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AccuWeather

Billions washed way: the financial toll of Hurricane Katrina

AccuWeather · Just In
AccuWeather
AccuWeather
Just In

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina unleashed devastation on an unprecedented scale, with total damage and economic losses soaring to an estimated $320 billion, making it one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.

Breakdown
  • Katrina began as showers and thunderstorms in the Bahamas before strengthening. 17s
  • The storm made landfall north of Miami as a Category 1 hurricane and did not weaken crossing Florida. 27s
  • Katrina intensified in the Gulf of Mexico and turned north toward New Orleans. 52s
  • Southeasterly winds pushed water into Lake Bourne and Lake Pontchartrain, stressing New Orleans' levees. 1m 8s
  • Levee failures resulted in severe flooding, making Katrina one of the costliest U.S. hurricanes. 1m 35s
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