Albert McClebb of New Orleans got a close-up look at Hurricane Katrina. "I got scared when my windows blew out. My house started flooding," McClebb, 28, told TIME. "We walked for miles through water, found this bus and got on."
McClebb was one of the lucky ones. Thousands could not escape the disaster in New Orleans. In some spots, flood waters rose to a depth of 20 feet. The city was swamped in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which had slammed into the Gulf Coast on August 29.
Katrina packed 145-mile-per-hour winds that pushed powerful walls of water, called storm surges, inland from the Gulf of Mexico. The total number of deaths in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida could be in the thousands.
The storm hit southern Florida first. Then, after gathering force at sea, Katrina struck Biloxi and Gulfport, Mississippi, head-on and with deadly force. Homes and businesses were smashed to splinters. Entire towns were blown away. Power was lost across the Southeast, leaving millions without electricity.
Double Trouble in New Orleans
Once the hurricane had blown through, the situation only got worse for
New Orleans. Although the city had avoided a direct hit from Katrina,
the storm punched four holes into the man-made flood walls that protect
against flooding. The water poured in. Chaos soon followed.
Officials called for a complete evacuation of the city. Homebound storm survivors climbed to their rooftops to wait for helicopters or boats to rescue them. More than 20,000 people who had taken shelter from the storm in the Superdome arena had to be evacuated as conditions inside became unbearable. Thousands more waited outside the city's convention center, hoping that buses would arrive to take them to safety. Desperate people took advantage of the disaster by stealing supplies from closed stores. There were also reports of violent attacks among those left behind.
By last Friday, it wasn't clear when people would be allowed back into the city. Even after floodwaters go down, affected areas will still be at risk. "It's going to be incredibly dangerous," said Michael Brown, the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). He warned of the dangers from badly damaged buildings and polluted water. Mayor Ray Nagin predicted that "the city will not be functional for two or three months."
An Unsettled Economy
The devastation affects Americans everywhere. Much of the country's oil
and gas comes from the Gulf Coast. Oil platforms, refineries and
pipelines were damaged or shut down. President George W. Bush authorized
the release of oil from the nation's emergency reserve to help meet the
country's energy demand. Even so, gas prices--already at record
highs--soared above $3 a gallon. Alarmed gas-station customers faced
long lines due to shortages.
Exports may be affected too. Barges carry crops and products down the Mississippi River through the port of New Orleans to other countries. Last week, hundreds of barges sat backed up on the river. Early estimates indicate that Katrina could be one of the country's costliest hurricanes. It may also prove to be one of the deadliest.
Now What's the Plan?
Members of Congress ended their recess early to pass a bill approving
$10.5 billion dollars for FEMA to continue its relief efforts. Charities
are collecting millions of dollars from donors all over the country who
want to help.
By last Friday, crews were scrambling around the clock to help the victims who were hardest hit. Some people felt that the government's response was not enough. They were angry. President Bush, who visited the area, promised support. "A lot of people are working hard to help those who've been affected. The result is not acceptable," he said. "We'll get on top of this situation, and we're going to help the people that need help."