electricity. Over {{convert|3|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain fell in portions of [[West Virginia]], causing localized flooding in several counties. At least 103&nbsp;homes and 7&nbsp;buildings suffered some degree of water damage. A number of roads and bridges were inundated or washed out. The remnants of Katrina produced locally heavy precipitation in northeast Ohio, ranging from about {{convert|2|to|4|in|mm|abbr=on}}. Numerous streams and rivers overflowed their banks, forcing the closure of several roads, including [[Interstate 90 in Ohio|Interstate 90]] in [[Cleveland]]. Two deaths occurred due to a flood-related automobile accident in [[Huron County, Ohio|Huron County]]. Additionally, hundreds of homes and businesses suffered flood damage.

Katrina spawned five tornadoes in [[Pennsylvania]], though none resulted in significant damage. Up to {{convert|5|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain fell in western New York. Gusty winds also left approximately 4,500&nbsp;people in [[Buffalo, New York|Buffalo]] without electricity. The remnants of Katrina brought {{convert|3|to|6|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain to portions of Massachusetts, causing flash flooding in [[Bristol County, Massachusetts|Bristol]] and [[Plymouth County, Massachusetts|Plymouth]] counties. Several roads were closed due to floodwater inundation in [[Acushnet, Massachusetts|Acushnet]], [[Dartmouth, Massachusetts|Dartmouth]], [[New Bedford]], and [[Wareham, Massachusetts|Wareham]], including [[Massachusetts Route 18|Route 18]] in New Bedford. Very minimal impact was reported in [[Rhode Island]], with winds downing a tree and two electrical poles in the city of [[Warwick, Rhode Island|Warwick]]. In [[Vermont]], {{convert|2.5|in|mm|abbr=on}} of rain in [[Chittenden County, Vermont|Chittenden County]] caused cars to hydroplane on [[Interstate 89]], resulting in many automobile accidents. The storm brought {{convert|3|to|5|in|mm|abbr=on}} of precipitation to isolated areas of Maine and up to {{convert|9|in|mm|abbr=on}} near [[Patten, Maine|Patten]]. Several roads were inundated or washed out by overflowing brooks and streams, including sections of [[U.S. Route 1]] and Maine [[Maine State Route 11|routes 11]] and [[Maine State Route 159|159]]. Several structures and one parked vehicle were also affected by the waters. Wind gusts up to {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} also impacted parts of Maine, felling trees and causing power outages in [[Bar Harbor]], [[Bar Harbor, Maine|Blue Hill]], [[Dover-Foxcroft]], [[Sedgwick, Maine|Sedgwick Ridge]], and [[Sorrento, Maine|Sorrento]].

=== Canada ===
In Canada, the remnants of Katrina brought rainfall amounts in excess of {{convert|3.94|in|mm|abbr=on}} to many locations between the [[Niagara Peninsula]] and the [[Saint Lawrence River]] valley.<ref>{{cite report|url=http://www.ec.gc.ca/ouragans-hurricanes/default.asp?lang=en&n=3DB833A6-1|title=Canadian Tropical Cyclone Season Summary for 2005|date=January 15, 2014|publisher=[[Environment Canada]]|access-date=January 31, 2015|location=[[Gatineau, Quebec]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150220231001/http://www.ec.gc.ca/ouragans-hurricanes/default.asp?lang=en&n=3DB833A6-1|archive-date=February 20, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> Severe local flooding occurred in [[Quebec]], forcing the evacuations of dozens of homes in some communities as rivers began overflowing their banks and sewage systems were becoming overwhelmed by the influx of precipitation. Inundated and washed out roads, including [[Quebec Route 138|Route 138]] along the north shore of the Saint Lawrence River, [[Quebec Route 172|Route 172]] north of [[Tadoussac]], and [[Quebec Route 385|Route 385]] near [[Forestville, Quebec|Forestville]] left several communities isolated for at least a week.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/rain-from-katrina-washes-out-quebec-north-shore-roads-1.553266|title=Rain from Katrina washes out Quebec north shore roads|date=September 1, 2005|newspaper=[[CBC News]]|access-date=January 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150222025710/http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/rain-from-katrina-washes-out-quebec-north-shore-roads-1.553266|archive-date=February 22, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
{{See also|Social effects of Hurricane Katrina|Political effects of Hurricane Katrina|Hurricane Katrina disaster relief|Displacement after Hurricane Katrina}}

=== Economic effects ===
{{Main|Economic effects of Hurricane Katrina}}
{{Costliest U.S. Atlantic hurricanes|align=right}}

The economic effects of the storm reached high levels. The [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]] sought $105&nbsp;billion for repairs and reconstruction in the region,<ref>St. Onge, Jeff; Epstein, Victor. [https://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/04/01/ex_chief_says_fema_readiness_even_worse/ "Ex-chief says FEMA readiness even worse"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304064250/http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/04/01/ex_chief_says_fema_readiness_even_worse/ |date=March 4, 2016}} ''Boston.com''. April 1, 2006. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> which did not account for damage to the economy caused by potential interruption of the [[petroleum|oil]] supply, destruction of the Gulf Coast's highway infrastructure, and exports of commodities such as grain. Katrina damaged or destroyed 30 [[oil platform]]s and caused the closure of nine [[oil refinery|refineries]];<ref name="katreport"/> the total shut-in oil production from the Gulf of Mexico in the six-month period following Katrina was approximately 24% of the annual production and the shut-in gas production for the same period was about 18%.<ref>Fagot, Caryl; Winbush, Debra. [http://www.mms.gov/ooc/press/2006/press0222.htm "Hurricane Katrina/Hurricane Rita Evacuation and Production Shut-in Statistics Report as of Wednesday, February 22, 2006"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060510213820/http://www.mms.gov/ooc/press/2006/press0222.htm |date=May 10, 2006}} [http://www.mms.gov/ ''U.S. Government Minerals Management Service'']. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051126001158/http://www.mms.gov/ |date=November 26, 2005}} February 22, 2006. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> The forestry industry in Mississippi was also affected, as {{convert|1.3|e6acre|km2}} of forest lands were destroyed.<ref name="CRS environment">{{cite web
 |last=Sheikh
 |first=Pervaze A.
 |date=October 18, 2005
|url=http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL33117_20051018.pdf
 |title=The Impact of Hurricane Katrina on Biological Resources
 |publisher=[[Congressional Research Service]]
 |access-date=April 14, 2010
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624185025/http://assets.opencrs.com/rpts/RL33117_20051018.pdf
 |archive-date=June 24, 2008
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> The total loss to the forestry industry from Katrina is calculated to rise to about $5&nbsp;billion.<ref name="CRS environment"/> Furthermore, hundreds of thousands of local residents were left unemployed. Before the hurricane, the region supported approximately one million non-farm jobs, with 600,000 of them in New Orleans. It is estimated that the total economic impact in Louisiana and Mississippi may eventually exceed $150&nbsp;billion.<ref>Burton, Mark L.; Hicks, Michael J. [http://www.marshall.edu/cber/research/katrina/Katrina-Estimates.pdf "Hurricane Katrina: Preliminary Estimates of Commercial and Public Sector Damages"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051017133300/http://www.marshall.edu/cber/research/katrina/Katrina-Estimates.pdf |date=October 17, 2005}} ''[[Marshall University]]: Center for Business and Economic Research''. September 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> Forensic accountants were involved in the assessment of economic damages resulting from this catastrophe.<ref>Insurance Institute. {{cite web|url=http://documents.insuranceinstitute.ca/english/localchapters/manitoba/BusinessInterruptionFormIIMA.pdf |title=Business Interruption |access-date=May 20, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521031743/http://documents.insuranceinstitute.ca/english/localchapters/manitoba/BusinessInterruptionFormIIMA.pdf |archive-date=May 21, 2014}} Retrieved on May 17, 2014.</ref>

Katrina displaced over one million people from the central Gulf Coast to elsewhere across the United States, becoming the largest [[diaspora]] in the history of the United States.<ref>Anthony E. Ladd, John Marszalek, and Duane A. Gill. [https://web.archive.org/web/20080624185024/http://www.ssrc.msstate.edu/katrina/publications/katrinastudentsummary.pdf The Other Diaspora: New Orleans Student Evacuation Impacts and Responses Surrounding Hurricane Katrina.] Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref> [[Houston]], Texas, had an increase of 35,000 people; [[Mobile, Alabama]], gained over 24,000; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, over 15,000; and [[Hammond, Louisiana]], received over 10,000, nearly doubling its size. Chicago, Illinois received over 6,000 people, the most of any non-southern city.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://chicagodefender.com/page/local.cfm?ArticleID=6776 | title = Katrina evacuees at home in Chicago | first = Mema | last = Ayi | newspaper = [[Chicago Defender]] | date = August 30, 2006 | access-date = April 14, 2010 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071212040739/http://chicagodefender.com/page/local.cfm?ArticleID=6776 |archive-date = December 12, 2007}}</ref> By late January 2006, about 200,000 people were once again living in New Orleans, less than half of the pre-storm population.<ref name="popestimate">{{cite web|first1=Greg |last1=Stone |first2=Tim |last2=Grant |first3=Nathaniel |last3=Weaver |year=2006 |title=Rapid Population Estimate Project: January 28–29, 2006 Survey Report |publisher=Emergency Operations Center, City of New Orleans |access-date=April 14, 2010 |url=http://katrina.lsu.edu/downloads/research/NOLAPopEstimate.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100707170953/http://katrina.lsu.edu/downloads/research/NOLAPopEstimate.pdf |archive-date=July 7, 2010}}</ref> By July 1, 2006, when new population estimates were calculated by the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the state of Louisiana showed a population decline of 219,563 or 4.87%.<ref name="popdecline">Christie, Les. [https://money.cnn.com/2006/12/22/real_estate/fastest_growing_states/index.htm?postversion=2006122209 "Growth states: Arizona overtakes Nevada: Texas adds most people overall; Louisiana population declines nearly 5%"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070106133918/http://money.cnn.com/2006/12/22/real_estate/fastest_growing_states/index.htm?postversion=2006122209 |date=January 6, 2007}} ''CNN''. December 22, 2006. Retrieved on December 22, 2006.</ref> Additionally, some [[Insurance|insurance companies]] have stopped insuring homeowners in the area because of the high costs from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, or have raised homeowners' insurance premiums to cover their risk.<ref>Staff Writer. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/more-bad-news-blows-in-from-katrina/ "More Bad News Blows In From Katrina"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061015003101/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/28/eveningnews/main1663142.shtml |date=October 15, 2006}} ''CBS News''. May 28, 2006. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref>

