Cause and Effect of Hurricane Katrina in the New Orleans

Causes & Effects of Hurricane Katrina

All hurricanes are formed in tropical waters, and many get their start in the Atlantic Ocean. These storms can only form in warm waters when the sea, wind and air pressure conditions are just right. Once they are active, hurricanes can be moved around by powerful gusts of wind known as steering winds. The winds help build the hurricanes up and give them more power, and when they are large enough they can cause massive rain fall, large waves that break well beyond the shoreline known as surge storms and a spiraling cyclone of wind and water that can be destructive and deadly.

Hurricane Katrina

Katrina was a massive hurricane that formed in the Atlantic in 2005, and at times reached Category 5 status. The storm was described as being among the worst natural disasters of all time. While at its peak, Katrina caused severe flooding and produced more than 1 inch of rain every hour, leaving some areas completely submerged under nearly 20 feet of water.

Some scientists claim that global warning is partially to blame for the power and endurance of hurricane Katrina. Hurricanes are formed in tropical waters, and need continued heat to exist, so the warming of the oceans is considered by many authorities to be a cause for more frequent and powerful hurricanes.

Effects of Katrina

Katrina was responsible for property damage and fatalities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia and Alabama. During the time it was active, over 1 million people were evacuated from their homes to escape the fury of the storm. The estimated amount of damage that was created by Katrina was an astonishing 81 billion dollars.

Perhaps the best known area that was seriously affected by Katrina was New Orleans. Heavy winds mixed with ...