Hurricane Katrina

Background Information

Hurricane Katrina was one of the most catastrophic natural disasters that the United States has every seen. Had the hurricane hit a more remote area, than perhaps the engineering failure of the levees might have been the extent of the story. Unfortunately, this was not the case and the Hurricane caused flooding of steets and home, which in turn created the need for a city wide evaculation. People were forced to leave there disheveled homes in search of higher ground. Help was slow to come, and in the mean time, many homeowners of the area were being attacked by looters who took what they pleased from the vacant properties and abandoned town. When the residents were able to return home, they found nothing but damaged and stolen property, and hopeful promises for federal aid.

More than 4 years later, it is evident that Hurricane Katrina was a failure on many levels; engineering, social and political. Among these three elements, the engineering concerns are arguably the easiest to deal with seeing as how the levees can be repaired and strengthened.

Levee Design Information

• Levee System Information click here
• Theorhetical Levee Design click here
• Strengthing Levee Systems click here

Emergency Evacuation Organizations

• Coast Guard click here
• NARC click here
• OSHA click here

Hurricane Katrina Federal Organizations

• Army Corps Engineers click here
• U.S. Coast Guard click here
• FEMA click here