Today in History: Hurricane Katrina struck
- Posted on August 29, 2026
- By Chicago Tribune
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- 1 min read
In brief
On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall along the Gulf Coast, unleashing catastrophic flooding across New Orleans after levee failures. This unprecedented natural disaster claimed approximately 1,400 lives and inflicted roughly $200 billion in economic losses, ranking among the costliest hurricanes in U.S. history. The storm exposed critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and prompted major changes in disaster preparedness policies nationwide.
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Today in History: Hurricane Katrina struck
On Aug. 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S. Gulf Coast in southeast Louisiana, breaching levees and spurring floods that devastated New Orleans. Katrina caused nearly 1,400 deaths and an estimated $200 billion in damage.
