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Hurricane Katrina was one of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States, killing over 1,800 people.
The confirmed death toll (total of direct and indirect deaths) stood at 1,836, mainly from Louisiana (1,577) and Mississippi (238). However, 705 people remain categorized as missing in Louisiana, so this number is not final. Many of the deaths are indirect. It is almost impossible to determine the exact cause of some of the fatalities.
Katrina was the largest hurricane of its strength to approach the United States in recorded history; its sheer size caused devastation over 100 miles (160 kilometers) from the storm's center. The storm surge caused major or catastrophic damage along the coastlines of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, including the cities of Mobile, Ala., Biloxi and Gulfport, Miss., and Slidell, La.
Katrina was the 11th named storm, fifth hurricane, third major hurricane and second category 5 hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It was also the sixth strongest hurricane ever recorded, and the third strongest hurricane to make landfall in the U.S. ever recorded.
New Orleans' levee failures were found to be primarily the result of system design flaws, combined with the lack of adequate maintenance. According to an investigation by the National Science Foundation, those responsible for the conception, design, construction and maintenance of the region's flood-control system apparently failed to pay sufficient attention to public safety.
Hurricane Katrina was the costliest hurricane in U.S. history, with $75 billion in estimated damages.
As of April 2006, the Bush administration has sought $105 billion for repairs and reconstruction in the region. This does not account for damage to the economy caused by potential interruption of the oil supply and exports of commodities such as grain.
More than 70 countries pledged monetary donations or other assistance. Kuwait made the largest single pledge, $500 million; other large donations were made by Qatar ($100 million), India ($5 million), China ($5 million), Pakistan ($1.5 million), and Bangladesh ($1 million).
The total shut-in oil production from the Gulf of Mexico in the six-month period following the hurricane was approximately 24 percent of the annual production and the shut-in gas production for the same period was about 18 percent.
The forestry industry in Mississippi was also affected, as 1.3 million acres of forest lands were destroyed. The total loss to the forestry industry due to Katrina is calculated to rise to about $5 billion.
Hundreds of thousands of local residents were left unemployed, which will have a trickle-down effect as lower taxes are paid to local governments. Before the hurricane, the region supported approximately 1 million nonfarm jobs, with 600,000 of them in New Orleans. It is estimated that the total economic impact in Louisiana and Mississippi may exceed $150 billion.
The American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, Common Ground Collective, Emergency Communities and many other charitable organizations provided housing, food, and water to victims of the storm. These organizations also provided an infrastructure for shelters throughout Louisiana and other states that held thousands of refugees.
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