This article contains a historical timeline of the events of Hurricane Katrina on August 23–30, 2005, and also its aftermath.
Formation of Katrina Tuesday, August 23, 2005 What would eventually become Katrina started as Tropical Depression Twelve which formed over the Bahamas at 5:00 p.m. EDT (2100 UTC) on August 23, 2005, partially from the remains of Tropical Depression Ten, which had dissipated due to the effects of a nearby upper trough. While the normal standards for numbering tropical depressions in the Atlantic indicate that the old name/number is retained when a depression dissipates and regenerates, satellite data indicated that the surface circulation from Tropical Depression Ten had separated from the mid level low and dissipated as it moved ashore in Cuba. A second tropical wave combined with mid-level remnants of Tropical Depression Ten north of Puerto Rico to form a new, more dynamic system, which was then designated as Tropical Depression Twelve. Simultaneously, the trough in the upper troposphere weakened, causing wind shear in the area to relax, thereby allowing the new tropical depression to develop.
In a later re-analysis, it was determined that the low-level circulation Ten had completely detached and dissipated, with only the remnant mid-level circulation moving on and merging with the aforementioned second tropical wave. As a result, the criteria for keeping the same name and identity were not met.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Twelve strengthened into Tropical Storm Katrina.
Thursday, August 25, 2005 Katrina strengthened to a hurricane. Less than two hours later Katrina made landfall on Keating Beach, just two miles south of the Fort Lauderdale International Airport. Sustained winds were and the pressure was 989 mbar. During its passage, the eye of the tropical storm moved directly over the office of the National Hurricane Center, which reported a wind gust of . The strongest sustained winds in Florida was a report of on the roof of the Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science in Virginia Key. The same station recorded a gust of . Unofficially, wind gusts reached at Homestead General Aviation Airport.
Katrina lasted six hours on land over the water-laden Everglades as a tropical storm before reaching the Gulf of Mexico just north of Cape Sable.
Gulf of Mexico Friday, August 26, 2005 At 1:00 AM EDT, maximum sustained winds had decreased to and Katrina was downgraded to a tropical storm. At 5:00 AM EDT, the eye of Hurricane Katrina was located just offshore of southwestern Florida over the Gulf of Mexico about 50 miles (80 km) north-northeast of Key West, Florida. Maximum sustained winds had again increased to 75 mph (121 km/h) and Katrina was upgraded again to a Category 1 hurricane.
At 5:00 AM EDT, the National Hurricane Center officially shifts the possible track of Katrina from the Florida Panhandle to the Mississippi/Alabama coast. Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco declared a state of emergency for the state of Louisiana.Blanco, Kathleen. "State of Emergency - Hurricane Katrina ." State of Louisiana. August 26, 2005. The declaration included activation of the state of Louisiana's emergency response and recovery program under the command of the director of the state office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to supply emergency support services. Following the declaration of a state of emergency, federal troops were deployed to Louisiana to coordinate the planning of operations with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).Kitfield, James. "Military's Northern Command steps up response efforts ." Government Executive Magazine. September 2, 2005. 922 Army National Guard and 8 Air National Guard are deployed. By 4:00 PM EDT, Katrina was upgraded to a Category 2 storm. Buras-Triumph, Louisiana, 66 miles (106 km) southeast of New Orleans.Lush, Tamara. "For forecasting chief, no joy in being right." St. Petersburg Times. August 30, 2005.
Saturday, August 27, 2005 By 5:00 AM EDT, Hurricane Katrina reached Category 3 intensity.
At 10:00 AM EDT, officials in St. Charles Parish, Louisiana, St. Tammany Parish, and Plaquemines Parish ordered a mandatory evacuation of all of their residents. Jefferson Parish and St. Bernard Parish ordered voluntary evacuations, recommending that all residents evacuate, particularly those living in lower areas. Jefferson Parish officials did declare a mandatory evacuation for the coastal areas of Grand Isle, Crown Point, Lafitte, and Barataria. Tolls were suspended on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway as well as the Crescent City Connection, to speed up the evacuation process.
At 11:00 AM EDT, The National Hurricane Center issued a Hurricane Watch from Morgan City, Louisiana to the LA/MS border including New Orleans.
At 5:00 PM EDT, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin announced a state of emergency and a called for a voluntary evacuation. He added that he would stick with the state's evacuation plan and not order a mandatory evacuation until 30 hours before the expected landfall. This would allow those residents in low-lying surrounding parishes to leave first and avoid gridlocked escape routes. However, he did recommend that residents of low-lying areas of the city, such as Algiers and the 9th Ward, get a head start. Nagin said the city would open the Superdome as a shelter of last resort for evacuees with special needs. He advised anyone planning to stay there to bring their own food, drinks and other comforts such as folding chairs. "No weapons, no large items, and bring small quantities of food for three or four days, to be safe," he said.Staff Writers. "Katrina on path west to hit La.." St. Petersburg Times, August 28, 2005. The Louisiana National Guard had delivered three truckloads of water and seven truckloads of MRE's to the Superdome, enough to supply 15,000 people for three days. The Hurricane Watch was expanded to Intracoastal City, Louisiana to the east and AL/FL border to the west.
