# Canonical recap data for Hurricane Katrina (2005)
# Source: https://recap.at/2005/hurricane-katrina
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: hurricane-katrina
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/2005/hurricane-katrina"
title: Hurricane Katrina
aliases:
- Hurricane Katrina
- Katrina
- 2005 Atlantic hurricane season
subtitle: ""
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 2005-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 2005
decade: 2000
country:
name: United States
slug: united-states
summaryShort: Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, killing nearly 1,400 people and exposing critical failures in disaster response and infrastructure.
summaryLong: |-
  Hurricane Katrina made landfall near Buras, Louisiana on August 29, 2005, as a Category 3 storm with winds exceeding 125 mph. The storm surge overwhelmed the levee system protecting New Orleans, flooding approximately 80% of the city within hours. Water poured through breaches in multiple locations, including the Industrial Canal on the city's east side, ultimately submerging entire neighborhoods under up to 15 feet of water. The storm directly killed 238 people in Louisiana; subsequent deaths from disease, displacement, and secondary causes brought the total to nearly 1,400 across the Gulf Coast region.

  The disaster exposed catastrophic gaps in emergency management at every level. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), led by director Michael D. Brown, deployed insufficient resources in the immediate aftermath, while local and state officials struggled to coordinate evacuation and rescue efforts. Thousands of residents, disproportionately poor and Black, lacked access to transportation and were stranded in the Superdome and Convention Center for days without adequate food, water, or sanitation. News coverage by anchors including Anderson Cooper and reporters from media outlets nationwide showed federal bureaucracy grinding while people died-a public relations failure that would haunt the Bush administration.

  The economic toll exceeded $125 billion, making Katrina the costliest hurricane in U.S. history at the time. Major oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf shut down, disrupting global energy supplies. Entire neighborhoods in New Orleans never fully recovered; the city's population dropped from approximately 485,000 before the storm to roughly 230,000 by 2006. Insurance companies denied claims at unprecedented rates, and disputes over flood insurance coverage lasted for years. Climatologists noted that warmer ocean temperatures had likely intensified the storm's strength, fueling later debates about climate change and disaster preparedness.

  The aftermath sparked major policy discussions about levee engineering, climate adaptation, and social inequality in disaster response. The Army Corps of Engineers commissioned reviews of New Orleans' flood protection system. Congress held hearings on FEMA's performance, leading to the agency's reorganization under the Department of Homeland Security. Michael D. Brown resigned as FEMA director in September 2005. Despite some infrastructure improvements and stronger building codes implemented thereafter, Katrina remained a defining moment for questions about whose communities receive protection and resources when catastrophe strikes.
lede: On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S. Gulf Coast as a major hurricane, and the levees protecting New Orleans failed catastrophically. Approximately 1,400 people died and 80% of the city flooded. The disaster exposed serious failures in emergency response, revealed deep inequalities in evacuation and rescue efforts, and cost over $125 billion-making it the costliest hurricane in U.S. history at that time.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Katrina_2005-08-28_1700Z.jpg/1280px-Katrina_2005-08-28_1700Z.jpg"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "Hurricane Katrina"
importance: 50
sourceConfidence: 50
keyFacts:
- label: Landfall date
  value: August 29, 2005
- label: Category at landfall
  value: "3"
- label: Direct deaths in Louisiana
  value: "238"
- label: Total deaths across Gulf Coast
  value: ~1,400
- label: Percentage of New Orleans flooded
  value: ~80%
- label: Economic damage
  value: $125+ billion
- label: New Orleans population pre-storm
  value: ~485,000
- label: New Orleans population by 2006
  value: ~230,000
- label: FEMA director
  value: Michael D. Brown
timeline:
- date: 2005-08-23
  title: Katrina forms as tropical depression
  description: A tropical depression develops over the Bahamas and begins moving westward toward Florida.
- date: 2005-08-25
  title: Storm reaches hurricane strength
  description: The system is upgraded to hurricane status as it crosses southern Florida with Category 1 winds.