{{clear}}

=== Environmental effects ===
{{See also|Murphy Oil USA refinery spill}}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:92%; float:right; margin-top:0; margin-left:10px; margin-right:0;"
|-
! colspan=3 style="background:#ccf;" | '''Large oil spills caused by Hurricane Katrina'''<br /><small>Spills exceeding {{convert|10000|USgal|L|lk=on}}</small><ref name="msnbcspills"/>
|-
! rowspan = 2 | Spill Location
! colspan = 2 | Quantity
|-
! <small>(US gal)</small> !! <small>(L)</small>
|-
| Bass Enterprises (Cox Bay) || style="text-align:right;"| 3,780,000 || style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|3780000|USgal|L|disp=output number only}}
|-
| Shell ([[Pilot Town]])|| style="text-align:right;"| 1,050,000 || style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|1050000|USgal|L|disp=output number only}}
|-
| Chevron ([[Empire, Louisiana|Empire]])|| style="text-align:right;"| 991,000 || style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|991000|USgal|L|disp=output number only}}
|-
| Murphy Oil ([[Meraux]] and [[Chalmette]])|| style="text-align:right;"| 819,000 || style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|819000|USgal|L|disp=output number only}}
|-
| Bass Enterprises ([[Pointe à la Hache]])|| style="text-align:right;"| 461,000 || style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|461000|USgal|L|disp=output number only}}
|-
| Chevron ([[Port Fourchon]])|| style="text-align:right;"| 53,000 || style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|53000|USgal|L|disp=output number only}}
|-
| Venice Energy Services ([[Venice, Louisiana|Venice]])|| style="text-align:right;"| 25,000 || style="text-align:right;"|{{convert|25000|USgal|L|disp=output number only}}
|-
| Shell Pipeline Oil (Nairn)|| style="text-align:right;"| 13,440 || style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|13440|USgal|L|disp=output number only}}
|-
| Sundown Energy (West Potash)|| style="text-align:right;"| 13,000 || style="text-align:right;"| {{convert|13000|USgal|L|disp=output number only}}
|}
Katrina also had a profound impact on the environment. The storm surge caused substantial [[beach erosion]], in some cases completely devastating coastal areas. In Dauphin Island (a [[barrier island]]), approximately {{convert|90|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the east of the point where the hurricane made landfall, the sand that comprised the island was transported across the island into the [[Mississippi Sound]], pushing the island towards land.<ref>{{cite web | author = United States Geological Survey | date = September 14, 2005 | url = http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/katrina/lidar/dauphin-island.html | title = Daupin Island – Pre- and Post-Storm 3D Topography | website = Hurricane Katrina Impact Studies | publisher = [[USGS]] | access-date = June 5, 2006 | author-link = United States Geological Survey | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150312144109/http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/katrina/lidar/dauphin-island.html | archive-date = March 12, 2015 | url-status = live}}</ref> The storm surge and waves from Katrina also severely damaged the [[Chandeleur Islands]], which had been affected by Hurricane Ivan the previous year.<ref>{{cite web |author=United States Geological Survey |date=September 14, 2005 |url=http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/katrina/photo-comparisons/chandeleur.html |title=Before and After Photo Comparisons: Chandeleur Islands |website=Hurricane Katrina Impact Studies |publisher=USGS |access-date=June 5, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060614070836/http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/katrina/photo-comparisons/chandeleur.html |archive-date=June 14, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> The US Geological Survey has estimated {{convert|217|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}} of land was transformed to water by the hurricanes Katrina and Rita.<ref>[http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/releases/pr06_002.htm "USGS Reports Latest Land Change Estimates for Louisiana Coast", USGS National Wetlands Research Center, Oct 3, 2006] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513083524/http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/releases/pr06_002.htm |date=May 13, 2008}}, accessed May 7, 2008.</ref> Before the storm, [[subsidence]] and [[erosion]] caused loss of land in the Louisiana wetlands and [[bayou]]s. This, along with the canals built in the area, let Katrina keep more of its intensity when it struck.<ref>{{cite book|page=[https://archive.org/details/ravagingtide00mike/page/22 22]|first=Mike|last=Tidwell|title=The Ravaging Tide: Strange Weather, Future Katrinas, and the Coming Death of America's Coastal Cities|publisher=Free Press|year=2006|isbn=978-0-7432-9470-6|access-date=April 14, 2010|url=https://archive.org/details/ravagingtide00mike|url-access=registration|quote=The Ravaging Tide: Strange Weather, Future Katrinas, and the Coming Death of America's Coastal Cities book.}}</ref> The lands that were lost were breeding grounds for marine mammals, brown [[pelican]]s, turtles, and fish, and migratory species such as [[redhead duck]]s.<ref name="CRS environment"/> Overall, about 20% of the local [[marsh]]es were permanently overrun by water as a result of the storm.<ref name="CRS environment"/>

The damage from Katrina forced the closure of 16 [[National Wildlife Refuge]]s. Breton National Wildlife Refuge lost half its area in the storm.<ref name="FWS impact">{{cite web | author = United States Fish and Wildlife Service | date = September 9, 2005 | url = http://www.fws.gov/southeast/news/2005/r05-088.html | title = U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Conducting Initial Damage Assessments to Wildlife and National Wildlife Refuges | publisher = [[USFWS]] | access-date = June 5, 2006 | author-link = United States Fish and Wildlife Service | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051029213935/http://www.fws.gov/southeast/news/2005/r05-088.html | archive-date = October 29, 2005 | url-status = live}}</ref> As a result, the hurricane affected the habitats of [[sea turtle]]s, Mississippi [[sandhill crane]]s, [[red-cockaded woodpecker]]s, and [[Alabama Beach Mouse|Alabama Beach mice]].<ref name="FWS impact"/>

Katrina produced massive tree loss along the Gulf Coast, particularly in Louisiana's [[Pearl River Basin]] and among [[bottomland hardwood forest]]s. Before the storm, the standard mortality rate for the area's trees was 1.9%, but this interval increased to 20.5% by the end of 2006.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Chapman|first=Elise|year=2008|title=Hurricane Katrina Impacts on Forest Trees of Louisiana's Pearl River Basin|journal=Forest Ecology and Management|volume=256|issue=5|pages=883–889|doi=10.1016/j.foreco.2008.05.057|bibcode=2008ForEM.256..883C }}</ref> Delayed mortality as an effect of the storm continued with rates up to 5% until 2011.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Henkel|first=Theryn|year=2016|title=Delayed Tree Mortality and Chinese Tallow Explosion in Louisiana Bottomland Hardwood Forest Following Hurricane Katrina|url=http://www.escholarship.org/uc/item/6kh4k7vb|journal=Forest Ecology and Management|volume=378|pages=222–232|doi=10.1016/j.foreco.2016.07.036|doi-access=free}}</ref> This significant loss in [[biomass]] caused greater decay and an increase in carbon emissions. For example, by 2006 the decreased biomass in bottomland hardwood forests contributed an amount of carbon which equated to roughly 140% of the net annual U.S. [[carbon sink]] in forest trees.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Hurricane Katrina's Carbon Footprint on U.S. Gulf Coast Forests|first1=Jeffrey Q.|last1=Chambers|first2=Jeremy I.|last2=Fisher|first3=Hongcheng|last3=Zeng|first4=Elise L.|last4=Chapman|first5=David B.|last5=Baker|first6=George C.|last6=Hurtt|date=January 1, 2007|journal=Science|volume=318|issue=5853|pages=1107|doi=10.1126/science.1148913|pmid=18006740|jstor=20051600|bibcode=2007Sci...318.1107C|s2cid=477946}}</ref>
[[File:Chandeleur L5 Oct2004Sep2005.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Chandeleur Islands]], before Katrina (left) and after (right), showing the impact of the storm along coastal areas.]]
The storm caused [[oil spill]]s from 44 facilities throughout southeastern Louisiana, which resulted in over {{convert|7|e6USgal|m3}} of oil being leaked. Some spills were only a few hundred gallons and most were contained on-site, though some oil entered the ecosystem and residential areas. After a spill at the [[Murphy Oil]] refinery, for example, 1,800&nbsp;homes were oiled in the towns of [[Chalmette]] and [[Meraux]].<ref name="msnbcspills">{{cite news | first=Miguel | last=Llanos | title=44 oil spills found in southeast Louisiana | work=NBC News | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9365607 | publisher=NBC News | date=September 19, 2005 | access-date=June 15, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104013837/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/9365607/ | archive-date=November 4, 2013 | url-status=live}}</ref> Unlike [[Hurricane Ivan]], no offshore oil spills were officially reported after Hurricane Katrina. However, Skytruth reported some signs of surface oil in the Gulf of Mexico.<ref name="msnbcspills"/>

Finally, as part of the cleanup effort, the floodwaters that covered New Orleans were pumped into Lake Pontchartrain, a process that took 43 days to complete.<ref name="katreport"/> These residual waters contained a mix of raw [[sewage]], bacteria, [[heavy metals]], [[pesticide]]s, toxic chemicals, and oil, which sparked fears in the scientific community of massive numbers of fish dying.<ref name="CRS environment"/> The toxic floodwaters were also a danger for New Orleans, due to the presence of petrochemical chemicals and industrial toxins close to the city. Thomas La Point, director of the Institute of Applied Sciences at the [[University of North Texas]], stated that "[a] toxic soup would be a good way to describe the situation".<ref>{{Cite web |author=ABC News |title=Katrina Creates a 'Toxic Soup' |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1081623&page=1 |access-date=April 14, 2024 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref>

