History of Hurricane Katrina in Timeline
Hurricane Katrina, a catastrophic Category 5 hurricane, struck the Gulf Coast of the United States in late August 2005, causing widespread devastation and claiming 1,392 lives. New Orleans, Louisiana, bore the brunt of the storm's impact due to levee failures that led to massive flooding. The hurricane ranks as the costliest tropical cyclone on record, tied with Hurricane Harvey of 2017, with estimated damages reaching $125 billion. Katrina, the twelfth tropical cyclone, fifth hurricane, and third major hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season, made its initial landfall as a Category 3 storm before intensifying. It is also the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane to make landfall in the contiguous United States, as measured by barometric pressure.
1928: Okeechobee Hurricane
Hurricane Katrina was the deadliest U.S. hurricane since the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane.
1928: Flood Control Act of 1928
The Flood Control Act of 1928 established the principle of local cost-sharing for flood control projects, which became relevant in the post-Katrina funding debates.
1935: Comparison to 1935 Labor Day Hurricane
Hurricane Katrina was less intense than the 1935 Labor Day hurricane.
1965: Flood Control Act of 1965
The Flood Control Act of 1965 gave the USACE responsibility for the design and construction of the New Orleans flood-control system.
1969: Comparison to Hurricane Camille
Hurricane Katrina was less intense than Hurricane Camille in 1969.
1985: 1985 Study Misinterpreted by USACE
A study conducted in 1985, later misinterpreted by the USACE, influenced the design and construction of the New Orleans levees, contributing to their failure during Hurricane Katrina.
August 2005: Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005, causing widespread devastation and an estimated $125 billion in damages, tying with Hurricane Harvey as the costliest Atlantic hurricane. It resulted in 1,392 fatalities, primarily in New Orleans and surrounding areas.
August 19, 2005: Early Stages of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina's origins trace back to August 19, 2005, as a merger of a tropical wave and remnants of Tropical Depression Ten near the Lesser Antilles.
August 23, 2005: Formation of Hurricane Katrina
On August 23, 2005, Hurricane Katrina formed from the remnants of Tropical Depression Ten and a tropical wave.
August 29, 2005: Landfall and Flooding in New Orleans
Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005, causing extensive flooding in New Orleans due to levee breaches.
August 30, 2005: Looting and Crime in Post-Katrina New Orleans
Following Hurricane Katrina on August 30, 2005, instances of looting and other crimes, including carjacking, murders, thefts, and rapes, were reported in New Orleans. However, the accuracy of some of these reports was later questioned.
September 2, 2005: National Response to Katrina and Aid for Victims
On September 2, 2005, the U.S. government began mobilizing aid for victims of Hurricane Katrina, with Congress authorizing $62.3 billion in aid and President Bush enlisting former presidents for fundraising. American flags were also ordered to half-staff to honor the victims.
September 3, 2005: Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
On September 3, 2005, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff declared the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as possibly the worst catastrophe in U.S. history.
September 13, 2005: International Aid from India
On September 13, 2005, India sent 25 tonnes of relief supplies, including tarps, blankets, and hygiene kits, to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.
September 20, 2005: End of Mourning Period for Katrina Victims
On September 20, 2005, the period of national mourning for the victims of Hurricane Katrina, marked by flags at half-staff, ended.
October 23, 2005: Recovery of Bodies in New Orleans
By October 23, 2005, over 700 bodies were recovered in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, many in advanced states of decomposition.
2005: Criticism of Government Response to Katrina
In 2005, the government's response to Hurricane Katrina drew significant criticism for its perceived mismanagement and lack of leadership in relief efforts, especially regarding the delayed response to flooding in New Orleans.
January 2006: New Orleans Population Slowly Recovering
By January 2006, only about 200,000 people, less than half of the pre-storm population, were living in New Orleans again.
February 7, 2006: Deadline for FEMA Hotel Coverage
On February 7, 2006, FEMA's direct payment for hotel costs for Katrina evacuees ended. Evacuees could still receive federal assistance for housing, but FEMA no longer covered hotels directly.
April 5, 2006: USACE Admits Levee Design Problems
On April 5, 2006, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) acknowledged design problems with the levees in New Orleans, admitting their role in the flooding caused by Hurricane Katrina.
April 2006: Retirement of Hurricane Name "Katrina"
In April 2006, the name "Katrina" was officially retired from the Atlantic hurricane naming list due to the storm's devastating impact.
April 2006: Retirement of "Katrina"
The World Meteorological Organization retired the name "Katrina" in April 2006 due to the storm's devastating impact.
July 1, 2006: Population Decline and Insurance Issues Post-Katrina
By July 1, 2006, Louisiana's population had decreased by 4.87% due to displacement caused by Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, insurance companies either stopped insuring homeowners in the affected area or increased premiums significantly due to the high costs associated with Katrina and Rita.
