East Baton Rouge Parish Library

New Orleans hurricanes from the start, David F. Bastian and Nicholas J. Meis

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 177-180) and index

index present

non fiction

New Orleans hurricanes from the start

bibliography

865493881

David F. Bastian and Nicholas J. Meis

"This overview of New Orleans hurricanes begins in colonial days. Divided into chronological periods of the city's history, the book discusses major storms, the locations of levees, and efforts that have been made to prevent flooding. Population trends and movements as well as manmade changes to natural water routes are examined. Sources include diaries, letters, official records, articles, and expert analyses"--Provided by publisherOverview : "Toward ten o'clock in the evening there sprang up the most terrible hurricane which has been seen in these quarters. . . . Thirty-four houses were destroyed as well as the sheds, including the church, the parsonage, and hospital. . . . It was remarkable that if the Mississippi had been high this hurricane would have put both banks of the river more than 15 feet under water." -Diron D'Artaguiette, New Orleans resident, September 12, 1722. The first recorded hurricane to strike New Orleans was in 1722. With a seven-foot storm surge, high winds, and heavy rain, the storm caused widespread destruction and evoked the same fear and anxiety that modern-day New Orleanians face during a storm. Calling upon research from noted climatologists and meteorologists, as well as documentation dating back to New Orleans' earliest settlement, authors David F. Bastian and Nicholas J. Meis have compiled a thorough history and analysis of hurricanes that have affected South Louisiana and New Orleans since the early eighteenth century. Although today's advanced technology and engineering are a far cry from the makeshift systems that protected early settlements, even strong defenses sometimes fail. In great detail, Bastian and Meis examine Hurricane Katrina, the devastating 2005 storm, and analyze what went wrong, how it could have been prevented, and what may be in store for the Crescent City

Early colonial period (1711-40) -- From the Revolution to the Louisiana Purchase (1772-1811) -- The great storm of 1812 -- 1819-46 -- The flood without a storm, raging Mississippi (1849-55) -- Season of destruction, last island -- Nature reflects the Civil War (1860-69) -- Another active season -- Looking towards century's end (1877-88) -- Assault on Grand Isle -- New century, new perspectives (1897-1909) -- Storm damage and profiteering -- Two world wars (1916-43) -- Protection system failure,the city drowns (1947-48) -- Named storms (1956-64) -- Betsy breaks records -- Camille and false hope -- Classifications for the public, the Saffir-Simpson scale (1971-2002) -- Katrina and Rita, sisters of destruction -- Gustav and Ike, brothers Grimm -- What went wrong -- Full system test