AccuWeather Global Weather Center - August 24, 2015 - In remembrance of one of the deadliest and costliest natural disasters in U.S. history, AccuWeather, the global leader in weather information and digital media, has launched an online news and video center, Remembering Hurricane Katrina. With an overwhelming storm surge and waves over 20 feet tall, Katrina was responsible more than 1,800 deaths and resulted in $108 billion of damage. The recovery from this disastrous storm continues to this day. The online center traces the event and recovery original news stories and videos that provide unique scientific and personal insights into the disastrous storm.
"Hurricane Katrina will be remembered as a tragic example of the dangers, and impact, of severe weather and as a striking example of the importance of timely forecasts with Superior Accuracy™," said Dr. Joel N. Myers, Founder, President, and Chairman of AccuWeather. "AccuWeather was at the forefront of forecasting for Katrina, having cautioned residents of the storm's seriousness and expected impact three days before landfall and having issued our warning 12 hours before the government. AccuWeather continued to provide updates 24x7 throughout the storm and its tragic aftermath. As the world's largest weather company, we are dedicated to improving and protecting the lives of people everywhere and will continue to lead advancements in forecasting and severe weather warnings around the world."
Three days before the storm made landfall, AccuWeather meteorologists urged residents to take action as they warned of a "catastrophe in the making in New Orleans" and predicted that "Katrina could be one of the top Gulf hits in modern times." AccuWeather COO Evan Myers said in a national broadcast, "A large part of New Orleans could be underwater for days, if not weeks."
AccuWeather issued a forecast predicting the target of Katrina's landfall nearly 12 hours before the National Hurricane Center issued its first warning, according to the comprehensive U.S. Congress Select Bipartisan Committee review of Hurricane Katrina preparation and response titled "A Failure of Initiative." AccuWeather was the only forecasting company cited in the report for having given more advanced warning, which helped to save hundreds of lives.
AccuWeather's Remembering Hurricane Katrina center at AccuWeather.com includes exclusive photo essays, graphics, timelines, articles, and videos covering the natural disaster, as well as recovery and restoration efforts that continue to this day. It also features exclusive behind-the-scenes accounts from the dedicated meteorologists who forecasted and followed the development and path of the catastrophic hurricane, fulfilling AccuWeather's core mission of providing forecasts with Superior Accuracy™ and saving lives and protecting property.
AccuWeather will share the Katrina special feature coverage with its social media audience, integrating user images and commentary on Facebook. AccuWeather will also tweet the significant developments of the storm on Twitter at the times they happened 10 years ago.
ACCUWEATHER REMEMBERS THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF HURRICANE KATRINA
Hurricane Katrina remains the costliest natural disaster and one of five deadliest hurricanes in the United States. Katrina first made landfall on August 25, 2005, at Hallandale Beach and Aventure in Florida. It weakened into a tropical storm and moved into the Gulf of Mexico. From there, it strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane, then weakened before it made a second landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on August 29, 2005. AccuWeather has created an in-depth remembrance of the disaster. View the videos here.
BROADCAST BEAT MAGAZINE
IBC Issue September 2015
38