Hurricane+Katrina

media type="custom" key="7051369"Hurricane Katrina was one ofthe most devastating storms to ever hit the United States. It formed over the Bahamas on August 23rd, 2005 still classified as a tropical storm at this point. The next day it began to strengthen and was officially classified as a hurricane. On the 25th of August, Katrina became a category 1 hurricane with winds around 75 miles per hour. Later the same day it hit southern Florida and 2 people were killed. On the 26th, Katrina was once again classified as a tropical storm, until it hit the Gulf of Mexico that is and began gaining strength rapidly. On the 27th, still in the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Katrina had reached category 3 with winds reaching 115 miles per hour. Early morning on the 28th, Hurricane Katrina becomes category 4 with winds reaching 145 miles per hour, a little later in the morning, an evacuation of New Orleans is ordered. Just around 11:00 AM, Hurricane Katrina reaches category 5 with winds nearing 175 miles per hour. On the 29th, Hurricane Katrina near Louisiana -Mississippi border and New Orleans levees began to fail, flooding the city. Although back down to a category 3 when it hits, Katrina moves upward wrecking havoc as it goes until it dissipates on the 30th of August (Hurricane Katrina: The Essential Timeline) . Hurricane Katrina caused damages worth near $150 billion, affected 19% of America’s oil production, resulted in oil being $3 more per barrel, destroyed 113 offshore oil and gas platforms as well as damaging 457 oil and gas pipelines (How Much Did Hurricane Damage the U.S. Economy). Oil spills as well as sewage chemicals, and other toxic substances contaminated and polluted the groundwater reserves. In addition, upwards of 1,200 people were killed, thousands were injured, and a myriad of people were evacuated. In New Orleans, the worst hit by Katrina, over 80% of the city was flooded, resulting in most roads and buildings being wrecked.