August 29, 2005 - A Hurricane Called Katrina (Part 2)
On the morning of Aug. 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana. New Orleans was one of the hardest hit, with 80 per cent of the city and large portions of nearby parishes flooded. The floodwaters did not recede for weeks.
The effects of Hurricane Katrina were catastrophic and widespread. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history, leaving at least 1,836 people dead and 135 people missing. It cost an estimated $125 billion in damages.
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According to officials, nearly one million people were without electricity in Louisiana for several weeks.
46,000 members of the National Guard were dispatched to the area as part of the disaster relief effort. Numerous roadways were flooded or damaged and more than 33,000 rescues were made by helicopters and boats.
On today’s podcast, Chris Mei explains why the effects of Hurricane Katrina were so devastating and if anything could have been done to prevent it.
"This Day In Weather History” is a daily podcast by The Weather Network that features unique and informative stories from host Chris Mei. Click here to listen and subscribe!
