Tuesday, August 30, 2005, part 1

Fleeing Katrina

I grabbed the last of my things and turned off my light. Mom and I were in the car a minute later.

It took almost nine hours to get to the hotel in Bossier City. It didn’t take any longer than it normally would, and we were lucky because there was very little traffic.

We spent the whole evening watching the news. Katrina’s course had changed only slightly. The track led it to make landfall just east of New Orleans.

I looked at the projected path. The eye was going to pass over my parish. The storm was a Category 5 now, the highest possible.

Samantha’s family left quickly. Later, the roads were full of people leaving their homes before the hurricane arrived.

Samantha’s family left quickly. Later, the roads were full of people leaving their homes before the hurricane arrived.

Science Background

There are five categories of hurricanes. For Category 5, the winds are greater than 155 miles per hour. Hurricane Katrina was a Category 5 over the Gulf of Mexico, before it reached land.

In Other Words

  • The track led it to make landfall It would cross from the ocean onto land

Before You Move On

  • 1. Summarize Tell how Samantha’s family gets ready to evacuate.

  • 2. Problem and Solution What problem does Samantha face as she packs necessities to take with her? Tell how she solves it.