Katrina’s Impact on the
Gulf Coast & Mid-South
Hurricane Katrina has proven to be one of the most devastating hurricanes
to strike the United States coastline in recorded history. The storm
has been responsible for catastrophic damage and flooding along the
Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines and has resulted in a tremendous
loss of life. Impacts from Katrina were not only limited to the north-central
Gulf Coast but spread inland to portions of the Mid- South as it weakened
to a tropical storm.
Tropical storm force winds and flooding rainfall impacted
portions of the Mid-South as it moved across Northeast Mississippi
during the evening of Monday, August 29th , and the early morning
hours of Tuesday, August 30st. Significant effects were felt primarily
across areas to the east of the Mississippi river. Strong winds downed
trees and powerlines and resulted in minor damage to structures across
the area. Heavy rainfall also fell in a short duration of time across
north Mississippi and west Tennessee. This resulted in flash flooding
of small streams and creeks and led to several road closings and detours.
Although the effects of Katrina were not deadly across our county
warning area, the impacts were still significant. Listed below are
maximum wind gusts and rainfall totals produced by Tropical Storm
Katrina across the Memphis County Warning Area.
Peak Wind Gusts associated with Tropical Storm Katrina
Location |
Maximum Sustained
Winds |
Peak Wind Gusts |
| |
|
|
| Memphis International Airport, TN |
36 MPH |
54 MPH |
| Jackson Regional Airport, TN |
35 MPH |
45 MPH |
| Jonesboro Regional Airport, AR |
17 MPH |
22 MPH |
| Tupelo Regional Airport, MS |
40 MPH |
53 MPH |
| Dyersburg Airport, TN |
31 MPH |
46 MPH |
| West Memphis, AR |
30 MPH |
41 MPH |
| Tunica Airport, MS |
30 MPH |
51 MPH |
| Blytheville, AR |
35 MPH |
46 MPH |
Unofficial reports of peak wind gusts in excess of 60
mph were reported across Northeast Mississippi.
Maximum 24-Hour Rainfall Amounts (in inches)
TENNESSEE...
MEMPHIS... 3.20"
JACKSON... 2.50" (ESTIMATED)
DYERSBURG... 3.20"
COLLIERVILLE... 3.07"
GRAND JUNCTION... 3.36"
SELMER... 3.85"
SAVANNAH... 3.88"
LEXINGTON... 2.98"
HENDERSON... 2.55"
HUNTINGDON... 2.50"
PARIS... 2.76"
UNION CITY... 2.80"
MISSISSIPPI...
PLEASANT HILL... 2.88"
OLIVE BRANCH... 3.66"
IUKA... 7.12"
OXFORD... 4.03"
TUNICA... 2.00"
TUPELO MS... 4.47"
ARKANSAS...
JONESBORO AR... 1.99"
WEST MEMPHIS AR... 1.94"
BLYTHEVILLE AR... 2.57"
PARAGOULD... 3.90"
HELENA... 1.65"
KEISER... 2.20"
MISSOURI...
CARUTHERSVILLE... 2.70"
Below is some emergency information and contact numbers
in some of the impacted areas...
To find loved ones...
http://www.firstgov.gov/Citizen/Topics/PublicSafety/Hurricane_Katrina_Recovery.shtml
Search American Red Cross Online Registers for Relatives http://www.familylinks.icrc.org/katrina
In addition, the American Red Cross has set up a toll free number
for those without access to a computer...1-877-LOVED-1s (1-877-568-3317).
American Red Cross Emergency Information Hotline 866-438-4636
Use this number to find out about family and friends that did not
evacuate the greater New Orleans area.
Visit the American Red Cross Online
http://www.redcross.org
Louisiana State Emergency Management
http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov
Louisiana Road Information 800-469-4828
To report people stranded or in need of rescue in Louisiana
225-925-7708
225-925-7709
225-925-3511
225-925-7428
Mississippi State Emergency Management http://www.msema.org/
24 Hour Emergency Line 800-222-6362
Alabama State Emergency Management
http://ema.alabama.gov
Hotel Information 800-994-8626
FEMA Disaster Assistance Process 800-612-FEMA
or view website http://www.fema.gov/about/process
For more on Katrina, including aerial images of the
impacted areas...
Summary of Katrina
http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/research/2005/katrina.html
NOAA Aerial Survey of the Gulf Coast
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2005/s2495.htm
More Aerial Imagery
http://ngs.woc.noaa.gov/katrina/
NOAA Hurricane Hunter Captures Katrina
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2005/s2496.htm
www.weather.gov 
