From a Civil Engineering standpoint, Hurricane Katrina (2005) was significant because it caused a storm surge, which the levees around New Orleans were unable to keep at bay. Had this sequence of events occurred in a remote area, then an engineering failure might have been the end of the story.
Levee Designs
- Levees Should Have Been Built Stronger
- South Florida Water Management District
- Why Did The Levees Fail
But the failed levees caused flooding of streets and homes, which triggered the need for evacuations. People were forced to leave their homes, but soon found their states had inadequate plans for evacuation.
Emergency Evacuation Coordinators
- United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration
- FEMA
- A Summary of Statutory Provisions After Hurricane Katrina
A small criminal element took advantage of the situation and looted the vacant properties. Eventually, the residents returned home, only to find that promised federal aid was very slow in coming.
Federal Government - Engineering and Humanitarian Efforts
So now, four years later, it is evident that Hurricane Katrina (2005) was a failure on many levels -- engineering, social and political. Among these three elements, the engineering concerns are arguably the easiest to deal with -- the levees can be repaired and strengthened. Walls can be put up to prevent further beach erosion.