- date: 2005-08-28
  title: Katrina strengthens to Category 5
  description: The hurricane reaches peak intensity in the Gulf of Mexico with winds of 175 mph, then weakens slightly before landfall.
- date: 2005-08-29
  title: Landfall near Buras, Louisiana
  description: Hurricane Katrina makes landfall as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 125+ mph. Levee failures in New Orleans begin almost immediately after the storm surge hits.
- date: 2005-08-30
  title: Large portions of New Orleans flooded
  description: Water breaches multiple levee sections, including the Industrial Canal, flooding approximately 80% of the city. Tens of thousands of residents shelter at the Superdome and Convention Center.
- date: 2005-09-02
  title: Federal response accelerates
  description: President George W. Bush tours the region. FEMA director Michael D. Brown faces criticism for slow response. Major media outlets report dire conditions at shelters and in flooded neighborhoods.
- date: 2005-09-12
  title: Michael D. Brown resigns
  description: FEMA director Michael D. Brown steps down amid widespread criticism of the agency's disaster response.
- date: 2005-09-30
  title: Death toll estimates stabilize
  description: Official count reaches nearly 1,400 deaths across the Gulf Coast, with Louisiana accounting for approximately 238 direct deaths.
sources: []
related: []
relationships:
- targetSlug: september-11-attacks
  type: echoed
  confidence: 72
  evidence: Both events exposed critical gaps in U.S. federal disaster response and emergency management infrastructure. Katrina's mishandling by FEMA under Michael Brown directly prompted the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (2006), which applied lessons from 9/11 response failures.
  source: ai
- targetSlug: 2004-indian-ocean-earthquake-tsunami
  type: echoed
  confidence: 68
  evidence: Both mega-disasters (occurring within nine months) shifted global and national understanding of scale, preparedness, and climate/geological risk. Katrina's 2005 impact on U.S. disaster doctrine and insurance models followed immediately after the 2004 tsunami reshaped international humanitarian response standards.
  source: ai
- targetSlug: gulf-war
  type: caused_by
  confidence: 75
  evidence: Timeline of "Hurricane Katrina" references "Gulf War" (2 shared tokens incl. title anchor).
  source: ai
- targetSlug: iran-iraq-war
  type: caused_by
  confidence: 75
  evidence: Timeline of "Hurricane Katrina" references "Iran-Iraq War Begins" (2 shared tokens incl. title anchor).
  source: ai
- targetSlug: stalin-death
  type: caused_by
  confidence: 75
  evidence: Timeline of "Hurricane Katrina" references "Stalin Dies; Soviet Succession Struggle Begins" (2 shared tokens incl. title anchor).
  source: ai
gallery:
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Hurricane_Katrina_Eye_viewed_from_Hurricane_Hunter.jpg/1280px-Hurricane_Katrina_Eye_viewed_from_Hurricane_Hunter.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Hurricane_Katrina_Eye_viewed_from_Hurricane_Hunter.jpg/800px-Hurricane_Katrina_Eye_viewed_from_Hurricane_Hunter.jpg"
  caption: Hurricane Katrina Eye viewed from Hurricane Hunter
  credit: NOAA
  width: 1920
  height: 2560
  alt: View from a hurricane research aircraft showing the massive white cloud structure of Hurricane Katrina's eye wall, with the dark aircraft fuselage and instrument pod in the foreground against a backdrop of towering thunderstorms and clear blue sky above.
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Hurricane_Katrina_Eye_viewed_from_Hurricane_Hunter_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Hurricane_Katrina_Eye_viewed_from_Hurricane_Hunter_%28cropped%29.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/Hurricane_Katrina_Eye_viewed_from_Hurricane_Hunter_%28cropped%29.jpg/800px-Hurricane_Katrina_Eye_viewed_from_Hurricane_Hunter_%28cropped%29.jpg"
  caption: Hurricane Katrina Eye viewed from Hurricane Hunter (cropped)
  credit: NOAA
  width: 1888
  height: 1099
  alt: An aerial view from a Hurricane Hunter aircraft shows the towering convective clouds and intense storm structure of Hurricane Katrina's eye wall, with bright white cumulus formations rising dramatically against a deep blue sky. The perspective captures the massive vertical development and swirling cloud patterns characteristic of a powerful hurricane system.
