10 Facts You May Not Have Known About Hurricane Katrina For Its 10th Anniversary

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina swept through Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi after already wreaking havoc in the Caribbean. One of the largest and deadliest storms in history brought so much damage and destruction that no one had any idea what to do. Now, it has been 10 years, and many are still feeling the effects, and some still know so little about it. Here are 10 facts about Hurricane Katrina that you may not have known.

Many of these facts are frightening, but they are some of the best things to know. Those that know them will be aware of the dangers of hurricanes, and they are also aware one should never underestimate their power, unpredictability, and possible damage.

1. The storm surge from Hurricane Katrina was as high as 20 feet (six meters) in some locations.

2. Hurricane Katrina officially impacted close to 90,000 square miles across multiple states.

3. As reported by FEMA, the final death toll (directly or indirectly) from Hurricane Katrina was 1,833 people. Some reports have it at 1,836.

• Alabama – 2
• Florida – 14
• Georgia – 2
• Louisiana 1,577
• Mississippi – 238

4. 80 percent of the city of New Orleans flooded after the levees failed. The levees were built to sustain Category 3 storms, but at some points, the winds of Hurricane Katrina were timed at 174 miles per hour, which is a Category 5 storm.

Actually, a Hurricane falls into a Category 5 at winds of 155 mph.

5. Katrina only got its name as a Tropical Storm on Aug. 24, 2005. That means it took little to no time to strengthen into one of the strongest storms that the United States has ever seen.

6. 10 years later and some 705 people are still reported as missing as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

7. As reported by CNN, Katrina is listed as “the single most catastrophic natural disaster in U.S. history.” The total damage of Hurricane Katrina is an estimated $108 billion, which also makes it the “costliest hurricane in U.S. history.”

8. As many as 15 million people were affected by Hurricane Katrina in various ways and for extraordinary lengths of time. From death to the loss of property to rising gas prices to evacuations to economy changes and so much more, millions upon millions felt the wrath.

9. Hundreds of thousands of residents in the storm-affected area are said to still be unemployed to this day due to Hurricane Katrina.

10. More than 70 countries pledged monetary donations or some form of other assistance after Hurricane Katrina hit. The largest single pledge came from Kuwait in the amount of $500 million.

It has been 10 years since Hurricane Katrina hit multiple states and absolutely decimated New Orleans and surrounding areas. Reading facts about the storm lets everyone know the things that many people went through, and possibly may never recover from.

[Image via Getty Images]