=== Reestablishing governance ===
{{further|Effects of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans#Civil disturbances}}
[[File:Patrolling an area that was previously underwater in New Orleans September 2005.jpg|thumb|U.S. Army Infantry on patrol in New Orleans in an area previously underwater, September 2005.]]
[[File:USBP-SRT-New Orleans.jpg|thumb|A [[United States Border Patrol|Border Patrol]] Special Response Team searches a hotel room-by-room in New Orleans in response to Hurricane Katrina.]]
Shortly after the hurricane moved away on August 30, 2005, some residents of New Orleans who remained in the city began [[looting]] stores. Many were in search of food and water that were not available to them through any other means, as well as non-essential items.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[KLRT]]|url=<!-- http://community.fox16.com/photos/story_in_pictures--_hurricane_katrina/picture807981.asp -->|title=Hurricane Katrina : Aug 31: Looting in Mississippi|location=Little Rock, Arkansas|date=August 31, 2005}}</ref> Additionally, there were reports of [[carjacking]], murders, thefts, and rapes in New Orleans. Some sources later determined that many of the reports were inaccurate, greatly exaggerated or completely false, leading news agencies to print retractions.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Sarah|last1=Rosenblatt|first2=James|last2=Rainey|title=Rita's Aftermath; Katrina Takes a Toll on Truth, News Accuracy|page=A16|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=September 27, 2005|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/902682211.html?dids=902682211:902682211&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+27%2C+2005&author=Susannah+Rosenblatt+and+James+Rainey&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=A.16&desc=RITA%27S+AFTERMATH%3B+Katrina+Takes+a+Toll+on+Truth%2C+News+Accuracy%3B+Rumors+supplanted+accurate+information+and+media+magnified+the+problem.+Rapes%2C+violence+and+estimates+of+the+dead+were+wrong|access-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308042758/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/902682211.html?dids=902682211:902682211&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Sep+27%2C+2005&author=Susannah+Rosenblatt+and+James+Rainey&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&edition=&startpage=A.16&desc=RITA%27S+AFTERMATH%3B+Katrina+Takes+a+Toll+on+Truth%2C+News+Accuracy%3B+Rumors+supplanted+accurate+information+and+media+magnified+the+problem.+Rapes%2C+violence+and+estimates+of+the+dead+were+wrong|archive-date=March 8, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Thousands of National Guard and federal troops were mobilized and sent to Louisiana, with 7,841 in the area on August 29, to a maximum of 46,838 on September 10. A number of local law enforcement agents from across the country were temporarily deputized by the state. "They have [[M16 rifle|M16s]] and are locked and loaded. These troops know how to shoot and kill and I expect they will", Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco said.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4207202.stm|title=New Orleans rocked by huge blasts|date=September 2, 2005|newspaper=BBC|access-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726183529/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4207202.stm|archive-date=July 26, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref> Congressman [[Bill Jefferson]] told [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]: "There was shooting going on. There was sniping going on. Over the first week of September, law and order were gradually restored to the city."<ref>{{cite news|first=Jake|last=Tapper|url=https://www.abcnews.go.com/US/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1123495&page=1|title=Amid Katrina Chaos, Congressman Used National Guard to Visit Home|newspaper=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=September 13, 2005|access-date=July 6, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060426011116/http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1123495&page=1|archive-date=April 26, 2006|url-status=dead}}</ref> Several shootings occurred between police and New Orleans residents, some involving [[police misconduct]]; including [[Danziger Bridge shootings|an incident]] where police officers killed two unarmed civilians and seriously injured four others at [[Danziger Bridge]].<ref name="Grimm1">{{Cite news |last=Grimm |first=Andy |date=July 18, 2019 |orig-date=September 5, 2015 |title=A decade after Danziger Bridge shooting, killings still cast a shadow |url=https://www.nola.com/news/crime_police/article_00bb8d39-aa35-5959-b613-873905a4e734.html |access-date=January 31, 2022 |work=The Times-Picayune |location=New Orleans, Louisiana |language=en}}</ref> Five former police officers pleaded guilty to charges connected to the Danziger Bridge shootings in the aftermath of the hurricane. Six other former or existing officers appeared in court in June 2011.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/12/01/louisiana.katrina.shootings/| title=Ex-cop gets 8 years for role in post-Katrina shootings| publisher=CNN| date=December 2, 2010| access-date=December 2, 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206221527/http://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/12/01/louisiana.katrina.shootings/| archive-date=December 6, 2010| url-status=live}}</ref>

Overall, a number of [[arrests]] were made throughout the affected area, including some near the New Orleans Convention Center. A [[Camp Greyhound|temporary jail]] was constructed of chain link cages in the [[New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal]], the city's main train station.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4163081.html |title=At the Train Station, New Orleans' Newest Jail is Open For Business |newspaper=[[KOMO-TV]] |date=September 6, 2005 |access-date=July 6, 2014 |location=New Orleans, Louisiana |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141119182853/http://www.komonews.com/news/archive/4163081.html |archive-date=November 19, 2014}}</ref> On September 30, the New Orleans Police Department confirmed that 12 police officers were participating in looting and property theft.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/30/nopd.looting/|title=Witnesses: New Orleans cops took Rolex watches, jewelry|work=CNN|accessdate=March 13, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/29/nopd.looting/index.html|title=Witnesses: New Orleans cops among looters|work=CNN|accessdate=March 13, 2024}}</ref>

In West Virginia, where roughly 350 refugees were located, local officials took fingerprints to run criminal background checks on the refugees. The background checks found that 45% of the refugees had a criminal record of some nature, and that 22% had a violent criminal record.<ref name="WBOY WV records">{{cite news|first=Elizabeth|last=Schubert|url=http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=5266|title=Some Katrina Evacuees at Camp Dawson Have Criminal Records|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=[[WBOY-TV]]|date=September 18, 2005|access-date=June 5, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928203933/http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=5266|archive-date=September 28, 2011}}</ref> Media speculation fueled a popular perception that the displaced New Orleans residents brought a wave of crime into the communities where they relocated, however, detailed studies of crime statistics in these communities did not reveal a significant increase in violent crime.<ref>{{Cite journal|url = http://docs.rwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1026&context=sjs_fp|title = A Tale of Three Cities: Crime and Displacement after Hurricane Katrina|last = Verano|first = Paul|date = January 1, 2010|journal = Journal of Criminal Justice|volume = 38|pages = 42–50|doi = 10.1016/j.jcrimjus.2009.11.006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150913003431/http://docs.rwu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1026&context=sjs_fp|archive-date = September 13, 2015|url-status = live|url-access = subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|title = Crime in post-Katrina Houston: the effects of moral panic on emergency planning|last1 = Settles|first1 = Tanya|date = August 23, 2010|journal = Disasters|doi = 10.1111/j.1467-7717.2010.01200.x|pmid = 20735458|last2 = Lindsay|first2 = Bruce|volume=35|issue = 1|pages=200–219}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title = New Orleans gang wars spill into Houston area|date = January 28, 2006|url = https://www.chron.com/news/hurricanes/article/New-Orleans-gang-wars-spill-into-Houston-area-1885064.php|access-date = September 18, 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150906054646/http://www.chron.com/news/hurricanes/article/New-Orleans-gang-wars-spill-into-Houston-area-1885064.php|archive-date = September 6, 2015|url-status = live}}</ref>

=== Government response ===
[[File:Katrina x large.png|right|thumb|upright=1.35|Chart showing some common uses of the FEMA marking system in [[New Orleans]] after Hurricane Katrina]]
[[File:BUSHKATRINA.jpg|thumb|President Bush stands with [[Donald Rumsfeld]], [[Elaine Chao]], and [[Mike Leavitt]] during a press conference from the [[White House Rose Garden|Rose Garden]], regarding the devastation along the Gulf Coast caused by Katrina.]]

Within the United States and as delineated in the [[National Response Plan]], disaster response and planning is first and foremost a local government responsibility. When local government exhausts its resources, it then requests specific additional resources from the county level. The request process proceeds similarly from the county to the state to the federal government as additional resource needs are identified. Many of the problems that arose developed from inadequate planning and back-up communication systems at various levels.<ref name="usgovwh"/>

Some [[disaster relief]] response to Katrina began before the storm, with the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) preparations that ranged from logistical supply deployments to a [[mortuary]] team with refrigerated trucks. A network of volunteers began rendering assistance to local residents and residents emerging from New Orleans and surrounding parishes as soon as the storm made landfall (even though many were directed to not enter the area), and continued for more than six months after the storm<ref name="usgovwh">{{cite web | url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/reports/katrina-lessons-learned/ | title=The Federal Response to Hurricane Katrina: Lessons Learned | publisher=The White House | date=January 20, 2009 | access-date=June 7, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525104449/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/reports/katrina-lessons-learned/ | archive-date=May 25, 2015 | url-status=live}}</ref>

Of the 60,000 people stranded in New Orleans, the Coast Guard rescued more than 33,500.<ref name="GAO-06-903">{{cite book | author = United States Government Accountability Office | author-link = Government Accountability Office | url = http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06903.pdf | title = Coast Guard: Observations on the Preparation, Response, and Recovery Missions Related to Hurricane Katrina | access-date = August 27, 2006 | date = July 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060901040345/http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06903.pdf | archive-date = September 1, 2006 | url-status = live}}</ref> Congress recognized the Coast Guard's response with an official entry in the Congressional Record,<ref name="S. 246">{{cite book | author = United States Congress | title = Senate Resolution 246: To express the sense of the Senate regarding the missions and performance of the United States Coast Guard in responding to Hurricane Katrina | date = September 21, 2005 | access-date = August 27, 2006 | publisher = Government Printing Office | url = http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:sr246ats.txt.pdf | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110109102603/http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_bills&docid=f:sr246ats.txt.pdf | archive-date = January 9, 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref> and the [[Military of the United States|Armed Service]] was awarded the [[Presidential Unit Citation (US)|Presidential Unit Citation]].<ref>{{cite web| title = USCG Message Traffic: Award of the Presidential Unit Citation to the Coast Guard| date = May 25, 2006| access-date = November 15, 2008| url = http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg3/cg3pcx/publications/alcoast/alcoast-317-06.asp| publisher = United States Coast Guard| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080924111023/http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg3/cg3pcx/publications/alcoast/alcoast-317-06.asp| archive-date = September 24, 2008| url-status = live}}</ref>

The [[United States Northern Command]] established [[Joint Task Force Katrina|Joint Task Force (JTF) Katrina]] based out of [[Camp Shelby]], Mississippi, to act as the military's on-scene response on Sunday, August 28, with Lieutenant General [[Russel L. Honoré]] as commander.<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20070817085847/http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=1955 Special Defense Department Briefing with Commander of Joint Task Force Katrina]". ''[[United States Department of Defense]]''. News Transcript. September 1, 2005. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref> Approximately 58,000 National Guard personnel were activated to deal with the storm's aftermath, with troops coming from all 50 states.<ref>Phillips, Kyra. [http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0509/06/se.01.html "Bush Discusses Displaced Students; Department of Defense Briefs Press on Katrina Response (CNN Live Transcript)"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017174609/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0509/06/se.01.html |date=October 17, 2006}} ''CNN''. September 6, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> The [[Department of Defense]] also activated volunteer members of the [[Civil Air Patrol]].

