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Hurricane Katrina - Overview

Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast on the morning of Aug. 29, 2005, but strong winds and heavy rains were just the start of the devastation to come from the storm.  The day before it came ashore, Katrina was a Category Five hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 160 miles per hour. New Orleans, Louisiana, was in a state of emergency, and residents were told to evacuate. Most residents heeded the warning, but thousands of individuals remained in New Orleans during the storm.

Katrina was downgraded to a Category Three storm when it struck land, but it devastated areas of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. The storm’s path of destruction reaching more than 100 miles from its center in some places.
Biloxi, Mississippi, was caught in the storm’s northeast side, and the city known for its riverboat gambling ships was crushed. Houses were washed off their foundations. Businesses along the coast were gone. Even some gambling ships, thought to be securely anchored, wound up miles away, pushed around by a rising storm surge.

In New Orleans, the largest city directly affected by the hurricane, hospitals scrambled to take care of patients when power grids failed. After the storm passed, though, was when it was most dangerous in New Orleans. Federally built levees that surrounded the city and were responsible for keeping rising waters out of it, failed almost immediately. About 80 percent of the city, including the impoverished Lower 9th Ward, was flooded by nightfall.

Katrina and asbestos

Because it wrecked so many buildings that subsequently were torn down, Hurricane Katrina triggered a wave of asbestos exposure. To learn more about exposure and the diseases that can come from it, ask for one of our free informational packets by filling out the form on the right side of this page.

Health Risks from Hurricane Katrina

Katrina and resulting flood waters destroyed innumerable buildings, residential homes and forestry in the Gulf Coast area. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warned that more than 100 pollutants may have been present in flood waters, drinking water and the air after the hurricane. The EPA stated the potential presence of pesticides, sewage waste, chemicals, parasites, asbestos and a host of other hazards, which posed a health risk for relief workers as well as those individuals who did not evacuate the area.

Asbestos posed a unique issue for those assisting in the cleanup. Toxic asbestos fibers can become airborne when asbestos-containing materials are crushed, torn or otherwise destroyed. The high winds, rain and flooding from the hurricane could have released asbestos into the air, putting many individuals at risk for asbestosis and mesothelioma. Some structures that survived the hurricane were damaged enough to warrant later demolition, but proper asbestos abatement safety precautions were often overlooked at the time.

The EPA warned that, although symptoms of asbestos-related diseases may not appear for 20 to 50 years, asbestos is still a reason for concern. Asbestos is present in many older homes, especially in structures built prior to the 1970s. The EPA noted that special care should be given when handling or removing insulation, ceiling and floor tiles, siding, shingles and other materials that may potentially contain asbestos. The presence of asbestos still poses a significant concern as the area continues to be rebuilt.

Fast Facts about Hurricane Katrina:

  • Hurricane Katrina was one of the deadliest hurricanes in U.S. history, resulting in the death of more than 1,800 people.
  • Katrina was the sixth strongest hurricane on record.
  • Katrina was the third strongest recorded hurricane to hit the United States.
  • Katrina was the costliest hurricane in U.S. history, causing $75 billion of damages and $150 billion of estimated total economic impact.

Help for Hurricane Katrina Victims

If you were in the Gulf Coast area during or after Hurricane Katrina, you may have been exposed to asbestos. While the majority of the area is rebuilt, hazards still exist. Be aware if you develop symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pain and fatigue, as these could be signs of an asbestos-related illness. If you have already been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, speak to one of our Patient Advocates about treatment options. To speak with a Patient Advocate, call (800) 615-2270. If you would like to be tested for mesothelioma or asbestosis, use the Doctor Match Program to find a specialist in your vicinity.

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