Effects of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana, was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, primarily because of the port city’s vulnerability to flooding. New Orleans is surrounded by water: The Mississippi River runs through the city, Lake Pontchartrain sits to its north and the Gulf of Mexico borders it on the south. What’s more, the city sits an average of six feet below sea level, making the government levee system largely responsible for the city’s safety.
August 23, 2005: Hurricane Katrina forms as a tropical depression over the Bahamas.
August 24: Katrina strengthens, becoming a tropical storm.
August 25: Katrina is now a Category One hurricane, making landfall near Miami, Florida.
August 26: Katrina weakens and is downgraded to a tropical storm. It passes over the Florida peninsula and almost immediately regains strength in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. States of emergency are declared in Louisiana and Mississippi.
August 28: New Orleans residents are ordered to evacuate. About 1 million evacuate the city, while thousands choose not to leave. Between 20,000 and 25,000 residents seek shelter in the Louisiana Superdome. Katrina is now a Category 5 hurricane with winds up to 175 miles per hour.
August 29: Hurricane Katrina, somewhat weakened, makes landfall near the Louisiana-Mississippi border. Levees in New Orleans begin to fail almost immediately, and the city starts to flood. Structural damage causes asbestos and other toxins to be released into air and flood waters.
August 30: The hurricane passes and diminishes. Flood waters continue to rise due to breaks in the city’s levees. Asbestos exposure remains a major concern for those still in the area.
The Threat of Asbestos and Other Contaminants
During and after Hurricane Katrina, residents who remained in and around New Orleans may have been exposed to more than 100 potential contaminants. Residents, volunteers and workers assisting with cleanup efforts had to be careful of pesticides, chemicals, sewage waste, lead, asbestos and other hazards present in flood waters, drinking water and the air.
The presence of asbestos in the water and air was a clear health risk during the immediate and long-term cleanup of Katrina. The carcinogenic mineral was present in most New Orleans houses built prior to the 1970s. When the hurricane damaged and destroyed these structures, asbestos fibers often were released into the air. Asbestos fibers, when inhaled, can become lodged in the lungs and lead to the development of serious and potentially life-threatening conditions such as asbestosis and mesothelioma. Symptoms of such diseases can take 20 to 50 years to develop, and the conditions worsen over time (see Mesothelioma Symptoms).
Asbestos was also of concern in buildings damaged by the stagnant flood waters. Many structures that stood through the hurricane later were torn down because of the toll exacted by flood waters. The Environmental Protection Agency advised that special care be given when handling or removing materials that may contain asbestos, such as insulation, shingles, tiles and other construction products (see the Asbestos Products Index). However, the long latency period of asbestos-related diseases made other concerns a more urgent priority, and proper asbestos abatement procedures were often not followed during post-Katrina demolitions.
Asbestos remains an ongoing health concern during the reconstruction of New Orleans continues,. Proper precautions should always be taken when handling objects that may contain the toxic material.
If you suspect you were exposed to asbestos as a result of Hurricane Katrina and would like more information about asbestos exposure, asbestos-related diseases or potential lawsuits, visit the quick question page to ask a question and receive a response.
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Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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