Michael Chertoff, [[United States Secretary of Homeland Security|Secretary]] of the [[Department of Homeland Security]], decided to take over the federal, state, and local operations officially on August 30, 2005, citing the National Response Plan.<ref>California Political Desk. [http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=5916 "Pelosi: Davis Report on Katrina Leaves Unfinished Business"]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061027034249/http://www.californiachronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=5916 |date=October 27, 2006}} ''California Chronicle''. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060617134855/http://www.californiachronicle.com/ |date=June 17, 2006}} February 15, 2006. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> This was refused by Governor Blanco, who indicated that her National Guard could manage. Early in September, Congress authorized a total of $62.3&nbsp;billion in aid for victims.<ref>Baker, Peter; Goldstein, Amy. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/08/AR2005090801081.html "Congress Approves $51.8 Billion For Victims"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909140905/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/08/AR2005090801081.html |date=September 9, 2017}} ''[[The Washington Post]]''. September 9, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> Additionally, President Bush enlisted the help of former presidents [[Bill Clinton]] and [[George H. W. Bush]] to raise additional voluntary contributions, much as they did after the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]] and [[tsunami]].<ref>Bush, George W. [https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050901-3.html "President Asks Bush and Clinton to Assist in Hurricane Relief"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712034929/https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050901-3.html |date=July 12, 2017}} ''White House'', Press Release. September 1, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> [[American flags]] were also ordered to be [[half-staff]] from September 2, 2005, to September 20, 2005, in honor of the victims.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050904-2.html |title=Proclamation by the President: Honoring the Memory of the Victims of Hurricane Katrina |publisher=Whitehouse.gov |access-date=October 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114005420/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050904-2.html |archive-date=January 14, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref>

FEMA provided housing assistance (rental assistance, [[FEMA Trailer|trailers]], etc.) to more than 700,000 applicants—families and individuals. However, only one-fifth of the trailers requested in Orleans Parish were supplied, resulting in an enormous housing shortage in the city of New Orleans.<ref>''Times-Picayune'', September 26, 2005, page A-12. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> Many local areas voted to not allow the trailers, and many areas had no utilities, a requirement prior to placing the trailers. To provide for additional housing, FEMA has also paid for the hotel costs of 12,000 individuals and families displaced by Katrina through February 7, 2006, when a final deadline was set for the end of hotel cost coverage. After this deadline, evacuees were still eligible to receive federal assistance, which could be used towards either apartment rent, additional hotel stays, or fixing their ruined homes, although FEMA no longer paid for hotels directly.<ref>Foster, Mary. [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-fema-off-hook-for-hotel-costs/ "Judge: FEMA Off Hook For Hotel Costs"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206190958/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/02/13/katrina/main1311616.shtml |date=December 6, 2006}} ''[[CBC News]]''. February 13, 2006. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> As of March 30, 2010, there were still 260 families living in FEMA-provided trailers in Louisiana and Mississippi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=12230906|title=Hancock Co. woman struggles to get out of FEMA trailer|first=Al|last=Showers|publisher=WLOX Channel 13|date=March 30, 2010|access-date=April 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228204125/http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=12230906|archive-date=February 28, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Law enforcement and public safety agencies, from across the United States, provided a "[[Mutual aid (emergency services)|mutual aid]]" response to Louisiana and New Orleans in the weeks following the disaster. Many agencies responded with manpower and equipment from as far away as California, [[Michigan]], [[Nevada]], New York, and [[Texas]]. This response was welcomed by local Louisiana authorities as their staff were either becoming fatigued, stretched too thin, or even quitting from the job.<ref>{{cite news | last = Treaster | first = Joseph B. | title = Law Officers, Overwhelmed, Are Quitting the Force | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/04/national/nationalspecial/04police.html?ei=5090&en=8bf8550c348bbc33&ex=1283486400&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print | newspaper = The New York Times | date = September 4, 2005 | access-date = June 24, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060617021730/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/04/national/nationalspecial/04police.html?ei=5090&en=8bf8550c348bbc33&ex=1283486400&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print | archive-date = June 17, 2006 | url-status = live}}</ref>

Two weeks after the storm, more than half of the states were involved in providing shelter for evacuees. By four weeks after the storm, evacuees had been registered in all 50 states and in 18,700 zip codes—half of the nation's residential postal zones. Most evacuees had stayed within {{convert|250|mi|km}}, but 240,000 households went to Houston and other cities over {{convert|250|mi|km}} away and another 60,000 households went over {{convert|750|mi|km|-2}} away.<ref>{{cite web|last=Quigley |first=Bill |title=Six Months After Katrina: Who Was Left Behind Then and Who is Being Left Behind Now? |url=http://www.cwsworkshop.org/katrinareader/node/162 |date=February 21, 2006 |access-date=November 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309165717/http://www.cwsworkshop.org/katrinareader/node/162 |archive-date=March 9, 2009}}</ref>

==== Criticism ====
{{Main|Criticism of the government response to Hurricane Katrina}}
[[File:USNS Comfort.jpg|thumb|upright|[[USNS Comfort|USNS ''Comfort'']] takes on supplies at [[Mayport, Florida]], en route to the Gulf Coast.]]
The criticisms of the government's response to Hurricane Katrina primarily consisted of criticism of [[Administrative incompetence|mismanagement]] and lack of [[leadership]] in the relief efforts in response to the storm and its aftermath. More specifically, the criticism focused on the delayed response to the flooding of New Orleans, and the subsequent state of chaos in the city.<ref name="thevenot" /> The [[neologism]] ''Katrina[[-gate|gate]]'' was coined to refer to this controversy, and was a runner-up for "2005 word of the year".<ref>Clark, Heather. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060325135124/http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1480616 "Linguists Vote 'Truthiness' Word of 2005"]. ''ABC News''. January 6, 2006. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref>

Within days of Katrina's August 29 landfall, public debate arose about the local, state and federal governments' role in the [[Preparations for Hurricane Katrina|preparations]] for and response to the hurricane. Criticism was initially prompted by televised images of visibly shaken and frustrated political leaders, and of residents who remained stranded by floodwaters without [[drinking water|water]], food, or shelter. Deaths from [[thirst]], [[Fatigue (medical)|exhaustion]] and violence days after the storm had passed fueled the criticism, as did the dilemma of the evacuees at facilities such as the Louisiana Superdome and the New Orleans Civic Center. Some alleged that [[Race (classification of human beings)|race]], class, and other factors could have contributed to delays in government response. For example, during ''[[A Concert for Hurricane Relief]]'', a benefit concert for victims of the hurricane, rapper [[Kanye West]] veered off script and harshly criticized the government's response to the crisis, stating that "George Bush doesn't care about [[African Americans|black people]]."<ref>{{cite news|last=de Moraes|first=Lisa|title=Kanye West's Torrent of Criticism, Live on NBC|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090300165.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 3, 2005|access-date=September 1, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080806153052/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/03/AR2005090300165.html|archive-date=August 6, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kanye-west-said-george-bush-doesnt-care-about-black-people-on-this-day-in-2005-130006321.html|title=Kanye West said, 'George Bush doesn't care about Black people' on this day in 2005|work=Yahoo Entretaiment|date=September 2, 2023 |accessdate=March 5, 2024}}</ref>

In accordance with federal law, President George W. Bush directed the [[Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security]], Michael Chertoff, to coordinate the Federal response. Chertoff designated [[Michael D. Brown]], head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as the Principal Federal Official to lead the deployment and coordination of all federal response resources and forces in the Gulf Coast region. However, the president and Secretary Chertoff initially came under harsh criticism for what some perceived as a lack of planning and coordination. Brown claimed that Governor Blanco resisted their efforts and was unhelpful. Governor Blanco and her staff disputed this.<ref>{{cite news |first1=David |last1=Kirkpatrick |first2=Scott |last2=Shane |title=Ex-FEMA Chief Tells of Frustration and Chaos |date=September 15, 2005 |access-date=May 13, 2010 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/15/national/nationalspecial/15brown.html?pagewanted=all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015052650/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/15/national/nationalspecial/15brown.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=October 15, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Eight days later, Brown was recalled to Washington and Coast Guard Vice Admiral [[Thad W. Allen]] replaced him as chief of hurricane relief operations.<ref>Meserve, Jeanne; Barrett, Ted. [http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/09/katrina.washington/index.html "Admiral takes over Katrina relief"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061222162611/http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/09/09/katrina.washington/index.html |date=December 22, 2006}} ''CNN''. September 9, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> Three days after the recall, Michael D. Brown resigned as director of FEMA in spite of having received recent praise from President Bush.<ref>{{cite web | author = Office of the Press Secretary | title = President Arrives in Alabama, Briefed on Hurricane Katrina | date = September 2, 2005 | access-date = July 19, 2006 | publisher = The White House | url = https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050902-2.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110521182702/http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2005/09/20050902-2.html | archive-date = May 21, 2011 | url-status = live}}</ref>

Politicians, activists, pundits, and journalists also directed criticism at the local and state governments headed by Mayor Nagin of New Orleans and Louisiana Governor Blanco. Nagin and Blanco were criticized for failing to implement New Orleans's evacuation plan and for ordering residents to a shelter of last resort without any provisions for food, water, security, or sanitary conditions. Perhaps the most important criticism of Nagin was that he delayed his emergency evacuation order until 19 hours before landfall, which led to hundreds of deaths of people who could not find any way out of the city.<ref name="CongressInvestigation"/>

The destruction wrought by Hurricane Katrina raised other, more general public policy issues about [[emergency management]], [[environmental policy]], poverty, and unemployment. The discussion of both the immediate response and of the broader public policy issues may have affected [[elections]] and legislation enacted at various [[Executive (government)|levels of government]]. The storm's devastation also prompted a congressional investigation, which found that FEMA and the Red Cross "did not have a logistics capacity sophisticated enough to fully support the massive number of Gulf coast victims". Additionally, it placed responsibility for the disaster on all three levels of government.<ref name="CongressInvestigation"/> An ABC News poll conducted on September 2, 2005, showed more blame was being directed at state and local governments (75%) than at the Federal government (67%), with 44% blaming Bush's leadership directly.<ref name="abcnewspoll">Langer, Gary. [https://abcnews.go.com/US/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1094262&page=1 "Poll: Bush Not Taking Brunt of Katrina Criticism"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061104094924/http://abcnews.go.com/US/HurricaneKatrina/story?id=1094262&page=1 |date=November 4, 2006}} ''ABC News''. September 12, 2005. Retrieved on July 15, 2006.</ref> A later [[CNN]]/[[USAToday]]/[[Gallup poll]] showed that respondents disagreed widely on who was to blame for the problems in the city following the hurricane—13% said Bush, 18% said federal agencies, 25% blamed state or local officials and 38% said no one was to blame.<ref name="cnnpoll">Staff Writer. [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/07/katrina.poll/ "Poll: Most Americans believe New Orleans will never recover"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130908050709/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/07/katrina.poll/ |date=September 8, 2013}} ''CNN''. September 8, 2005. Retrieved on July 15, 2006.</ref>

=== International response ===
{{Main|International response to Hurricane Katrina}}
[[File:Canadian relief transport.jpg|thumb|[[United States Navy]] personnel unload Canadian relief supplies from a [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] transport aircraft in [[Pensacola, Florida]].]]

