...August Remembers Hurricane Katrina Two Yeas Later...

Forming over the Bahamas on August 23, 2005, Hurricane Katrina began as a Category 1 hurricane. But as the storm moved into the Gulf of Mexico, it increased in strength becoming a Category 5 hurricane. By the morning of August 29, Hurricane Katrina lost some of its power and made landfall as a Category 3. However, Hurricane Katrina is considered to be the worst catastrophe in United States history not only due to its daunting strength, but also because of the massive amounts of flooding, wind damage, complete destruction, and death that spanned from the Gulf Coast all the way to Ohio. Hurricane Katrina caused over $84 billion in damages and is considered the costliest hurricane in United States history.

The Gulf Coasts of Mississippi and Louisiana were the most severely affected. Winds estimated at 125 mile-per-hour and 15-foot storm surges breached 73 levees in Louisiana and Mississippi, completely destroying several towns and parishes in and around New Orleans, as well as Bay St. Louis and Biloxi. Large cargo ships and barges were pushed several miles inland, streets were stripped of pavement, and giant trees were splintered into twigs. Many coastal cities remained flooded for several days and hundreds of people who did not evacuate were trapped by the flood waters. Hurricane Katrina killed over 1,800 people in seven states and over 700 people along the Gulf Coast were never found.

Continued efforts made by the USGS in regards to the areas that were affected by Hurricane Katrina include aggressive scientific research performing detailed studies on water quality and ecosystem recovery, as well as development of educational programs and emergency preparedness designed to help prevent future losses of property, infrastructure, and, most importantly, human lives. Recently published USGS Data Series 281, �Satellite Images and Aerial Photographs of the Effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on Coastal Louisiana,� provides preliminary information on water area changes in coastal Louisiana acquired shortly after the landfalls of both hurricanes (detectable with Landsat Thematic Mapper satellite imagery), which will serve as a regional baseline for monitoring posthurricane wetland recovery. Editing, design, and layout of the report were done by the Lafayette Publishing Service Center. To view this report on-line, please visit the following URL: http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/2007/281/

Images of Hurricane Katrina have been donated to the Photographic Library by USGS employees, FEMA contractors, the National Guard, the U.S. Military, local police and state patrols, and public citizens. Photographs include documented general area shots around New Orleans, Bay St. Louis, and Biloxi, as well as close-ups of the levee breeches from the failed 17th Street Canal and London Avenue Canal in New Orleans. Other USGS images include photographs documenting work specifically related to the Louisiana Science Center and surveying fecal-indicator bacteria for the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, September 13-29, 2005, with much help from the Ohio Science Center. For sampling results, refer to U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 143 at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/2005/143

To view the Photographic Library hurricane collection, please visit the following URL: http://libraryphoto.cr.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/search.cgi?search_mode=noPunct;free_form=hurricane;free_form=;free_form=;free_form=;start=225