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Hurricane Katrina Facts & Worksheets

Hurricane Katrina is one of the deadliest hurricanes in US history and was the most expensive natural disaster ever to affect the United States.

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Tropical cyclone Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the southeast of the United States in late August 2005. The hurricane and its aftereffects resulted in almost 1,800 fatalities, making it the deadliest natural disaster in American history.

See the fact file below for more information about Hurricane Katrina, or download the comprehensive worksheet pack, which contains over 11 worksheets and can be used in the classroom or homeschooling environment.

Key Facts & Information

Hurricane Katrina

  • Hurricane Katrina caused damage to the coastal regions of the Gulf Coast states of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi on August 29, 2005, including the city of New Orleans. It was one of the worst natural catastrophes ever to hit the United States.
  • Over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Katrina, which crossed Florida, had developed into a Category 5 hurricane with a sustained speed of 175 mph (282 km/h), but as it got closer to the coast, it began to lose strength. 
  • Wind speeds of more than 100 mph (160 km/h) were reported in New Orleans, just west of the eye, and wind speeds exceeding 140 mph (225 km/h) were measured at landfall in southeast Louisiana. Wind speeds were about 125 mph (200 km/h) as the hurricane made its second landfall on the Mississippi/Louisiana line.
  • Over 1,800 people were killed in the violent storm, which also impacted thousands of other people’s lives throughout tens of thousands of square miles and destroyed or damaged 275,000 structures. Estimates of the damage approached $100 billion.
  • Levee breaks that separate New Orleans from nearby lakes worsened the death toll and property damage.

Damage

  • Federal officials initially thought that New Orleans had “dodged the bullet” since a large portion of the larger metropolitan area is below sea level.
  • The full threat was quickly obvious, despite the fact that New Orleans had spared a direct impact from the storm’s powerful winds. Ten inches (25 cm) of rainfall and Katrina’s storm surge destroyed the levee system that controlled the waters of Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne.
  • The first area of the city to flood was the area east of the Industrial Canal, and by the afternoon of August 29, almost 20% of the city was underwater.
  • Mayor Ray Nagin of New Orleans had mandated the city’s mandatory evacuation the day before, and an estimated 1.2 million residents departed before the hurricane.
  • The remaining citizens of New Orleans had to deal with a city that was 80 percent submerged by August 30 due to the levee system, which was already under strain.
  • Due to the fact that their own headquarters and command centers were underwater, several local agencies were unable to respond to the dire situation.
  • After the hurricane passed, the earthen levee broke due to a combination of strong winds, heavy rain, and storm surge, submerging certain areas of New Orleans with 20 feet (6 meters) of water.

Aftermath

Economic Effects

  • The storm had significant negative economic impacts. The Bush Administration requested $105 billion for regional repairs and buildings.
  • Katrina shut down nine refineries and destroyed or damaged 30 oil platforms.
  • Due to the loss of 1.3 million acres (5,300 km2) of forestland, Mississippi’s forestry industry was severely impacted. It is estimated that Katrina caused the forestry sector to lose $5 billion in total.
  • Numerous hundreds of thousands of locals lost their jobs.

Environmental Effects

  • The environment was significantly impacted by Katrina as well. Significant beach erosion was brought on by the storm surge, which in some cases entirely destroyed coastal areas.
  • The Chandeleur Islands, which had been destroyed by Hurricane Ivan the year before, were also seriously harmed by the storm surge and waves from Katrina.
  • According to the US Geological Survey, hurricanes Katrina and Rita submerged 217 sq mi (560 km2) of land.
  • Marine animals, brown pelicans, turtles, fish, and migratory species like redhead ducks bred in destroyed areas.
  • 16 National Wildlife Refuges were forced to close due to Katrina’s destruction. The hurricane reduced the Breton National Wildlife Refuge’s land area by 50%.
  • Along the Gulf Coast, Katrina also caused significant loss of trees, particularly in the Pearl River Basin in Louisiana and bottomland hardwood forests.
  • More than 7 million US gallons (26,000 m3) of oil were spilled as a result of the hurricane from 44 facilities in southeast Louisiana.

Reestablishing governance

  • Many were looking for non-essential commodities like food and drink that they could not obtain any other way. In New Orleans, there were reports of rapes, murders, thefts, and carjackings.
  • There were tens of thousands of National Guard and federal troops sent to Louisiana, starting with 7,841 on August 29 and peaking at 46,838 on September 10. The state appointed a number of local law enforcement officers from throughout the nation.
  • In total, several people were taken into custody throughout the impacted region, including several in close proximity to the New Orleans Convention Center. At the city’s primary train station, the New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal, chain link cages were used to create a temporary jail.

Government Response

  • When the local government runs out of resources, it asks the county level for particular additional resources. As more resource requirements are discovered, the request process moves in a similar fashion from the local to the state to the national government. Numerous issues arose as a result of poor planning and backup communication networks at various levels.
  • The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) made preparations prior to Hurricane Katrina that included logistical supply deployments and the deployment of a mortuary crew with refrigerated trucks.
  • On Sunday, August 28, the United States Northern Command established Joint Task Force (JTF) Katrina, which is located out of Camp Shelby, Mississippi.
  • A total of 58,000 National Guard members from all 50 states were activated to help with the storm’s aftermath.
  • The Civil Air Patrol’s volunteers were also mobilized by the Department of Defense.
  • Over 700,000 applicants—families and individuals—were given housing aid by FEMA in the form of trailers, rental assistance, and other housing options.
  • In the weeks following the tragedy, law enforcement and public safety organizations from all around the United States responded to Louisiana and New Orleans with “mutual aid.” Numerous organizations responded with personnel and tools coming from as far away as Texas, California, Michigan, Nevada, and New York.

Hurricane Katrina Worksheets

This bundle contains 9 ready-to-use Hurricane Katrina Worksheets that are perfect for students who want to learn more about Hurricane Katrina, which is one of the deadliest hurricanes in US history and was the most expensive natural disaster ever to affect the United States. The category 5 hurricane caused billions of dollars worth of damage, killed hundreds of people and destroyed homes along the entire East Coast of America.

Download includes the following worksheets:

  • Hurricane Katrina Facts
  • Before and After
  • The Hurricane Timeline
  • Hurricane Katrina Movement
  • Understanding Hurricanes
  • Forming a Hurricane
  • A Damaging Storm
  • Hurricane Preparation
  • Reflection

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hurricane Katrina the strongest hurricane?

Hurricane Katrina caused damage to the coastal regions of the Gulf Coast states of Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi on August 29, 2005, including the city of New Orleans. It was one of the worst natural catastrophes ever to hit the United States.

Why is Hurricane Katrina so famous?

Tropical cyclone Hurricane Katrina made landfall in the southeast of the United States in late August 2005. The hurricane and its aftereffects resulted in almost 1,800 fatalities, making it the deadliest natural disaster in American history.

What city was hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina?

Federal officials initially thought that New Orleans had “dodged the bullet” since a large portion of the larger metropolitan area is below sea level. By the afternoon of August 29, almost 20% of the city was under water.

Was Hurricane Katrina a Category 3 or 4?

Over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Katrina, which crossed Florida, had developed into a Category 5 hurricane with a sustained speed of 175 mph (282 km/h)

How did Hurricane Katrina affect people’s lives?

Over 1,800 people were killed by the violent storm, which also impacted thousands of other people’s lives throughout tens of thousands of square miles and destroyed or damaged 275,000 structures. Estimates of the damage approached $100 billion. Levee breaks that separated New Orleans from nearby lakes worsened the death toll and property damage.

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Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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