Now with Katrina in the books

[Hyperstorm]

I believe the death toll was 256.

In terms of damages, yes...Katrina will likely be the TOP, but in terms of lives lost since 1950 (which is more valuable), it still not the top. And I hope that it never gets that title.

Regardless, every single storm would be the TOP for the people that are deeply affected by it...

I voted Katrina. To me it's a no-brainer. The amount of area affected alone in staggering. Even if you include Andrew's landfall on the Atlantic side of Florida. It was devastating but only for a small area. If Katrina would have made landfall in the same place as Andrew...you would be talking about a 10 foot surge in West Palm Beach and a 20-25 foot surge into downtown Miami. So...compare the two. What damage would have been done if Andrew had made landfall only where Katrina did...and compare it to what damage would have been done with Katrina making landfall in South Florida at her peak. Remember the pressure in Katrina was lower at landfall....and I think you will see the winds increased.

As far as death tolls...I have absolutely no doubts the death toll will top Camille's by 2X or more. In terms of deaths...this storm will be 10x or more deadlier easy.

In terms of homeless...Andrew left 250,000 people homeless. Katrina has left over 1 million homeless. In total scope...deaths...homeless...total damage...area affected....surge...Katrina is the hands-down winner. For those that aren't convinced...no debate needed...just wait a while until the truth finally begins to trickle out and is compiled.

Now you have made me think...

In terms of SCOPE, yes I totally agree. Katrina has affected many more people and if we combine all the effects, there is NO debate. Katrina could definitely be considered the TOP.
I just don't want to see the death toll go much higher than what it is...

[Courtnay Mccullers]

are you sure katrina would have dropped a 25 foot surge on south florida?

i thought due to the nature of the coastline there a surge over about 8 or 10 feet is unheard of along the south florida coast.

[Air Force Met]

are you sure katrina would have dropped a 25 foot surge on south florida?

i thought due to the nature of the coastline there a surge over about 8 or 10 feet is unheard of along the south florida coast.

No...not saying that. I'm saying in order to compair the two that is what it WOULD be like. Hence the reason you can't compair Andrew and Katrina...and when it's all said and done...Katrina will have done much more damage and killed many more times the people that Andrew (and in the end...to me...that's the only stat that really counts).

[Patrick99]

are you sure katrina would have dropped a 25 foot surge on south florida?

i thought due to the nature of the coastline there a surge over about 8 or 10 feet is unheard of along the south florida coast.

Nah - Andrew had a big surge, it was just confined to a small area, and it receded before anyone could get helicopter shots. In old pics of the 1926 storm, you see a lot of water in downtown Miami, and I'm sure the Beach was completely inundated - but even still it would have been nothing like this. I don't think you saw buildings flooded up to the roof. It's not that we don't get surge, it's just that it recedes, drains, absorbs - quickly.

The only thing comparable would have been the 1928 Big O storm, IMO - with a lake spilling over its banks, inundating the inland headwaters of the Glades.

[smashmode]

People used to compare all hurricanes to camille..

Now people willc ompare them to Katrina.

Sad but true.

When you have a MAJOR metro area, that will be uninhabitable for weeks if not months. That is massive.

[CaptinCrunch]

I can't believe this is even a poll

KATRINA

[Jim Cantore]

Man the last poll had all of them but Camille minus Katrina but with a few more and Ivan crushed this poll

I voted Katrina I've tracked hurricanes since 1996 and Katrina Makes Ivan look like a Tropical Storm and Charley like a cat 1

[Jim Cantore]

What I mean to say is the only storm ON THIS POLL compareable to this is Camille and I find this storm ALOT worse

[beachbum_al]

2005 season and Katrina. This storm effected a large portion of the Gulf Coast. It is unbelievable what has happen.

[monty16]

I think this is the most destructive hurricane ever in US history!!! How can those others even compare? If you factor possibly thousands of lives gone, 25 billion + dollars of destruction, and the possibly deadly long term affects, this should be a no brainer! Don't you think?

[Swimdude]

I think Camille is still the TOP one in my memory.

Katrina may be top one right now in terms of damages, but Camille killed many more lives.

I just hope that the death toll from Katrina doesn't surpass that one from Camille, as is feared...

That last sentence is the key. They're pushing away dead bodies in New Orleans, first. The death toll is "110 and rising." It's going to be MUCH higher than that.