[Answer] If the Saffir-Simpson Scale had existed at the time, the storm described in Erik Larson's 1999 book would have been rated as what?

Step 1 : Introduction to the question "If the Saffir-Simpson Scale had existed at the time, the storm described in Erik Larson's 1999 book would have been rated as what?"

...Hint :Windspeed

[Answer] 5. This massive storm struck the Gulf Coast on August 2005. Because of this storm one city's population may never grow to what it was before the storm hit.

Step 1 : Introduction to the question "5. This massive storm struck the Gulf Coast on August 2005. Because of this storm one city's population may never grow to what it was before the storm hit."

...1. Hurricane Andrew 2. Hurricane Rita 3. Hurricane Katrina 4. Hurricane Ivan The 20+ foot storm surge caused flooding to cover 80% of New Orleans. Hurricane Katrina was the costliest and one of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the United States. It was the sixth-strongest Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the third-strongest landfalling U.S. hurricane on record. At least 1,836 people lost their lives in Hurricane Katrina and in the subsequent floods, making it the deadliest U.S. hurricane since the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane. The storm is estimated to have been responsible for $81.2 billion (2005 U.S. dollars) in damage, making it the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history. Criticism of the federal, state and local governments' reaction to the storm was widespread and resulted in an investigation by the United States Congress and the resignation of FEMA director Michael Brown.