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Aerial_view_of_SFNO_after_Hurricane_Katrina_edit.jpg/1280px-Aerial_view_of_SFNO_after_Hurricane_Katrina_edit.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Aerial_view_of_SFNO_after_Hurricane_Katrina_edit.jpg/800px-Aerial_view_of_SFNO_after_Hurricane_Katrina_edit.jpg"
  caption: Aerial view of SFNO after Hurricane Katrina edit
  credit: "Bob McMillan; edit: Chris Woodrich"
  width: 3374
  height: 2090
  alt: Aerial photograph showing a flooded amusement park with multiple roller coasters and rides submerged in water, alongside damaged buildings and debris scattered throughout the facility, with highways and residential areas visible in the background.
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Katrina_2005-08-28_1700Z.jpg/1280px-Katrina_2005-08-28_1700Z.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Katrina_2005-08-28_1700Z.jpg/800px-Katrina_2005-08-28_1700Z.jpg"
  caption: Katrina 2005-08-28 1700Z
  credit: NASA
  width: 5400
  height: 7200
  alt: A satellite image of Hurricane Katrina shows a massive tropical cyclone with a well-defined eye at its center, surrounded by thick bands of white clouds spiraling outward in a counterclockwise rotation, positioned over the Gulf of Mexico with the southeastern United States coastline visible in the upper portion of the image.
culturalContext:
topMusic:
- title: Single
  artist: Kanye West ft. Jamie Foxx
  year: 2005
  note: Released in September 2005, weeks after Katrina made landfall. West famously declared 'George Bush doesn't care about Black people' during NBC's telethon on September 2, 2005.
  referenceCard:
  status: not_found
  checkedAt: "2026-05-30T10:46:45.602Z"
- title: Hurricane
  artist: 30 Seconds to Mars
  year: 2005
  note: Reflective post-Katrina rock ballad about loss and survival released in late 2005.
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-23T07:43:25.317Z"
topFilms:
- title: "Spike Lee's When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts"
  year: 2006
  note: HBO documentary released August 2006; Lee's first major post-Katrina project, centering New Orleans voices and government failure.
  referenceCard:
  status: not_found
  checkedAt: "2026-05-30T10:46:45.602Z"
topTVShows:
- title: Rescue Me
  year: 2004
  note: Denis Leary's FDNY drama (premiered 2004) found broader cultural resonance after Katrina; first responder narratives became prime-time staple.
  referenceCard:
  status: not_found
  checkedAt: "2026-05-30T10:46:45.602Z"
zeitgeistNote: Katrina arrived at the height of reality TV (American Idol, Survivor in peak popularity) and exposed live the gap between media spectacle and material suffering. The disaster's domination of cable news for weeks, combined with Kanye West's on-air criticism of President Bush, crystallized growing tensions over race, class, and federal competence that would simmer through the 2006 midterms and beyond. It marked one of the last major pre-social-media news cycles where networks controlled the narrative almost entirely.
comparisonThenNow:
- metric: FEMA Disaster Response Staffing
  thenValue: Severely understaffed; director Michael Brown's tenure marked by delayed, uncoordinated deployment
  thenYear: 2005
  nowValue: Permanent disaster response cadre established; pre-positioned personnel activated within hours of events
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Brown resigned under pressure weeks after Katrina; current protocols mandate immediate mobilization.
- metric: Private Flood Insurance Market Presence
  thenValue: Minimal; 95% of Gulf Coast flood risk held by federal NFIP
  thenYear: 2005
  nowValue: Estimated 10–15% market share for private insurers; NFIP still carries bulk but faces competitive pressure
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Post-Katrina rate hikes and insolvency fears prompted regulatory changes allowing alternative carriers.
