When did Hurricane Katrina strike?

Hurricane Katrina struck the United States during the early morning hours of Aug. 23, 2005. The hurricane led to hundreds of thousands of people evacuating the affected area. When it was over, the hurricane had caused over $100 billion worth of damage to the Gulf Coast area.

Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi were hit the hardest. The city of New Orleans endured the most damage. During the storm, the city’s professional football stadium housed at least 15,000 residents. Local, state and federal government officials faced criticism for a slow response to the disaster. The Federal Emergency Management Agency didn't set up operations in New Orleans until several days after the hurricane.