At 11:00 PM EDT, the Hurricane Watch was upgraded to a Hurricane Warning from Morgan City, Louisiana to the AL/FL border. In the forecast discussion, the National Hurricane Center stated that Katrina "is expected to be an intense and dangerous hurricane."
Governor Blanco sends a letter to President George W. Bush asking him to declare a major disaster for the State of Louisiana, in order to release federal financial assistance.Shoup, Anna. "FEMA Faces Intense Scrutiny ." PBS. September 9, 2005.
In response to Governor Blanco's request, President Bush declared a federal state of emergency in Louisiana under the authority of the Stafford Act, which provided a, "means of assistance by the Federal Government to State and local governments in carrying out their responsibilities to alleviate the suffering and damage which result from such disasters,..."Staff Writer. "Emergency Aid Authorized For Hurricane Katrina Emergency Response In Louisiana ." Federal Emergency Management Agency, August 27, 2005.
The emergency declaration provided for federal assistance and funding, as well as assigned, by law, the responsibility for coordinating relief efforts with those government bodies and relief agencies which agree to operate under his advice or direction, to the FEMA federal coordinating officer (FCO). It also provided for military assets and personnel to be deployed in relief and support operations, although the Posse Comitatus Act imposes strict limitations on the use of Active Duty soldiers in law enforcement. 1701 Army National Guard and 932 Air National Guard are deployed (2633 total).
That night, National Hurricane Center director Max Mayfield briefed President Bush, Governor Blanco, Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi, and Mayor Nagin on the status of Hurricane Katrina.
Sunday, August 28, 2005 Just after midnight, at 12:40 AM CDT (0540 UTC), Hurricane Katrina reached Category 4 intensity with winds. By 7:00 AM CDT (1200 UTC), it was a Category 5 storm, with maximum sustained winds of , gusts up to and a central pressure of 902 mbar.
In a press conference at roughly 10:00 AM CDT (1500 UTC), Nagin declared that "a mandatory evacuation order is hereby called for all of the parish of Orleans." "We are facing a storm most of us have long feared," he told the early-morning news conference, with the governor at his side. Following Nagin's speech, Governor Blanco stated that President Bush called her "just before" the press conference and said that he was "concerned about the [storm’s] impact" and asked her "to please ensure that there would be a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans."Press Conference. "New Orleans Mayor, Louisiana Governor Hold Press Conference." CNN. August 28, 2005. Katrina was expected to make landfall overnight.Glasser, Susan B.; Grunwald, Michael. "The Steady Buildup to a City's Chaos." Washington Post. September 11, 2005. Shortly after the meeting, at 10:00 AM CDT (1500 UTC), the National Weather Service issued a bulletin predicting "devastating" damage and that anyone without shelter would face "certain death."National Weather Service. "URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE 1011 AM CDT SUN AUG 28 2005"
At 12:00 PM CDT (1700 UTC), the Louisiana Superdome was opened as a, "refuge of last resort," for those residents that were unable to obtain safe transport out of the city. 20,000 people entered the Dome. The Louisiana National Guard had delivered three truckloads of water and seven truckloads of MRE's to the Superdome, enough to supply 15,000 people for three days. 4444 Army National Guard and 932 Air National Guard are deployed (5,376 total).
President Bush declared a state of emergency in Alabama and Mississippi,Press Release. "Alabama Hurricane Katrina Emergency Declaration ." Federal Emergency Management Agency, August 28, 2005.Press Release. "Hurricane Katrina Emergency Declaration ." Federal Emergency Management Agency. August 28, 2005. and a major disaster in Florida,Press Release. "Florida Hurricane Katrina ." FEMA. August 28, 2005. under the authority of the Stafford Act.
Second and Third landfall
Monday, August 29, 2005 Between 4:30 AM CDT (0930 UTC) and 5:00 AM (1000 UTC), levees along the Industrial Canal near the I-10 bridge failed on both sides due to metal barriers along this portion of the canal not working causing sandbags to be put up on both sides. These were destroyed by the 9 ft. storm surge entering the canal.
At 5:00 AM CDT (1000 UTC), power in the Superdome goes out.
At 6:10 AM CDT (1110 UTC), Hurricane Katrina made its second landfall as a strong Category 3 hurricane near Buras, LA, with sustained winds of more than 125 mph (205 km/h), although Category 4 winds may have briefly affected the area.Knabb, Richard D.; Rhome, Jamie R. "." National Hurricane Center. December 20, 2005. Katrina continued north into St. Bernard Parish, crossed Lake Borgne, and made its final landfall near the mouth of the Pearl River on the Louisiana-Mississippi border as a Category 3 storm with winds of 120 mph. Water began to rush through the Mississippi Gulf Outlet and Lake Borgne converging at the "Funnel" with the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, north of the Lower Ninth Ward. Levees along the eastern portion of the Mississippi Gulf Outlet began to be overtopped and/or destroyed causing water to start rushing to the Lower Ninth Ward.
By 6:30 AM CDT (1130 UTC), power was lost in much of New Orleans.
At 6:30 AM CDT (1130 UTC), Levees at the Funnel were overtopped. Water in the Lower Ninth Ward began to rise faster while water rushed into the Industrial Canal.
At 6:50 AM CDT (1150 UTC), levees all along the Industrial Canal were overtopped. Water surged into the Lower Ninth Ward as levees on three sides of the neighborhood had failed.