3.5 Gathering Storm - Hurricane Katrina

WHO? Hurricane Katrina.

WHAT? Reminded us that domestic catastrophic destruction comes from nature as well as man.

WHEN? August / September 2005; two years after DHS was activated.

WHERE? Although New Orleans got the attention, Katrina wreaked havoc across the Gulf coast.

WHY? Hurricane Katrina prompted DHS to re-balance its mission to account for "all hazards", both natural and manmade.

The wars fought in Afghanistan and Iraq underscored President Bush’s War on Terrorism. Terrorism was also the focus of the Department of Homeland Security. Then came Hurricane Katrina. The tropical depression that became Hurricane Katrina formed over the Bahamas on August 23rd, 2005. By August 26th, after crossing Florida into the Gulf, it had become a Category 5 storm. Katrina’s high winds and floods severely damaged the Gulf coast from Florida to Texas. Florida was hit twice when Katrina crossed the tip on August 25th, and grazed the panhandle on August 29th. Alabama and Mississippi also sustained heavy damage; 238 were killed, and 900,000 lost power. They might have become the center of national attention except for what happened in New Orleans. On August 29th, Hurricane Katrina made second landfall near Buras-Triumph Louisiana and headed inland towards New Orleans packing 125 mph winds, a 14-foot storm surge, and 8-10 inches of rain. The rain overflowed Lake Pontchartrain, causing flooding along its shores. Several bridges were destroyed, including the I-10 Twin Span Bridge, and most roads in and out of the city were damaged. Power went out. High rise windows were shattered. And the Superdome roof was peeled. However, by mid-day as the eye passed to the east, it seemed the city had been spared the worst. But then the levees began to break. Katrina’s storm surge overwhelmed the city’s levees and drainage canals. The Mississippi River Gulf Outlet breached its levees in 20 places. The federally built levee system protecting downtown New Orleans breached in 53 places. New Orleans began to flood. By August 31st, 80% of the city was flooded, some parts 15-feet deep. The extensive flooding stranded many residents in their homes. Many chopped their way onto their roofs. Some were trapped inside their attics. Without food, power, or water, they waited for rescue. The first deaths were reported shortly after midnight on August 28th. Three nursing home patients died during an evacuation to Baton Rouge. By 11:00 pm on the 29th, Mayor Nagin described the loss of life as “significant”, noting reports of bodies floating on the water throughout the city. Reports of rioting and looting prompted the Mayor to impose a curfew August 31st. Governor Blanco ordered in 6500 National Guard to help maintain order. The situation at the Superdome was dire. A designated storm shelter, it had insufficient food, water, and facilities for all the people who flocked to its doors. The same was true at the Convention Center. People stranded at home and in shelters suffered and waited for help that was slow to arrive. New Orleans Fire Departments didn’t have the busses or boats needed for the massive rescue operation. New Orleans Police were short-handed due to desertions within the ranks. Coordination among rescuers was poor due to incompatible radios and inadequate direction. Few were knowledgeable on the City’s emergency management procedures. As the National Guard began to arrive in force, more people were rescued and evacuated to safety. By September 3rd, the Superdome and Convention Center were emptied. On September 4th, 16,000 National Guard troops swept the city searching for remaining victims. About 2,000 people with serious medical conditions were treated at Louis Armstrong Airport. FEMA officials arranged for additional rescue units and helped supply food, shelter, and medicine. Later, active duty military forces arrived and lent their support to the National Guard. Hurricane Katrina constituted the largest deployment of military forces within the US since the Civil War. Sadly, 1,464 Louisiana citizens lost their lives to Hurricane Katrina. Investigations following the hurricane decried many of the deaths as “preventable”. Furthermore, they determined that the suffering in the days and weeks after the storm were unnecessarily prolonged. Government at ALL levels had failed to plan, prepare, and respond aggressively to the storm. Primary blame fell on the Department of Homeland Security. Its focus on terrorism had detracted from emergency management. As a result, the Department was overhauled and its mission broadened to encompass “All Hazards”.