Hurricane Katrina: Performance of Transportation Systems

Abstract

• Prepared by the Technical Council on Lifeline Earthquake Engineering of ASCE with support from the Mid-America Earthquake Center.

  This TCLEE Monograph offers a thorough and compelling account of Hurricane Katrina's devastating impact upon the Gulf Coast's major transportation systems. Although the failure of the New Orleans levees attracted considerable media attention, the region's bridge, railroad, and roadway infrastructure also suffered significant damage. This report comprehensively evaluates the performance of these transportation systems subjected to Katrina's high wind speeds and storm surges, which combined to make Hurricane Katrina the most destructive and costliest natural disaster in the history of the United States.

  Major topics covered in this report include: an overview of the hurricane and its damage; emergency preparedness; highway bridge, railroad, and roadway performance and repair rerouting and traffic demands; impact on new design; and lessons learned.

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