hurricane+Katrina+dc

In 2005 costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. It was the sixth strongest overall Atlantic hurricane. At least 1,836 people lost their lives in the actual hurricane and in the floods, making it the deadliest U.S. hurricane since the 1928 Okeechobee hurricane. The total property damage was estimated at $81 billion. Hurricane Katrina formed over the Bahamas on August 23, 2005 and crossed southern Florida as a moderate category 1 hurricane, causing some deaths and flooding there before strengthening in the Gulf of Mexico. The storm weakened before making its second landfall as a category 3 storm on Monday, August 29, in southeast Louisiana. It caused severe destruction along the Gulf coast from central Florida to Texas. The most severe loss of life occurred in New Orleans, Louisiana, which flooded when the levee system failed, in many cases hours after the storm had moved inland. Eventually 80% of the city became flooded, and the flood waters stayed for weeks. However, the worst property damage occurred in coastal areas, such as all Mississippi beachfront towns, which were flooded over 90% in hours, as boats and casino barges rammed buildings, pushing cars and houses inland, with waters reaching 6–12 miles from the beach. Five years later, thousands of displaced residents in Mississippi and Louisiana are still living in temporary accommodation. The reconstruction is still taking place.