The first sentence uses the word catastrophe literally, as a declarative statement.
The second sentence is also a valid sentence, but not with a literal sense of the word catastrophe (unless the backpack contained a flask of a life-threatening toxin which broke upon falling to the floor). It uses catastrophe as a metaphor, as hyperbole, and as a melodramatic statement of someone self-centered and unaware of the world.
Hurricane Katrina reached hurricane status on August 25, 2005.
Not unless your are talking about a specific hurricane like "Hurricane Katrina".
No, because it is a general/nonspecific noun, however if you were naming a particular hurricane i.e. Hurricane Katrina, then a capital letter for hurricane would be needed because it is a proper noun.
Hurricane Katrina was a category 5 hurricane.
Hurricane Katrina occurred in 2005, Hurricane Irene occurred in 2011.
No. Hurricane Katrina was in 2005.
Hurricane Katrina reached hurricane status on August 25, 2005.
The neighborhood was shocked with the devastationafter the hurricane.
Not unless your are talking about a specific hurricane like "Hurricane Katrina".
Hurricane Katrina was a natural calamity because it was so catastrophic.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, thousands were left homeless.
Powerful natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina devastate communities.
No, because it is a general/nonspecific noun, however if you were naming a particular hurricane i.e. Hurricane Katrina, then a capital letter for hurricane would be needed because it is a proper noun.
Hurricane Katrina was a category 5 hurricane.
No. Hurricane Katrina was a hurricane, which is a type of very powerful storm.
Nobody controlled Hurricane Katrina. It was a hurricane. it happened on its own.
Hurricane Katrina occurred in 2005, Hurricane Irene occurred in 2011.