Hurricane Katrina's effects

Shamelessly lifted wholesale from the Associated Press because it’s late night here and I don’t really have the energy to do another webwide sweep tonight. More tomorrow.

Monday August 29, 2005 11:16 PM

By The Associated Press

Hurricane Katrina’s effects, at a glance:

LOUISIANA:

-After hitting Florida last week, Katrina strengthened to a Category 5 storm over the Gulf of Mexico but weakened slightly and came ashore early Monday as a Category 4 storm with wind of 145 mph.

-Near Lake Ponchartrain, entire neighborhoods of one-story homes were flooded up to the rooflines. Up to 20 feet of water was standing in one poor neighborhood on New Orleans’ east side.

-An estimated 40,000 homes were flooded in St. Bernard Parish just east of New Orleans.

-The highest winds in New Orleans were estimated at about 100 mph.

-Evacuations: New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin ordered the entire city of 485,000 to evacuate. For those who couldn't, the city opened 10 shelters, including the Superdome. The mayor estimated that 80 percent of the city's residents had left.

-Some 370,000 customers in southeast Louisiana were estimated to be without power, but the number could end up much higher as authorities assess the damage.

-About 9,000 spent the night at the Superdome arena. Power failed at around 5 a.m. Monday, and three hours later the wind tore away metal and left two holes in the roof, one 15 to 20 feet long. Officials said the holes were not dangerous.

MISSISSIPPI:

-Winds hit 135 mph as the storm pounded the Mississippi coast. Gulfport Fire Chief Pat Sullivan called it “a devastating hit.” A 22-foot storm surge recorded in Bay St. Louis. Gulfport Memorial Hospital in Biloxi experienced major damage.

- At 5 p.m. EDT, Katrina was about 30 miles northwest of Laurel, Miss., and moving north at 18 mph. It was a weak Category 1 hurricane with maximum gusts near 75 mph. Forecasters said the storm may spawn tornadoes around the South.

-Evacuations: Residents all along the Mississippi Gulf Coast headed inland Sunday. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency said Monday that about 8,500 people were in 79 shelters. American Red Cross shelters were filled to capacity.

-Several of Mississippi’s beachfront casinos were flooded, but the scope of the damage was not immediately known.

tags: [new orleans] [mississippi] [hurricane katrina]