Over seventy countries pledged monetary donations or other assistance. Cuba and Venezuela (both considered as hostile to US government interest) were the first countries to offer assistance, pledging over $1&nbsp;million, several mobile hospitals, water treatment plants, canned food, [[bottled water]], heating oil, 1,100 doctors and 26.4 metric tons of medicine, though this aid was rejected by the U.S. government.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080614224742/http://english.aljazeera.net/English/archive/archive?ArchiveId=14771 "Venezuela and Cuba offer US aid"]. [[Al Jazeera]], September 7, 2005. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071105025006/http://www.freepeoplesmovement.org/fpm/page.php?56 "Venezuela and Cuba offer aid to Katrina victims"]. [[Free Press (publisher)|The Free Press]], Volume 1, Issue 4. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080616014353/http://www.pww.org/article/view/7693/1/285/ "From abroad, offers of aid for Katrina victims"]. [[People's Weekly World]], September 10, 2005. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref><ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-09-02-katrinaworldhelps_x.htm "France, Cuba, Venezuela among those offering aid"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211010746/http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-09-02-katrinaworldhelps_x.htm |date=February 11, 2011}} ''[[USA Today]]'', September 2, 2005. Retrieved on August 5, 2007.</ref> Kuwait made the largest single pledge, $500&nbsp;million; other large donations were made by Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (each $100&nbsp;million), South Korea ($30&nbsp;million), Australia ($10&nbsp;million), India, China (both $5&nbsp;million), New Zealand ($2&nbsp;million),<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0509/S00159.htm |title=Scoop: Further NZ assistance in wake of Hurricane Katrina |publisher=Scoop.co.nz |date=September 6, 2005 |author=New Zealand Government |access-date=October 27, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309085157/http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0509/S00159.htm |archive-date=March 9, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> Pakistan ($1.5&nbsp;million),<ref>Staff Writer. [https://web.archive.org/web/20071222192047/http://usembassy.state.gov/pakistan/h05090802.html "U.S. Grateful for Pakistan's Assistance for Hurricane Katrina Victims"]. Embassy of the United States. September 8, 2005. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref> Norway ($1.8&nbsp;million),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dokumentarkiv/Regjeringen-Bondevik-II/smk/Nyheter-og-pressemeldinger/2005/katastroferammede_i_usa_far_hjelp.html?id=257645|title=Katastroferammede i USA får hjelp fra Norge på 10 millioner kroner|date=October 24, 2006|access-date=November 16, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103025556/http://www.regjeringen.no/nb/dokumentarkiv/Regjeringen-Bondevik-II/smk/Nyheter-og-pressemeldinger/2005/katastroferammede_i_usa_far_hjelp.html?id=257645|archive-date=January 3, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> and Bangladesh ($1&nbsp;million).<ref>Staff Writer. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4215820.stm "Asian nations offer U.S. assistance"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050908064210/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4215820.stm |date=September 8, 2005}} ''BBC News''. September 5, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref>

India sent tarps, blankets, and hygiene kits. An [[Indian Air Force]] IL-76 aircraft delivered 25 tonnes of relief supplies for the Hurricane Katrina victims at the [[Little Rock Air Force Base]], Arkansas, on September 13, 2005.

Israel sent an [[IDF]] delegation to New Orleans to transport aid equipment including 80 tons of food, disposable diapers, beds, blankets, generators and additional equipment which were donated from different governmental institutions, civilian institutions, and the IDF.<ref>Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/MFA+Spokesman/2005/Israeli+aid+to+Hurricane+Katrina+victims+5-Sep-2005.htm "Israel Aids Hurricane Katrina Victims"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820035007/http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/MFA+Spokesman/2005/Israeli+aid+to+Hurricane+Katrina+victims+5-Sep-2005.htm |date=August 20, 2006}} ''[[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel)|MFA]]''. September 5, 2005. Retrieved on December 17, 2006.</ref> The Bush administration announced in mid-September that it did not need Israeli divers and physicians to come to the United States for search and rescue missions, but a small team landed in New Orleans on September 10 to give assistance to operations already underway. The team administered first aid to survivors, rescued [[abandoned pets]] and discovered hurricane victims.<ref>Jewish Virtual Library. [https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Politics/Katrianaid.html "Israel's Aid to Hurricane Katrina Victims"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906125044/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Politics/Katrianaid.html |date=September 6, 2015}} ''[[Jewish Virtual Library]]''.</ref>

Countries like Sri Lanka, which was still recovering from a [[2004 Indian Ocean tsunami|tsunami last year]], also offered to help. [[Canadian response to Hurricane Katrina|Canada]], [[Mexican response to Hurricane Katrina|Mexico]], [[Singaporean response to Hurricane Katrina|Singapore]], and Germany sent supplies, relief personnel (like [[Technisches Hilfswerk]]), troops, ships and water pumps to aid in the disaster recovery. Belgium sent in a team of relief personnel. The United Kingdom's donation of 350,000 emergency meals did not reach victims because of laws regarding [[mad cow disease]].<ref>Staff Writer. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4344168.stm "U.S. rejects British Katrina beef"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070319174856/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4344168.stm |date=March 19, 2007}} ''BBC News''. October 15, 2005.</ref>

Russia's initial offer of two jets was declined by the U.S. State Department but accepted later. The French offer was also declined and requested later.<ref>Staff Writer. [https://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/04/katrina.world.aid/ "U.S. receives aid offers from around the world"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060513192039/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/04/katrina.world.aid/ |date=May 13, 2006}} ''CNN''. September 4, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref>

=== Non-governmental organization response ===
[[File:FEMA - 15322 - Photograph by Andrea Booher taken on 09-05-2005 in Texas.jpg|thumb|Residents of Louisiana, who had to flee their homes because of Hurricane Katrina, are inside the [[Houston Astrodome]] and being helped by the Red Cross and other agencies and associations.]]
The [[American Red Cross]], America's Second Harvest (now known as [[Feeding America]]), [[Southern Baptist Convention]], [[Salvation Army]], [[Oxfam]], [[Common Ground Collective]], [[Burners Without Borders]],<ref name="sfbg">{{cite news | first=Steven T. | last=Jones | url=http://www.sfbg.com/40/21/cover_katrina.html | title=From here to Katrina | work=San Francisco Bay Guardian | date=February 22, 2006 | access-date=May 18, 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060526233911/http://www.sfbg.com/40/21/cover_katrina.html | archive-date=May 26, 2006 | url-status=live}}</ref> [[Emergency Communities]], [[Habitat for Humanity]], [[Catholic Charities]], [[Direct Relief]], Service International, "A River of Hope", [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]],<ref>{{cite web|publisher=[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]|title=Church Providing Relief to Hurricane Katrina Victims|url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-providing-relief-to-hurricane-katrina-victims|date=September 1, 2005|access-date=January 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190629003054/https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/church-providing-relief-to-hurricane-katrina-victims|archive-date=June 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Latter-day Saints to Mobilize Another 4,000 Volunteers in Chainsaw Brigade's Second Wave|publisher=[[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]|url=https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/latter-day-saints-to-mobilize-another-4,000-volunteers-in-chainsaw-brigade-s-second-wave|date=September 16, 2005|access-date=January 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628150606/https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/latter-day-saints-to-mobilize-another-4,000-volunteers-in-chainsaw-brigade-s-second-wave|archive-date=June 28, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://ldsmag.com/article-1-662/ | title=Mormon Helping Hands Make a Difference | magazine=Meridian Magazine | date=October 20, 2005 | access-date=June 7, 2015 | first=Jared | last=Johnson | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421024517/http://ldsmag.com/article-1-662/ | archive-date=April 21, 2016 | url-status=live}}</ref> and many other charitable organizations provided aid to victims in the aftermath of the storm. They were not allowed into New Orleans proper by the National Guard for several days after the storm because of safety concerns. These organizations raised US$4.25&nbsp;billion in donations from the public, with the Red Cross receiving over half of these donations.<ref name = "Charity Navigator report">{{cite web | author = Staff writer | publisher = [[Charity Navigator]] | title = Where Did The Money Go? | year = 2006 | access-date = August 5, 2006 | website = Hurricane Katrina: One Year Later | url = http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/katrina.main.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060813170224/http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/katrina.main.htm | archive-date = August 13, 2006 | url-status = live}}</ref> Some smaller organizations and individuals ignored the access restrictions and provided early relief. For example, two privately chartered planes from [[FasterCures]] evacuated 200 patients from Charity Hospital in New Orleans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/2005/09/09/al-gore-airlifts-evacuees.html |title=Al Gore Airlifts Evacuees |publisher=FOXnews.com |date=September 9, 2005 |access-date=February 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070420195422/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C168978%2C00.html |archive-date=April 20, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Volunteers from the [[Amateur Radio Emergency Service]] provided communications in areas where the communications infrastructure had been damaged or totally destroyed, relaying everything from 911 traffic to messages home.<ref>{{cite report|author=Staff Writer|url=http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2005-09-16|title=ARRL President Submits Congressional Testimony on Hams' Katrina Response|publisher=American Radio Relay League|access-date=April 14, 2010|date=September 16, 2005|volume=24|issue=36|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101221033732/http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter?issue=2005-09-16|archive-date=December 21, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref> In Hancock County, Mississippi, ham radio operators provided the only communications into or out of the area and even served as 911 dispatchers.<ref>Rick Palm. [http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2005-09-22 "ARES E-Letter for September 22, 2005"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121220834/http://www.arrl.org/ares-el?issue=2005-09-22 |date=January 21, 2012}} ''The American Radio Relay League''. September 22, 2005. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref>

Many private corporations also contributed to relief efforts. On September 13, 2005, it was reported that corporate donations amounted to $409&nbsp;million, and were expected to exceed $1&nbsp;billion.<ref>[https://money.cnn.com/2005/09/13/news/fortune500/katrina_donations/ "Corporate Katrina gifts could top $1B"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070107142543/http://money.cnn.com/2005/09/13/news/fortune500/katrina_donations/ |date=January 7, 2007}} ''CNN''. September 13, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref>

During and after the Hurricanes Katrina, [[Hurricane Wilma|Wilma]] and [[Hurricane Rita|Rita]], the American Red Cross had opened 1,470 shelters and registered 3.8&nbsp;million overnight stays. None were allowed in New Orleans, however. A total of 244,000 Red Cross workers (95% of which were non-paid volunteers) were used throughout these three hurricanes. In addition, 346,980 comfort kits (including such basic necessities as toothpaste, soap, washcloths, and toys for children) and 205,360 cleanup kits (containing brooms, mops, and bleach) were distributed. For mass care, the organization served 68&nbsp;million snacks and meals to victims of the disasters and to rescue workers. The Red Cross also had its Disaster Health services meet 596,810 contacts, and Disaster Mental Health services met 826,590 contacts. Red Cross emergency financial assistance was provided to 1.4&nbsp;million families. Hurricane Katrina was the first natural disaster in the United States in which the American Red Cross used its "Safe and Well" family location website.<ref name="ARC 1 yr">{{cite web|publisher=[[American Red Cross]] |title=A Year of Healing |date=September 29, 2006 |url=http://www.redcross.org/images/pdfs/Katrina_OneYearReport.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121200321/http://www.redcross.org/images/pdfs/Katrina_OneYearReport.pdf |archive-date=January 21, 2012}}</ref><ref name = "ARC 2005AHS facts">{{cite web | publisher = American Red Cross | title = Hurricane Season 2005: Facts and Figures|date = September 29, 2006 | url = http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/hurricanes/2005/facts.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060501000858/http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/hurricanes/2005/facts.html|archive-date=May 1, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Direct Relief provided a major response in the Gulf states so health providers could treat the local patients and evacuees. Direct Relief furnished $10&nbsp;million in medical material aid and cash grants to support clinics and health centers in the area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/hurricane-katrina/|title=Hurricane Katrina Relief|date=April 25, 2018|website=Direct Relief |access-date=March 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322143644/https://www.directrelief.org/emergency/hurricane-katrina/|archive-date=March 22, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