- metric: New Orleans Median Household Income
  thenValue: $27,816 (pre-Katrina)
  thenYear: 2005
  nowValue: $38,000
  nowYear: 2023
  note: Real growth masked by demographic shift toward higher-income returnees; pre-Katrina lower-income residents remained displaced.
- metric: Levee Design Standard
  thenValue: 500-year flood protection; actual defenses rated for 200-year event or less
  thenYear: 2005
  nowValue: 100-year + storm surge standard; new systems designed for Category 5 scenarios
  nowYear: 2023
  note: Post-Katrina engineering audits revealed massive gaps; rebuilding incorporated climate models not available in 2005.
- metric: Prepared Evacuation Protocol for Major Cities
  thenValue: No uniform federal standard; rely on local/state decision-making; 25,000+ trapped in Superdome
  thenYear: 2005
  nowValue: National Emergency Management System (NIMS) and pre-event federal coordination agreements in place; sheltering capacity expanded
  nowYear: 2024
  note: Superdome's role as refuge of last resort during Katrina led to mandatory evacuation infrastructure planning.
impactStatement: Total deaths were approximately 1,400 across the Gulf Coast region, not over 1,800.
consequences:
- title: National Flood Insurance Program Reform
  year: 2006
  description: Congress passed the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act in September 2006, directly responding to Katrina's exposure of gaps in flood coverage and the program's insolvency. The law expanded coverage options and raised premium rates to reflect actual risk.
- title: DHS Reorganization and FEMA Restructuring
  year: 2006
  description: The Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act (October 2006) stripped FEMA of some authorities and placed it under closer DHS oversight, mandating new standards for disaster preparedness and response that persist today.
- title: New Orleans Population and Demographic Shift
  year: 2010
  description: The 2010 Census revealed New Orleans had lost 29% of its pre-Katrina population of 485,000, with the largest declines among low-income and Black residents. The city's demographic profile fundamentally changed, accelerating gentrification in rebuilt neighborhoods.
- title: Climate Change Risk Reassessment in Insurance and Real Estate
  year: 2007
  description: Major insurers withdrew from Louisiana and Gulf Coast markets or raised rates sharply between 2005–2007. Investment firms and municipalities began formally modeling hurricane and flooding risk into long-term planning.
- title: Levee System Reconstruction and Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Surge Protection System
  year: 2011
  description: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the first phase of a $14.5 billion comprehensive levee and barrier system by 2011, fundamentally redesigning flood protection infrastructure and establishing new baseline standards for coastal defense.
archiveSnapshots: []
categories:
- disaster
metaDescription: August 2005. New Orleans drowned. The levees failed spectacularly. Thousands died. FEMA bungled the response. A catastrophe exposed how fragile our infrastructure really is.
originSignals:
- "wikipedia:hurricane-katrina"
geo:
lat: 39.7837304
lng: -100.445882
place: United States
note: Location inferred from recap.country via OSM Nominatim.
significance: 25
heroImageAlt: A satellite image of Hurricane Katrina shows a massive tropical cyclone with a well-defined eye at its center, surrounded by thick bands of white clouds spiraling outward in a counterclockwise rotation, positioned over the Gulf of Mexico with the southeastern United States coastline visible in the upper portion of the image.
translations:
es:
lede: El 29 de agosto de 2005, el Huracán Katrina azotó la costa del Golfo de EE.UU. como un huracán importante, y los diques que protegían Nueva Orleans fallaron catastróficamente. Aproximadamente 1,400 personas murieron y el 80% de la ciudad se inundó. El desastre expuso fallos graves en la respuesta de emergencia, reveló profundas desigualdades en los esfuerzos de evacuación y rescate, y costó más de $125 mil millones, convirtiéndose en el huracán más costoso en la historia de EE.UU. hasta ese momento.
summaryShort: El Huracán Katrina devastó Nueva Orleans y la costa del Golfo el 29 de agosto de 2005, matando a casi 1,400 personas y exponiendo fallos críticos en la respuesta ante desastres e infraestructura.
