Every year, many natural disasters occur around the world. New Orleans and several other states were hit by a devastating hurricane. Strong winds and major flooding caused many people to lose their homes and even their lives. Many people have heard about Hurricane Katrina, but not everyone knows what caused it and its effects on the United States. In the early morning of August 29, 2005, on the Gulf Coast near New Orleans, a devastating hurricane struck. It wreaked havoc, demolishing everything in its path. Leaving nothing but piles of trash. Survivors were forced to leave due to massive flooding and the destruction of their homes. New Orleans wasn't the only place hit by Katrina, but it was one of the hardest hit areas. Millions of people were affected by this tragedy and the costs ran into the billions. The crime rate increased, no one had a place to stay, and the water was polluted. The damage caused by Katrina affected New Orleans and other affected areas years after its passage. Restoring the affected areas was going to require the support of all of America and support groups across the country. No one was prepared to face this tragedy or could predict its horrible outcome. Hurricanes are powerful, destructive storms that involve heavy rain and high winds. The United States of America has had to deal with numerous hurricanes that have caused significant damage. However, there is one hurricane that occurred in 2005 that stands out among the others, Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Katrina was one of the worst hurricanes to hit the United States, ranking as a Category 5 on the Saffir/Simpson hurricane scale. An estimated 1,836 people died due to the hurricane and subsequent flooding (Zimmermann 1). Katrina first started... middle of paper ......th seawalls shortly after Katrina, and millions of dollars were spent on coastal restoration programs. Many people from all over the world helped care for those affected by this horrible storm and helped rebuild damaged places. Works Cited Amadeo, Kimberey. “How Much Did Hurricane Katrina Damage the U.S. Economy?” » American economy. Np, October 31, 2012. Web. April 19, 2014. Fink, Sheri. “Hurricane Katrina: After the Flood.” The Gaurdian. Np, February 7, 2014. Web. April 17, 2014. Kay, Joseph. “Hurricane Katrina: A Calamity Made Worse by Poverty and Neglect.” World Socialist Website. Np, August 31, 2005. Web. April 17, 2014. Plyer, Allison. “Made for Features: Katrina Impact.” The data center. Np, August 14, 2013. Web. April 17, 2014. Zimmermann, Kim A. “Hurricane Katrina: Facts, Damage and Aftermath.” Science Live. Np, August 20, 2012. Web. April 17. 2014.