In the year following Katrina's strike on the Gulf Coast, The Salvation Army allocated donations of more than $365&nbsp;million to serve more than 1.7&nbsp;million people in nearly every state. The organization's immediate response to Hurricane Katrina included more than 5.7&nbsp;million hot meals and about 8.3&nbsp;million sandwiches, snacks, and drinks served in and around New Orleans. Its SATERN network of amateur radio operators picked up where modern communications left off to help locate more than 25,000 survivors. Salvation Army pastoral care counselors were on hand to comfort the emotional and spiritual needs of 277,000 individuals. As part of the overall effort, Salvation Army officers, employees, and volunteers contributed more than 900,000 hours of service.<ref name="Salvation Army">{{cite web | url = http://www.salvationist.org/intnews.nsf/vw_web_articles/80D873B8CDAC8607802571D9003FDDEF?opendocument | title = Salvation Army Reflects on Largest Disaster Response Ever at One-Year Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina | access-date = April 14, 2010 | date = August 28, 2006 | publisher = [[The Salvation Army]] | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110727001251/http://www.salvationist.org/intnews.nsf/vw_web_articles/80D873B8CDAC8607802571D9003FDDEF?opendocument | archive-date = July 27, 2011 | url-status = usurped}}</ref>

=== Analysis of New Orleans levee failures ===
{{Main|2005 levee failures in Greater New Orleans}}
[[File:Map of Levee Breaches in New Orleans 2006.jpg|thumb|A map of levee breaches in New Orleans|375x375px]]
According to a modeling exercise conducted by the [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]] (USACE), two-thirds of the deaths in [[Greater New Orleans]] were due to levee and [[flood wall]] failure.<ref>Charles F. Anderson, Jurjen A. Battjes; et al. (2007). "The New Orleans Hurricane Protection System: What Went Wrong and Why" [http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/katrina/reports/ERPreport.pdf (PDF)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061810/http://biotech.law.lsu.edu/katrina/reports/ERPreport.pdf |date=March 4, 2016}}. American Society of Civil Engineers. Retrieved July 25, 2016.</ref> On April 5, 2006, months after independent investigators had demonstrated that levee failures were not caused by natural forces beyond intended design strength, Lieutenant General [[Carl Strock]], [[chief of engineers]] and commander of the Corps of Engineers, testified before the United States Senate Subcommittee on Energy and Water that "We have now concluded we had problems with the design of the structure."<ref>Staff Writers {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20080527010320/http://www.unregisterednews.com/content/view/184/53/ "Problems with the design of levees"]}}. ''[[Unregistered News]]''. September 29, 2005. Retrieved on April 14, 2010.</ref>

A June 2007 report released by the [[American Society of Civil Engineers]] determined that the failures of the levees and flood walls in New Orleans were found to be primarily the result of system design and construction flaws.<ref name="ASCE HKERP report"/> The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had been federally mandated in the [[Flood Control Act of 1965]] with responsibility for the conception, design, and construction of the region's flood-control system. All of the major studies in the aftermath of Katrina concluded that the USACE was responsible for the failure of the levees. This was primarily attributed to a decision to use shorter steel sheet pilings during construction in an effort to save money.<ref name="Robertson">{{cite news|last=Robertson|first=Campbell|title=Decade after Katrina pointing finger more firmly at Army Corps|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 23, 2015|access-date=October 31, 2015|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/24/us/decade-after-katrina-pointing-finger-more-firmly-at-army-corps.html?_r=3|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001212201/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/24/us/decade-after-katrina-pointing-finger-more-firmly-at-army-corps.html?_r=3|archive-date=October 1, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> According to a report published in August 2015 in the official journal of the [[World Water Council]], the Corps misinterpreted the results of a 1985 study and wrongly concluded that sheet piles in the flood walls needed to be driven to depths of only {{convert|17|ft|0}} instead of between {{convert|31|and|46|ft|0}}. That decision saved approximately US$100&nbsp;million, but significantly reduced overall engineering reliability.<ref>{{cite news |page=707 |author1=J. David Rogers |author2=G. Paul Kemp |title=Interaction between the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Orleans Levee Board preceding the drainage canal wall failures and catastrophic flooding of New Orleans in 2005 |publisher=Water Policy |year=2015 |access-date=January 28, 2017 |url=http://wp.iwaponline.com/content/17/4/707 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170203220852/http://wp.iwaponline.com/content/17/4/707 |archive-date=February 3, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2008, Judge [[Stanwood Duval]] of the U.S. District Court ruled that despite the Corps' role in the flooding, the agency<ref name="Nossiter">{{cite news|last=Nossiter|first=Adam|title=In Court Ruling on Floods, More Pain for New Orleans|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/us/01corps.html?_r=2&ref=us|date=February 1, 2008|access-date=February 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104173946/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/us/01corps.html?_r=2&ref=us|archive-date=November 4, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> could not be held financially liable because of [[sovereign immunity]] in the [[Flood Control Act of 1928]]. Exactly ten years after Katrina, J. David Rogers, lead author of a new report in the official journal of the World Water Council, concluded that the flooding during Katrina "could have been prevented had the corps retained an external review board to double-check its flood-wall designs".<ref>{{cite news|last=Stoltz|first=Mary Helen|title=Flood damage after Katrina could have been prevented, S&T expert says|publisher=Missouri S&T|date=August 24, 2015|access-date=February 22, 2016|url=http://news.mst.edu/2015/08/flood-damage-after-katrina-could-have-been-prevented-st-expert-says/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160220034916/http://news.mst.edu/2015/08/flood-damage-after-katrina-could-have-been-prevented-st-expert-says/|archive-date=February 20, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>

Other factors may have contributed to the flooding. According to the authors of ''Catastrophe in the Making'' (Island Press, 2009), the straight design and lack of outward flow into the Gulf allowed the [[Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Canal]] to become "the perfect shortcut for salt-water intrusion", which damaged buffering cypress forests and wetlands that historically had protected New Orleans from storm surge.<ref>{{cite book|page=120|author1=Freudenburg, William R.|first2=Robert|last2=Gramling|title=Catastrophe in the Making|publisher=Island Press|year=2009|access-date=October 15, 2015|url=https://www.islandpress.org/book/catastrophe-in-the-making|display-authors=etal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105121505/https://www.islandpress.org/book/catastrophe-in-the-making|archive-date=January 5, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> The Army Corps of Engineers built and maintained the canal. Furthermore, according to storm surge researcher Hassan Mashriqui:

{{blockquote|Storm surge pushing across shallow [[Lake Borgne]] from the east is constrained by these MRGO levees to the south and, to the north, by the long-standing levees of the Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW). Initially ten or more miles apart, these two channels meet, and when they do, the water building between their levees is squeezed into a single channel – the Funnel – only 260 yards wide, constrained by levees 14 feet to 16 feet high….In concert with the denuded marshes, it could increase the local storm surge hitting the Intracoastal Waterway by 20 percent to 40 percent – a critical and fundamental flaw.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZNroiySUreQC|title=The Storm: What Went Wrong and Why During Hurricane Katrina&nbsp;– the Inside Story from One Louisiana Scientist|first1=Ivor van|last1=Heerden|first2=Mike|last2=Bryan|date=May 18, 2006|publisher=Penguin|via=Google Books|isbn=9781101201701|access-date=October 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160428000452/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZNroiySUreQC|archive-date=April 28, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>}}

[[File:Katrina-new-orleans-flooding3-2005.jpg|thumb|View of flooded New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina]]
The Corps of Engineers disputes these causalities.<ref>Warrick, Joby; Grunwald, Michael. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/23/AR2005102301200_pf.html "Investigators Link Levee Failures to Design Flaws"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125035439/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/23/AR2005102301200_pf.html |date=November 25, 2016}} ''The Washington Post''. October 24, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref> Nonetheless, in June 2008, the Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District submitted a Deep-Draft De-authorization Study of the MRGO which stated that "an economic evaluation of channel navigation use does not demonstrate a Federal interest in continued operation and maintenance of the channel." Congress ordered the MRGO closed as a direct result.

Many of the levees have been reconstructed since Katrina. In reconstructing them, precautions were taken to bring the levees up to modern building code standards and to ensure their safety. For example, in every situation possible, the Corps of Engineers replaced I-walls with T-walls, which have a horizontal concrete base that protects against soil erosion underneath the flood walls.<ref name=Walls>{{cite news | first=Matt | last=Crenson | agency=Associated Press | url=http://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/story.asp?story=6589 | title=Levee Repairs to Be Finished By First Day of Hurricane Season | date=February 2, 2006 | access-date=May 12, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207184213/http://www.constructionequipmentguide.com/story.asp?story=6589 | archive-date=February 7, 2006 | url-status=live}}</ref>