summaryLong: |-
  El Huracán Katrina tocó tierra cerca de Buras, Luisiana el 29 de agosto de 2005, como una tormenta de Categoría 3 con vientos superiores a 125 mph. El oleaje de tormenta abrumó el sistema de diques que protegía Nueva Orleans, inundando aproximadamente el 80% de la ciudad en horas. El agua se derramó a través de brechas en múltiples ubicaciones, incluido el Canal Industrial en el lado este de la ciudad, sumergiendo finalmente barrios enteros bajo hasta 15 pies de agua. La tormenta mató directamente a 238 personas en Luisiana; las muertes posteriores por enfermedad, desplazamiento y causas secundarias llevaron el total a casi 1,400 en toda la región del Golfo.

  El desastre expuso brechas catastróficas en la gestión de emergencias en todos los niveles. La Agencia Federal para el Manejo de Emergencias (FEMA), dirigida por el director Michael D. Brown, desplegó recursos insuficientes en el período inmediato posterior, mientras que los funcionarios locales y estatales tenían dificultades para coordinar los esfuerzos de evacuación y rescate. Miles de residentes, desproporcionadamente pobres y negros, carecían de acceso a transporte y quedaron atrapados en el Superdome y el Centro de Convenciones durante días sin alimento, agua ni saneamiento adecuados. La cobertura de noticias de presentadores como Anderson Cooper y reporteros de medios nacionales mostraron la burocracia federal funcionando mientras la gente moría, un fracaso de relaciones públicas que perseguiría a la administración Bush.

  El costo económico superó los $125 mil millones, convirtiendo a Katrina en el huracán más costoso en la historia de EE.UU. hasta ese momento. La infraestructura importante de petróleo y gas en el Golfo se cerró, interrumpiendo los suministros de energía global. Barrios enteros de Nueva Orleans nunca se recuperaron completamente; la población de la ciudad cayó de aproximadamente 485,000 antes de la tormenta a aproximadamente 230,000 en 2006. Las compañías de seguros rechazaron reclamos a tasas sin precedentes, y las disputas sobre cobertura de seguros de inundación duraron años. Los climatólogos señalaron que las temperaturas más cálidas del océano probablemente habían intensificado la fuerza de la tormenta, alimentando debates posteriores sobre cambio climático y preparación ante desastres.

  El período posterior generó principales debates sobre ingeniería de diques, adaptación climática e desigualdad social en la respuesta ante desastres. El Cuerpo de Ingenieros del Ejército encargó revisiones del sistema de protección contra inundaciones de Nueva Orleans. El Congreso realizó audiencias sobre el desempeño de FEMA, lo que llevó a la reorganización de la agencia bajo el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional. Michael D. Brown renunció como director de FEMA en septiembre de 2005. A pesar de algunas mejoras en infraestructura y códigos de construcción más fuertes implementados después, Katrina siguió siendo un momento determinante para preguntas sobre qué comunidades reciben protección y recursos cuando la catástrofe golpea.
generatedAt: "2026-06-03T08:55:34.253Z"
fr:
lede: Le 29 août 2005, l'ouragan Katrina a frappé la côte du Golfe des États-Unis en tant qu'ouragan majeur, et les digues protégeant la Nouvelle-Orléans se sont effondrées de façon catastrophique. Environ 1 400 personnes ont péri et 80 % de la ville ont été inondées. La catastrophe a mis au jour de graves défaillances de la réaction d'urgence, révélé des inégalités profondes dans les efforts d'évacuation et de secours, et a coûté plus de 125 milliards de dollars, ce qui en fait l'ouragan le plus coûteux de l'histoire des États-Unis à cette époque.
summaryShort: L'ouragan Katrina a dévasté la Nouvelle-Orléans et la côte du Golfe le 29 août 2005, tuant près de 1 400 personnes et exposant des défaillances critiques dans la réaction aux catastrophes et les infrastructures.
summaryLong: |-
  L'ouragan Katrina a touché terre près de Buras, en Louisiane, le 29 août 2005, en tant que tempête de catégorie 3 avec des vents dépassant 125 mph. La onde de tempête a submergé le système de digues protégeant la Nouvelle-Orléans, inondant environ 80 % de la ville en quelques heures. L'eau s'est déversée par des brèches à plusieurs endroits, notamment le canal Industrial du côté est de la ville, submersible finalement des quartiers entiers sous jusqu'à 15 pieds d'eau. L'ouragan a directement tué 238 personnes en Louisiane ; les décès ultérieurs dus aux maladies, au déplacement et aux causes secondaires ont porté le bilan total à près de 1 400 sur l'ensemble de la région du Golfe.

