Hurricane Katrina
Source: noaa.gov
On the twenty-ninth of August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall as a strong category three hurricane in southeast Louisiana. The damage this storm caused was significant, the most significant in the US history since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. However, the worst damage in the city of New Orleans came when the levees surrounding the city failed. Eventually 80% of the city and large tracts of neighboring parishes were flooded, and the flood waters lingered for weeks. This site will provide some background, a description of the event, and the causes and issues involved. It will also discuss the influence and impact of engineering design and engineers involved, with an analysis of the possibility of prevention and lessons learned.
Hurricane Katrina was the most destructive hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic season. The failure of the New Orleans levee system caused the majority of the destruction and deaths in the city of New Orleans and is, undoubtedly, one of the worst and most deadly engineering disasters in the history of the United States. The inadequate design and construction by the US Army Corps of Engineers was ultimately responsible for the levee’s collapse. The heartbreak of the nation and the impact on engineers and engineering design is so significant that they are still being felt today. In the end, the failure brought home the importance of quality engineering designs, and the successful completion thereof.
Hurricane Katrina was the most destructive hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic season. The failure of the New Orleans levee system caused the majority of the destruction and deaths in the city of New Orleans and is, undoubtedly, one of the worst and most deadly engineering disasters in the history of the United States. The inadequate design and construction by the US Army Corps of Engineers was ultimately responsible for the levee’s collapse. The heartbreak of the nation and the impact on engineers and engineering design is so significant that they are still being felt today. In the end, the failure brought home the importance of quality engineering designs, and the successful completion thereof.