Funding battles continue over the remaining levee improvements. In February 2008, the Bush administration requested that the state of Louisiana pay about $1.5&nbsp;billion of an estimated $7.2&nbsp;billion for Corps of Engineers levee work (in accordance with the principles of local cost-sharing required by Congress as early as the [[Flood Control Act of 1928]]), a proposal which angered many Louisiana leaders.<ref name=funding>{{cite news | title=White House Budget for Levee Work Riles Many Louisiana Elected Officials | agency=Associated Press | first=Cain | last=Burdeau | url=http://www.cegltd.com/story.asp?story=10045 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119020438/http://www.cegltd.com/story.asp?story=10045 | url-status=dead | archive-date=January 19, 2013 | date=February 12, 2008 | access-date=May 12, 2008 }}</ref> On May 2, 2008, Louisiana Governor [[Bobby Jindal]] used a speech to The National Press Club to request that President Bush free up money to complete work on Louisiana's levees. Bush promised to include the levee funding in his 2009 budget but rejected the idea of including the funding in a war bill, which would pass sooner.<ref name=BushJindal>{{cite web | url=http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/18539869.html | title=Jindal asks Bush for levee cash | publisher=2theadvocate.com | first=Gerard | last=Shields | date=May 3, 2008 | access-date=May 12, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080506102615/http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/18539869.html | archive-date=May 6, 2008 | url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Media involvement ===
{{Main|Media coverage of Hurricane Katrina}}
Many representatives of the news media reporting on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina became directly involved in the unfolding events, instead of simply reporting. Because of the loss of most means of communication, such as land-based and cellular telephone systems, field reporters in many cases became conduits for information between victims and authorities. The authorities, who monitored local and network news broadcasts, as well as internet sites, would then attempt to coordinate rescue efforts based on the reports. One illustration was when [[Geraldo Rivera]] of [[Fox News]] tearfully pleaded for authorities to either send help or evacuate the thousands of evacuees stranded at the [[Ernest N. Morial Convention Center]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Geraldo Rivera & Shepard Smith Unleashed |url=http://www.spike.com/video-clips/gmidjv/geraldo-rivera-shepard-smith-unleashed |website=Spike.com |access-date=January 4, 2016 |date=September 5, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314143006/http://www.spike.com/video-clips/gmidjv/geraldo-rivera-shepard-smith-unleashed |archive-date=March 14, 2016}}</ref> The role of AM radio was also of importance to the hundreds of thousands of persons with no other ties to news, providing emergency information regarding access to assistance for hurricane victims. Immediately after Katrina, [[WWL-AM]] was one of the few area radio stations in the area remaining on the air. This emergency service, simulcasted on shortwave outlet [[WHRI]], was named "[[United Radio Broadcasters of New Orleans]]". Their ongoing nighttime broadcasts continued to be available up to {{convert|500|mi|km|abbr=on}} away. Announcers continued to broadcast from improvised studio facilities after the storm damaged their main studios.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://radio.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=radio&cdn=gadgets&tm=58&f=00&su=p504.1.336.ip_&tt=2&bt=0&bts=0&st=23&zu=http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/recent_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001052023|title=Local Media Outlets Struggle to Carry On Post Katrina|date=August 31, 2005|access-date=April 14, 2010|first1=Katy|last1=Bachman|first2=Tony|last2=Sanders|magazine=Billboard Radio Monitor}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> The cellular phone antenna network was severely damaged and completely inoperable for several months.

The storm also brought a dramatic rise in the role of websites—especially [[blogging]] and [[community journalism]]. One example was the effort of ''NOLA.com'', the web affiliate of New Orleans's ''[[Times-Picayune]]''. A group of reporters were awarded the Breaking News [[Pulitzer Prize]]<ref name="Pulitzer BN">{{cite web | author = The Pulitzer Board | title = 2006 Pulitzer Prize Winners – Breaking News Reporting | year = 2006 | access-date = November 15, 2008 | url = http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2006,Breaking+News+Reporting | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090110190152/http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2006,Breaking+News+Reporting | archive-date = January 10, 2009 | url-status = live}}</ref> and shared the Public Service Pulitzer with the Biloxi-based ''[[Sun Herald]]''.<ref name="Pulitzer PS">{{cite web | author = The Pulitzer Board | title = 2006 Pulitzer Prize Winners – Public Service | year = 2006 | access-date = November 15, 2008 | url = http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2006,Public+Service | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081219132758/http://www.pulitzer.org/citation/2006,Public+Service | archive-date = December 19, 2008 | url-status = live}}</ref> The newspaper's coverage was carried for days only on NOLA's blogs, as the newspaper lost its presses and evacuated its building as water rose around it on August 30. The site became an international focal point for news by local media, and also became a vital link for rescue operations and later for reuniting scattered residents, as it accepted and posted thousands of individual pleas for rescue on its blogs and forums. NOLA was monitored constantly by an array of rescue teams—from individuals to the Coast Guard—which used information in rescue efforts. Much of this information was relayed from trapped victims via the SMS functions of their cell phones, to friends and relatives outside the area, who then relayed the information back to NOLA.com. The aggregation of community journalism, user photos, and the use of the internet site as a collaborative response to the storm attracted international attention and was called a watershed moment in journalism.<ref name="OJR NOLA">{{cite web|first=Mark |last=Glaser |title=NOLA.com blogs and forums help save lives after Katrina |date=September 13, 2005 |publisher=Online Journalism Review |access-date=August 2, 2006 |url=http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050913glaser/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060720085133/http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/050913glaser/ |archive-date=July 20, 2006}}</ref> In the wake of these online-only efforts, the Pulitzer Committee for the first time opened all its categories to online entries.<ref name="Pulitzer speech">{{cite web | first = Paul | last = Steiger | title = Remarks at Pulitzer Prize luncheon | date = May 22, 2006 | access-date = November 15, 2008 | publisher = The Pulitzer Board | url = http://www.pulitzer.org/2006_luncheon_steiger | author-link = Paul Steiger | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090110190421/http://www.pulitzer.org/2006_luncheon_steiger | archive-date = January 10, 2009 | url-status = live}}</ref>

As the U.S. military and rescue services regained control over the city, there were restrictions on the activity of the media. On September 9, the military leader of the relief effort announced that reporters would have "zero access" to efforts to recover bodies in New Orleans. Immediately following this announcement, CNN filed a [[lawsuit]] and obtained a temporary [[restraining order]] against the ban. The next day the government backed down and reversed the ban.<ref name="Media Ban">Staff Writer. [http://edition.cnn.com/2005/LAW/09/10/katrina.media/ "U.S. won't ban media from New Orleans searches"]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050918060917/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/LAW/09/10/katrina.media/ |date=September 18, 2005}} ''CNN'' September 11, 2005. Retrieved on June 5, 2006.</ref>

In September 2022, the Associated Press issued a style guide change to Katrina stating that reporters when writing about the storm in New Orleans should note that "...levee failures played a major role in the devastation in New Orleans. In some stories, that can be as simple as including a phrase about Hurricane Katrina's catastrophic levee failures and flooding...."<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 27, 2022 |title="Hurricane Tropical Guide". AP Stylebook The Associated Press. |url=https://apstylebook.com/hurricane-ian-test |website=The Associated Press}}</ref>

=== Studies concerning post-Katrina victims ===
An article published in the ''Community Mental Health Journal'' from January 2016 revealed information about a recent study on the psychosocial needs of Hurricane Katrina evacuees that temporarily resided in Dallas, Texas. More than one-fourth of the sample met the criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD). About one-third of the individuals received a referral to mental health services for meeting symptom criteria for incident MDD and PTSD.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=King|first1=Richard V.|last2=Polatin|first2=Peter B.|last3=Hogan|first3=David|last4=Downs|first4=Dana L.|last5=North|first5=Carol S.|date=January 1, 2016|title=Needs Assessment of Hurricane Katrina Evacuees Residing Temporarily in Dallas|journal=Community Mental Health Journal|volume=52|issue=1|pages=18–24|doi=10.1007/s10597-015-9938-5|issn=1573-2789|pmid=26507550|s2cid=9817578}}</ref>

In a study published in ''[[Maternal and Child Health Journal]]'', five to seven years after the disaster, 308 New Orleans pregnant women were interviewed about their exposure to Katrina. Researchers found that there were associations between experiencing damage during Katrina and birthweight, leading researchers to conclude that natural disasters may have long-term effects on pregnancy outcomes. Furthermore, it was concluded that women who are most vulnerable to disaster may be more vulnerable to poor pregnancy outcome.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Harville|first1=Emily W.|last2=Giarratano|first2=Gloria|last3=Savage|first3=Jane|last4=Barcelona de Mendoza|first4=Veronica|last5=Zotkiewicz|first5=TrezMarie|date=November 1, 2015|title=Birth Outcomes in a Disaster Recovery Environment: New Orleans Women After Katrina|journal=Maternal and Child Health Journal|volume=19|issue=11|pages=2512–2522|doi=10.1007/s10995-015-1772-4|issn=1573-6628|pmc=4596760|pmid=26122255}}</ref>

From a September 2015 journal of ''Current Psychology'', a study examined the attitudes of older, long-term residents of Baton Rouge, Louisiana toward displaced newcomers to their community. After using multiple tests, analyses, and descriptive statistics, the study suggested residents grew to become more patient, tolerant, and friendly towards newcomers. The study also suggests, however, that residents felt more fearful and suspicious of the evacuees, as well as the fact that they were being taken advantage of more.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Kamo|first1=Yoshinori|last2=Henderson|first2=Tammy L.|last3=Roberto|first3=Karen A.|last4=Peabody|first4=Kimberly L.|last5=White|first5=Jamikka K.|date=August 2, 2015|title=Perceptions of Older Adults in a Community Accepting Displaced Survivors of Hurricane Katrina|journal=Current Psychology |volume=34|issue=3|pages=551–563|doi=10.1007/s12144-015-9356-4|s2cid=146488181|issn=1046-1310|doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== Retirement ===
{{See also|List of retired Atlantic hurricane names}}
Because of the high death toll and widespread property destruction along the U.S. Gulf Coast, the name Katrina was retired from the [[Atlantic hurricane naming lists]] in April 2006 by the [[World Meteorological Organization]]. The name will never again be used for another tropical cyclone in the Atlantic basin. It was replaced with Katia for the [[2011 Atlantic hurricane season]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2607.htm|title=Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan, and Wilma "Retired" from List of Storm Names|access-date=April 12, 2024|date=April 6, 2006|publisher=NOAA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224105328/http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2006/s2607.htm|archive-date=December 24, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite report|url=https://www.preventionweb.net/files/1533_entirenhop06.pdf|page=3{{hyphen}}8|publisher=[[NOAA]] Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research|location=Washington, D.C.|title=National Hurricane Operations Plan|date=May 2006|access-date=April 12, 2024|archive-date=January 19, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119200543/https://www.preventionweb.net/files/1533_entirenhop06.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Reconstruction ==
{{Main|Reconstruction of New Orleans}}
[[File:FEMA - 21590 - Photograph by Marvin Nauman taken on 01-21-2006 in Louisiana.jpg|thumb|Volunteers from [[AmeriCorps]] in New Orleans, January 2006]]
Reconstruction of each section of the southern portion of Louisiana has been addressed in the Army Corps LACPR (Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration) Final Technical Report, which identifies areas to not be rebuilt and areas where buildings need to be elevated.<ref name="The LACPR Home Page">{{cite web|url=http://www.lacpr.usace.army.mil/ |title=The LACPR Home Page |author=United States Army Corps of Engineers |publisher=[[United States Army]] |year=2009 |access-date=August 9, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090825084458/http://www.lacpr.usace.army.mil/ |archive-date=August 25, 2009 |author-link=United States Army Corps of Engineers}}</ref>

The Technical Report includes:
* locations of possible new levees to be built
* suggested existing levee modifications
* "Inundation Zones", "Water depths less than 14 feet, Raise-In-Place of Structures", "Water depths greater than 14 feet, Buyout of Structures", "Velocity Zones" and "Buyout of Structures" areas for five different scenarios.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers submitted the report to the U.S. Congress for consideration, planning, and response in mid-2009.