2006: Massive Tree Loss and Increased Carbon Emissions
Hurricane Katrina caused widespread tree loss across the Gulf Coast in 2006, particularly in Louisiana's Pearl River Basin. The increased mortality rate from 1.9% to 20.5% led to greater decay and a substantial increase in carbon emissions.
June 2007: Report on Levee Failures
A June 2007 report by the American Society of Civil Engineers attributed the levee and flood wall failures in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina primarily to design and construction flaws by the USACE.
June 2007: American Society of Civil Engineers Report
A report by the American Society of Civil Engineers in June 2007 attributed two-thirds of the flooding in New Orleans to levee failures during Hurricane Katrina.
January 2008: USACE Not Held Liable for Flooding
In January 2008, despite its role in the flooding caused by levee failures, a court ruled that the USACE couldn't be held financially liable due to sovereign immunity granted by the 1928 Flood Control Act.
February 2008: Bush Administration's Cost-Sharing Proposal
In February 2008, the Bush administration proposed that Louisiana pay a significant portion of the levee repair costs, causing conflict with state leaders.
May 2, 2008: Governor Jindal's Request for Levee Funding
On May 2, 2008, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal publicly requested President Bush to release funds for levee improvements in the state.
June 2008: Army Corps of Engineers' De-authorization Study of the MRGO
In June 2008, the Army Corps of Engineers submitted a study that questioned the economic viability of the MRGO, leading to its closure by Congress.
2008: Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness Journal Report
A 2008 report in the Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness journal analyzed the death toll from Hurricane Katrina, attributing 966 deaths directly to the storm in Louisiana and suggesting an upper bound of 1,440 fatalities.
2009: Publication of "Catastrophe in the Making"
In 2009, the book "Catastrophe in the Making" was published, suggesting that the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet Canal's design contributed to saltwater intrusion, damaging protective wetlands and increasing New Orleans' vulnerability to storm surge.
2009: Army Corps of Engineers Report to Congress
In mid-2009, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers submitted a report to Congress concerning Hurricane Katrina, likely for planning and response purposes.
2009: Bush's Promise of Levee Funding
President Bush promised to include levee funding in his 2009 budget, but not in a quicker war bill.
March 30, 2010: Families Still in FEMA Trailers
As of March 30, 2010, 260 families were still living in FEMA-provided trailers in Louisiana and Mississippi after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina.
2010: Lingering Debris
Debris from Hurricane Katrina still remained in some coastal communities as late as 2010.
June 2011: Trials for Police Misconduct After Katrina
In June 2011, trials were held for several police officers accused of misconduct in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Charges stemmed from incidents like the Danziger Bridge shootings.
2011: Continued Tree Mortality After Katrina
The delayed mortality of trees continued until 2011, with rates up to 5%, years after Hurricane Katrina's initial impact.
2011: Replacement Name "Katia"
The name "Katia" replaced "Katrina" on the Atlantic hurricane naming list for the 2011 season.
2014: Rappaport Report
In 2014, a report by Rappaport provided updated data on fatalities related to Hurricane Katrina.
August 2015: Report on USACE Misinterpretation of Study
An August 2015 report revealed that the USACE misinterpreted a 1985 study, leading to shorter sheet piles in the flood walls that compromised their effectiveness during Hurricane Katrina.
September 2015: Study on Attitudes Towards Displaced Newcomers
A September 2015 study examined the mixed attitudes of long-term Baton Rouge residents towards newcomers displaced by Hurricane Katrina, finding both increased tolerance and suspicion.
2017: Hurricane Harvey
Hurricane Harvey, which occurred in 2017, tied with Hurricane Katrina as the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history until the Texas winter storm of 2021.
2017: Costliest Tropical Cyclone Record Tied
In 2017, Hurricane Harvey tied with Hurricane Katrina as the costliest tropical cyclone on record.
2018: Comparison to Hurricane Michael
Hurricane Katrina was less intense than Hurricane Michael in 2018.
August 14, 2020: Tropical Storm Kyle
On August 14, 2020, Tropical Storm Kyle surpassed Hurricane Katrina as the earliest 11th named storm on record.
February 2021: Texas Winter Storm
In February 2021, a winter storm in Texas caused greater economic damage than Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Harvey, exceeding $195 billion.
September 2022: Associated Press Style Guide Change
In September 2022, the Associated Press updated its style guide to emphasize the role of levee failures in the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.
January 4, 2023: Updated Katrina Fatality Data
On January 4, 2023, the National Hurricane Center revised the official death toll from Hurricane Katrina to 1,392, based on a 2014 report by Rappaport.
