Hurricane Katrina was one of the deadliest natural disasters in living memory. This powerhouse storm caused extensive damage on the Gulf Coast in 2005, killing people, destroying property, and flooding much of New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina facts tell us about the power of the storm and the devastation it left in its wake. We also learn about some of the failures in the response to Hurricane Katrina, and these provide us with some of the saddest Hurricane Katrina facts. In some ways, the damage that was done to New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina was an accident waiting to happen. One of the most surprising Hurricane Katrina facts to emerge after the storm is that the Army Corps of Engineers was responsible for the dramatic failure of the New Orleans flood system. These Hurricane Katrina facts will leave you in awe of the power of nature, and saddened by the incredible destruction that occurred. Although many of us saw images on television, the true scale of the damage becomes more apparent when we review Hurricane Katrina facts. Hurricane Katrina changed many people’s lives forever. These Hurricane Katrina facts tell the story of a huge storm that impacted the lives of many people. The impact from Hurricane Katrina continues to be felt today.

1. HURRICANE KATRINA
FACTS

2. • Katrina Was the Strongest Hurricane Ever Recorded on the
Gulf
Hurricane Katrina had sustained winds of 175 miles per hour, or
280 kilometres per hour!
• Tropical Storm Katrina was Named on August 24, 2005
The National Hurricane Centre, which is part of the United
States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or
NOAA, is responsible for naming storms. On August 24, The
National Hurricane Centre gave the storm the name Tropical
Storm Katrina.
• Katrina Became a Hurricane on August 25, 2005
Within 24 hours of naming Katrina as a tropical storm, NOAA
classified the storm as a hurricane. Hurricane Katrina was
born on August 25, 2005.

3. • Hurricane Katrina Hit Florida Before New Orleans
The first state in the United States that Hurricane Katrina hit was
not Louisiana or Mississippi. One of the most surprising
Hurricane Katrina facts is that Hurricane Katrina first made
landfall in the United States in Florida.
• Hurricane Katrina Had Sustained Winds Over 175 Miles Per
Hour
Nine hours after crossing over Florida, Katrina had reached
Category 5 level Hurricane status. The unusually warm water
current fed the storm, giving it incredible strength.
• Hurricane Katrina Made Landfall in Louisiana on August
29th, 2005
Hurricane Katrina made its second landfall in the United States
on August 29, 2005, in the State of Louisiana. Hurricane
Katrina was a Category 3 hurricane when it made landfall in
Louisiana.

4. • Over 1 Million People Were Told to Evacuate for Hurricane
Katrina
On August 28, as the storm grew in size, people on the Gulf
Coast were told to evacuate. State and local governments did
not have enough resources to evacuate everyone and handle
the displacement of so many people. Over 1 million people
were told to evacuate the Gulf Coast.
• Over 1,000 People Died From Hurricane Katrina
The saddest of all Hurricane Katrina facts is that over 1,800
people lost their lives as a result of the storm. Most of these
deaths were in Louisiana, where over 1,500 people died
because of the storm.

5. • 80% of New Orleans Was Flooded by Hurricane Katrina
Much of the damage from the storm was the result of the storm
surge. The storm surge from a storm, particularly a hurricane,
is a large coastal wave or flood. The sea level rises with the
hurricane and when the hurricane makes landfall, it brings a
large volume of water with it.
• More than 700 People Died in New Orleans from Hurricane
Katrina
New Orleans was devastated by the storm. In parts of the city,
up to 80% of all housing was destroyed. More than 700
people died in the city. People also lost their lives in the chaos
that followed the storm.