== Records ==
Katrina is the costliest tropical cyclone on record, tying with [[Hurricane Harvey]] in [[2017 Atlantic hurricane season|2017]].<ref name="Costliest TC's" /> The storm was the fourth-most intense [[Atlantic hurricane]] on record to make landfall in the [[contiguous United States]], behind the [[1935 Labor Day hurricane]], [[Hurricane Camille]], in 1969, and [[Hurricane Michael]] in 2018.<ref name="US hurricanes">{{cite web |url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/UShurrs_detailed.html |title=Continental United States Hurricanes (Detailed Description)|date=June 2020 |publisher=United States Hurricane Research Division|access-date=January 5, 2021}}</ref> Katrina was also the earliest eleventh-named storm in the Atlantic until [[2020 Atlantic hurricane season#Tropical Storm Kyle|Tropical Storm Kyle]] surpassed it on August 14, 2020, beating Katrina by 10 days.<ref name=kyle1>{{cite web|url=https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2020/al12/al122020.discus.001.shtml?|title=Tropical Storm Kyle Discussion Number 1|website=nhc.noaa.gov|author=David Zelinsky|publisher=National Hurricane Center|location=Miami, Florida|date=August 14, 2020|access-date=August 14, 2020|archive-date=September 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200913023929/https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2020/al12/al122020.discus.001.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes]]
* [[List of Florida hurricanes (2000–present)]]
* [[Wetlands of Louisiana]]
* [[Crescent Rising]]
* [[Hurricanes and climate change]]
* [[Hurricane Katrina in fiction]]
* ''[[Hurricane on the Bayou]]''
* [[Katrina Aid Today]]
* [[Reconstruction of New Orleans]]
* [[Timeline of Hurricane Katrina]]
* [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works controversies (New Orleans)]]
* [[List of conspiracy theories#Weather and earthquake control projects|List of conspiracy theories]]
* [[North Sea flood of 1953]]
* [[List of notable media in the field of meteorology]]

'''Other similar tropical cyclones:'''
* [[Hurricane Betsy]] (1965) – Category 4 hurricane which had a similar track in the Gulf to Katrina; the first billion-dollar hurricane on record.
* [[Hurricane Camille]] (1969) – Category 5 hurricane that made the second-strongest U.S. landfall on record; impacted similar areas to Katrina.
* [[Hurricane Andrew]] (1992) - Category 5 hurricane that took a similar track and devastated similar areas.
* [[Hurricane Rita]] (2005) – Category 5 hurricane which struck the Gulf Coast of the United States at Category 3 intensity just a month after Katrina impacted Louisiana.
* [[Hurricane Harvey]] (2017) – Category 4 hurricane that made landfall in Texas and is the wettest cyclone in U.S. history; tied with Katrina as the costliest tropical cyclone on record
* [[Hurricane Laura]] (2020) – Category 4 hurricane which struck near Cameron, Louisiana at peak intensity just one day prior to Katrina's 15th anniversary.
* [[Hurricane Ida]] (2021) – Category 4 hurricane which made landfall in Louisiana at peak intensity on the same day of Katrina's 16th anniversary.

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=nb}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* {{cite web |last=Augustson |first=Alan |date=August 31, 2008 |editor-last=Bernstein |editor-first=Jonathan |url=https://www.bernsteincrisismanagement.com/newsletter/crisis-manager-080831.html |title=Katrina: Three Years Later, The Lessons We Haven't Learned |website=Crisis Manager |publisher=Bernstein Crisis Management |issn=1528-3836 |access-date=June 3, 2017 |ref=cmu}}
* {{Cite book |last=Brennan |first=Virginia |year=2009 |title=Natural Disasters and Public Health: Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma |location=Baltimore |publisher=[[Johns Hopkins University Press]] |isbn=978-0-8018-9199-1}}
* {{Cite book |editor=Center for Public Integrity |year=2007 |title=City Adrift: New Orleans Before and After Katrina |location=Baton Rouge |publisher=LSU Press |isbn=978-0-8071-3284-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/cityadriftneworl0000unse}}
* {{Cite book |last=Dyson |first=Michael Eric |author-link=Michael Eric Dyson |year=2006 |title=Come Hell or High Water: Hurricane Katrina and the Color of Disaster |location=New York |publisher=Perseus Books Group |isbn=978-0-465-01761-4 |url=https://archive.org/details/comehellorhighwa00dyso}}
* {{Cite book |last=Eggers |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Eggers |year=2009 |title=Zeitoun |location=San Francisco |publisher=McSweeney's Books |isbn=978-1-934781-63-0|title-link=Zeitoun (book)}}
* {{Cite book |last=Eyerman |first=Ron |year=2015 |title=Is This America? Katrina as Cultural Trauma |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TjQKCgAAQBAJ |series=The Katrina Bookshelf |location=Austin|publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=9781477303689 |oclc=900609113}}
* {{Cite book |last=Harris |first=Paul |author-link=Paul Harris (author) |year=2008 |title=Diary From the Dome |location=New York |publisher=Vantage Press |asin=B003M69KSC|title-link=Diary From the Dome}}
* {{Cite book |editor1-last=Hartman |editor1-first=Chester |editor2-last=Squires |editor2-first=Gregory D. |year=2006|title=There Is No Such Thing as a Natural Disaster: Race, Class, and Hurricane Katrina |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-95487-7}}
* Hirsch, Arnold R. "Fade to black: Hurricane Katrina and the disappearance of Creole New Orleans." ''Journal of American History'' 94.3 (2007): 752–761. https://doi.org/10.2307/25095136
* Horowitz, Andy. '' Katrina: A History, 1915–2015'' (Harvard University Press, 2020), long-term scholarly perspective. 
* {{Cite journal |last=Burd |first=Camden |date=2021 |title=How To Plan A Disaster: Politics, Nature, and Hurricane Katrina |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/796683 |journal=Reviews in American History |language=en |volume=49 |issue=2 |pages=304–309 |doi=10.1353/rah.2021.0030 |issn=1080-6628|url-access=subscription }}
* Robinson, Sue. "A chronicle of chaos: Tracking the news story of Hurricane Katrina from The Times-Picayune to its website". ''Journalism'' 10.4 (2009): 431-450 [https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.965.5799&rep=rep1&type=pdf online].
*Rosenthal, Sandy. ''Words Whispered in Water: Why the Levees Broke in Hurricane Katrina'' (Mango, 2020), non-fiction account of author's battle to expose Army Corps of Engineers.
* {{Cite book |last=Saint-Saens |first=Alain |year=2010 |title=Ordeal at the Superdome. Escaping Katrina's Wrath |location=New Orleans |publisher=University Press of the South |isbn=978-1-889431-87-1}}
* {{Cite book |last=Scott |first=Cathy |author-link=Cathy Scott |year=2008 |title=Pawprints of Katrina: Pets Saved and Lessons Learned |location=Hoboken |publisher=[[Howell Book House]] |isbn=978-0-470-22851-7|title-link=Pawprints of Katrina}}
* {{Cite book |last=Spielman |first=David G. |year=2007 |title=Katrinaville Chronicles: Images and Observations from a New Orleans Photographer |location=Baton Rouge |publisher=LSU Press |isbn=978-0-8071-3252-4}}
* {{Cite book |editor1-last=Taylor |editor1-first=William M. |display-authors=etal |year=2015 |title=The "Katrina Effect": On the Nature of Catastrophe |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EayFCAAAQBAJ |location=London; New York |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=9781472595164 |oclc=893894307}}
* Usher, Nikki. "Recovery from disaster: How journalists at the New Orleans Times-Picayune understand the role of a post-Katrina newspaper". ''Journalism Practice'' 3.2 (2009): 216–232.

{{refend}}

== External links ==

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{{Sister project links|Hurricane Katrina}}
* National Hurricane Center's [http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2005/KATRINA.shtml archive on Hurricane Katrina]
* [[Hydrometeorological Prediction Center]]'s [https://web.archive.org/web/20080613172751/http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/tropical2005/KATRINA/KATRINA_archive.shtml archive on Hurricane Katrina]
* [http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/h2005_katrina.html NASA's Hurricane Katrina Archive] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904113536/http://www.nasa.gov/vision/earth/lookingatearth/h2005_katrina.html |date=September 4, 2007 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100628121528/http://www.lgs.lsu.edu/deploy/uploads/11strategies.pdf Geology and Hurricane-Protection Strategies in the Greater New Orleans Area] Louisiana Geological Survey publication on Hurricane Katrina
* [http://hnoc.minisisinc.com/thnoc/catalog/3/7931 Through Hell and High Water: Katrina's First Responders Oral History Project] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618075836/http://hnoc.minisisinc.com/thnoc/catalog/3/7931 |date=June 18, 2020 }} at  [https://www.hnoc.org/  The Historic New Orleans Collection]

'''Disaster recovery:'''
* [http://www.katrinasangels.org/ Katrina's Angels Resource Coordination]
* [http://www.city-journal.org/html/16_2_houston.html Houston's Noble Experiment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929092804/http://www.city-journal.org/html/16_2_houston.html |date=September 29, 2007 }} – An article in the ''[[City Journal]]''
* [http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/2007/0907evans.html The KatrinaRitaVille Express Tour] from ''[[Dollars & Sense]]'' magazine
* [http://www.hurricane-katrina.org/ Beyond Katrina: The Voice of Recovery est. 8/28/2005] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191013224853/http://www.hurricane-katrina.org/ |date=October 13, 2019}}
* [https://www.npr.org/podcasts/411090412/katrina-the-debris Katrina: The Debris] - 10th anniversary podcast

'''Images:'''
* [http://www.streetgangs.com/katrina/ Hurricane Katrina's Aftermath Photos by StreetGangs.com]
* [http://www.photosfromkatrina.com/ Photographs and Video of Hurricane Katrina's Aftermath]
* [http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/misc/050829/050829.html Weather satellite imagery] ([[University of Wisconsin–Madison]])
* [http://www.davidmetraux.com/news/2006/hurricane_katrina.html Photographs of Hurricane Katrina's Aftermath]

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{{s-bef| before = [[Hurricane Andrew|Andrew]]}}
{{s-ttl| title  = [[List of costliest Atlantic hurricanes|Costliest Atlantic hurricanes on record]]| years  = [[2005 Atlantic hurricane season|2005]]}}
{{s-aft| after  = [[Hurricane Harvey|Harvey]] (currently tied)}}
{{s-end}}

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{{Presidency of George W. Bush}}
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