Hurricane Katrina still evokes images of devastation and horror for many people around the world who were thunderstruck by the calamity, much more so those living along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico.
But Katrina could have been less disastrous despite being one of the strongest hurricanes to hit the US coast on record. How?
The destruction could have been less ruinous if the hurricane plans were executed and monitored better, according to the conclusions of many serious and intense investigations by committee after committee, like those from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). For example, engineering-related policies failed from erroneous decisions that led to the flooding. There were many floodwalls and levees that were breached pouring water into New Orleans. It led to the death of over 1,100 people, not including the 135 people who are still missing.
With the collapse of concrete walls and levees and inoperable pump stations, the flooding can be pinpointed to poor design and monitoring. Thisis a good reminder that personal protection of property is still necessary, although homeowners should still ask local government agencies about their protocol and policies on hurricane protection.
Items That Needs To Be Invested In
The sentiment of many people around the country was of despair in seeing the aftereffects of Hurricane Katrina and succeeding hurricanes that damaged homes and lives. This despair even led many to question the need to invest in personal hurricane protection just as one would question the need to buy insurance. Is it worth buying hurricane shades and shutters? Should one still worry about tying down a house or reinforcing the foundation? Or is it all just a waste?
Without a doubt, the answer is still a resounding “Yes!” Hurricane shutters make a lot of sense for areas prone to storms, heavy rains and winds. They not only increase the value of the property, they are resilient, practical, and dependable. Furthermore, strong hurricanes like Katrina do not happen every year. In fact, the first recorded Category 5 hurricane in the United States was in 1924. Since then there were 5 other Category 5 hurricanes that occurred in the same year except the year of Katrina when there were 4 Category 5 storms in the country. However, since 2005 there have only been 2 Category 5 storms, both in 2007.
New Orleans and other hurricane-prone areas have all done their homework and upgraded their protocol. The government has been working hard to prevent similar catastrophes by improving their engineering decisions and making sure there is an interconnected system in planning. Homeowners should make sure they also have a good plan in place.