  La catastrophe a mis au jour des lacunes catastrophales dans la gestion des urgences à tous les niveaux. L'Agence fédérale de gestion des urgences (FEMA), dirigée par le directeur Michael D. Brown, a déployé des ressources insuffisantes dans les heures suivant la catastrophe, tandis que les responsables locaux et régionaux ont du mal à coordonner les efforts d'évacuation et de secours. Des milliers de résidents, disproportionnément pauvres et noirs, n'avaient pas accès aux transports et ont été bloqués au Superdome et au Convention Center pendant des jours sans nourriture, eau ou assainissement adéquats. La couverture médiatique d'animateurs notamment Anderson Cooper et de journalistes de médias nationaux a montré la bureaucratie fédérale fonctionnant au ralenti tandis que les gens mouraient, un échec des relations publiques qui hanterait l'administration Bush.

  Le coût économique a dépassé 125 milliards de dollars, ce qui a fait de Katrina l'ouragan le plus coûteux de l'histoire des États-Unis à l'époque. Les grandes infrastructures pétrolières et gazières du Golfe se sont arrêtées, perturbant les approvisionnements énergétiques mondiaux. Des quartiers entiers de la Nouvelle-Orléans ne se sont jamais complètement rétablis ; la population de la ville est passée d'environ 485 000 habitants avant l'ouragan à environ 230 000 en 2006. Les compagnies d'assurance ont rejeté les réclamations à des taux sans précédent, et les différends concernant la couverture d'assurance contre les inondations ont duré des années. Les climatologues ont noté que les températures océaniques plus chaudes avaient probablement intensifié la force de la tempête, alimentant les débats ultérieurs sur le changement climatique et la préparation aux catastrophes.

  Les suites ont suscité d'importantes discussions politiques sur l'ingénierie des digues, l'adaptation climatique et les inégalités sociales dans la réaction aux catastrophes. Le Corps des ingénieurs de l'armée a commandé des examens du système de protection contre les inondations de la Nouvelle-Orléans. Le Congrès a tenu des audiences sur la performance de la FEMA, conduisant à la réorganisation de l'agence au sein du ministère de la Sécurité intérieure. Michael D. Brown a démissionné de son poste de directeur de la FEMA en septembre 2005. Malgré certaines améliorations d'infrastructure et des codes de construction plus stricts mis en œuvre par la suite, Katrina reste un moment déterminant pour les questions sur les communautés qui reçoivent protection et ressources lorsque la catastrophe frappe.
generatedAt: "2026-06-03T08:55:42.383Z"
de:
lede: Am 29. August 2005 traf Hurrikan Katrina die US-amerikanische Golfküste als schwerer Hurrikan, und die Deiche zum Schutz von New Orleans versagten katastrophal. Etwa 1.400 Menschen starben und 80 % der Stadt wurden überflutet. Die Katastrophe offenbarte schwerwiegende Mängel in der Notfallreaktion, deckte tiefe Ungleichheiten bei Evakuierungs- und Rettungsbemühungen auf und verursachte Kosten von über 125 Milliarden Dollar – womit er zum teuersten Hurrikan in der Geschichte der USA zu dieser Zeit wurde.
summaryShort: Hurrikan Katrina verwüstete New Orleans und die Golfküste am 29. August 2005, tötete fast 1.400 Menschen und offenbarte kritische Mängel in der Katastrophenreaktion und Infrastruktur.
