The Environmental Health Impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans.

Hurricane Katrina caused unprecedented flood damage to New Orleans, Louisiana, and has been the costliest hurricane in US history. We analyzed the environmental and public health outcomes of Hurricane Katrina by using Internet searches to identify epidemiological, sociodemographic, and toxicological measurements provided by regulatory agencies. Atmospheric scientists have now warned that global warming will increase the proportion of stronger hurricanes (categories 4–5) by 25% to 30% compared with weaker hurricanes (categories 1–2). With the new $14.6 billion Hurricane Storm Damage Risk Reduction System providing a 100-year storm surge–defensive wall across the Southeast Louisiana coast, New Orleans will be ready for stronger storms in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]