Hurricane+Katrina+in+2005+-+Group+3

=Hurricane Katrina=

==Overview== A fierce mass of winds swirling at 155 mph struck New Orleans, Louisiana on August 29, 2005. Hurricane Katrina formed in the Atlantic Ocean and reached hurricane strength just a few hours before hitting the Florida coast. Heavy rains flooded the low-laying area and then grew into a powerful giant - almost 500 miles wide - and turned north toward Louisiana. Winds peaked at 175 mph making it a Category 5 storm - the highest on the scale. The central pressure dropped to 902 millibars, making it the fourth lowest pressure ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin. Hurricane Katrina swept across New Orleans to hit the southern coast of Mississippi. 2005 was predicted to be one of the busiest hurricane seasons on record.

Main Point
Nearly 100,000 people remained in New Orleans when Katrina hit. Some 9,000 people were packed into the Superdome, the most solid of the city's ten hurricane emergency shelters, which lost pieces of its roof. President Bush reported, "The recovery of the Gulf Coast region will be one of the largest reconstruction efforts the world has ever seen. And I have made a pledge of the American people: Throughout the area hit by the hurricane, we will help out citizens rebuild their communities and their lives." New Orleans residents were urged to delay their return home because water, sewage, electric and safety systems were not available to meet basic human needs. There were also health issues that people needed to be aware of. There was an absence of drinkable tap water and as flood water was being pumped out, more areas were exposed, and toxins and other environmental hazards added to health risks.

Conclusion
After Hurricane Katrina, the American Red Cross assisted nearly 110,000 people who fled the Atlanta metro area. Congress approved $62 billion in aid and analysts estimated $200 billion would go to reconstruction. A total of 2,812 reports of children missing was a result of the hurricane. Of those missing, 760 cases were resolved. There were also forty-four oil spills in southeast Louisiana. Four of the forty-four were major spills.

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References (2009-10.1.2.C)
Hecht, Jeff. "Hurricane Katrina roars into Louisiana." //New Scientist//. Web. 16 Oct. 2009.

"The latest on Katrina's aftermath." //CNN.com//. 17 Sept. 2009. Web. 16 Oct. 2009.

Photograph. //Justice For Nola//. Web. 17 Oct. 2009. .