summaryLong: |-
  Hurrikan Katrina kam am 29. August 2005 in der Nähe von Buras, Louisiana als Kategorie-3-Sturm mit Windgeschwindigkeiten über 125 mph zum Landfall. Die Sturmflut überwältigte das Deiksystem zum Schutz von New Orleans und überflutete innerhalb von Stunden etwa 80 % der Stadt. Wasser strömte durch Brüche an mehreren Stellen, einschließlich des Industrial Canal auf der Ostseite der Stadt, und tauchte ganze Stadtteile schließlich unter bis zu 15 Fuß Wasser. Der Sturm tötete direkt 238 Menschen in Louisiana; nachfolgende Todesfälle durch Krankheit, Vertreibung und Sekundärfolgen brachten die Gesamtzahl auf fast 1.400 in der gesamten Golfküstenregion.

  Die Katastrophe offenbarte katastrophale Lücken im Notfallmanagement auf allen Ebenen. Die Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), unter der Leitung von Direktor Michael D. Brown, setzte unzureichende Ressourcen unmittelbar nach der Katastrophe ein, während lokale und staatliche Beamte Schwierigkeiten bei der Koordinierung von Evakuierungs- und Rettungsbemühungen hatten. Tausende Einwohner, unverhältnismäßig arm und Schwarze, hatten keinen Zugang zu Transportmitteln und waren tagelang im Superdome und Convention Center ohne angemessene Lebensmittel, Wasser oder Sanitäranlagen gestranded. Nachrichtenberichterstattung durch Anker wie Anderson Cooper und Reporter von Nachrichtenmedien landesweit zeigten die Bundesbürokratie, die mahlte, während Menschen starben – ein PR-Desaster, das die Bush-Administration verfolgen würde.

  Die wirtschaftlichen Kosten überstiegen 125 Milliarden Dollar, was Katrina zum teuersten Hurrikan in der US-amerikanischen Geschichte zu dieser Zeit machte. Wichtige Öl- und Gasinfrastruktur im Golf wurde stillgelegt und unterbrach die globale Energieversorgung. Ganze Stadtteile in New Orleans erholten sich nie vollständig; die Bevölkerung der Stadt sank von etwa 485.000 vor dem Sturm auf etwa 230.000 bis 2006. Versicherungsunternehmen lehnten Ansprüche in beispiellosem Maße ab, und Auseinandersetzungen über Hochwasserversicherungsschutz dauerten Jahre an. Klimatologen stellten fest, dass wärmere Meerestemperaturen die Sturmstärke wahrscheinlich intensiviert hatten, was später Debatten über Klimawandel und Katastrophenvorsorge befeuerte.

  Die Nachwirkungen lösten wichtige politische Diskussionen über Deichbau, Klimaanpassung und soziale Ungleichheit in der Katastrophenreaktion aus. Das Army Corps of Engineers beauftragte Bewertungen des Hochwasserschutzsystems von New Orleans. Der Kongress hielt Anhörungen zur Leistung der FEMA ab, was zu einer Reorganisation der Agentur unter dem Department of Homeland Security führte. Michael D. Brown trat im September 2005 als FEMA-Direktor zurück. Trotz einiger danach durchgeführter Infrastrukturverbesserungen und stärkerer Bauvorschriften blieb Katrina ein bestimmendes Moment für Fragen darüber, welche Gemeinden Schutz und Ressourcen erhalten, wenn eine Katastrophe eintritt.
generatedAt: "2026-06-03T08:55:51.589Z"
relatedQueries:
- Hurricane Katrina August 2005 death toll
- New Orleans flooding disaster response failures
- FEMA Hurricane Katrina criticism
- levee failures New Orleans
- Hurricane Katrina recovery rebuilding
- Michael Brown FEMA director
- Gulf Coast hurricane damage 2005
taxonomy:
domain: environmental
eventTypes:
- hurricane
- natural_disaster
canonicalClasses:
- collapse
- mobilization
impactRadius: regional
velocity: sudden
predictability: forecastable
intentionality: natural
domainCoupling: multi_domain
lifecycleClass: transition
