Hurricane Katrina Devastation: New Orleans Evacuations Step Up, Relief Efforts Gain Momentum

Strategic Insights -

New Orleans continued to struggle in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, with more than 220,000 refugees already in Texas, thousands more on the way, and the city facing a long and difficult climb out of the crisis. While the pace of evacuations picked up significantly, with at least 19,000 reported evacuated from the area, new problems emerged, including capacity issues at refugee shelters in Texas. President Bush acknowledged the administration's initial failure to help the most desperate victims promptly and promised to resurrect New Orleans and devastated coastal areas.

Key Takeaways:

  • At least 19,000 people have been evacuated from the area, with thousands more bused to Texas.
  • Over 220,000 hurricane refugees are already in Texas, with thousands more on the way.
  • Gov. Rick Perry of Texas reported that local officials were quickly approaching capacity in the number of evacuees they could assist.
  • President Bush signed a $10.5 billion package of assistance for the stricken region, which he called a down payment on aid to come.
  • The death toll is unknown, but Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco of Louisiana expected it to reach thousands.
  • Rear Adm. W. Craig Vanderwagen of the federal Public Health Service estimated that one morgue was expecting as many as 2,000 bodies.
  • National Guard troops have been deployed to patrol the lawless streets of New Orleans, beginning the task of restoring order.
  • The Army Corps of Engineers closed a 300-foot gap in the 17th Street Canal levee, where the heaviest floodwaters had entered the city.
  • Brig. Gen. Robert Crear said it might take months to remove all the floodwaters from the swamped city.
  • Some federal officials, including Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, planned an immediate trip to the region.

Statistics:

  • At least 19,000 people have been evacuated from the area.
  • Over 220,000 hurricane refugees are already in Texas.
  • 18,500 refugees are in the Houston Astrodome and an adjacent building.
  • 120,000 refugees are in 97 shelters in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and other cities.
  • 100,000 refugees are in hotels and motels.
  • 96,000 refugees are being housed by the American Red Cross in nine states.
  • 51,000 refugees are in 127 Red Cross shelters in Louisiana.
  • 13,000 refugees are in 102 shelters in Mississippi.
  • 4,000 refugees are in 47 shelters in Alabama.
  • The death toll is expected to reach thousands.

Sources:

  • "President Orders More Troops to City" by The New York Times (September 1, 2005)
  • "Buses Bring Refugees to Safety" by The New York Times (September 1, 2005)
  • "New Orleans Struggles to Rebuild" by The New York Times (September 1, 2005)
  • "Katrina Victims Expected to Exceed 10,000" by The New York Times (September 1, 2005)