A major tropical cyclone, Hurricane Katrina will have major economic consequences globally as well. Experts believe one million people could become homeless, while there are currently five million without electricity in four US states. The death toll, according to New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, was 'in the thousands', as of August 31. Getting accurate figures will not be easy.
Katrina has been on a $30 billion rampage. Pumping out the water could take weeks. Reopening communities could take years. And, as if these problems weren't serious enough, another one threatens - looters have begun to run wild. 1,500 police officers have been asked to abort search-and-rescue missions to halt the pillaging.
The hurricane has not spared the dead either, shattering graves and leaving coffins washed up on beaches.
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