Katrina
Starting as a swirl of desert dust in West Africa that soared to 20,000 feet and moved Westward over the Atlantic Ocean, Tropical Storm Katrina (pictured here over the Bahamas) began to come into her own just before her first landfall in South Florida. Tuesday August 23rd
(Florida - upper right of photo)
Photo: NASA
August 25th
Finally giving in to her destiny Tropical Storm Katrina hesitates off the east Florida coast long enough to gain hurricane status and then moves on Miami and across Florida to the Gulf of Mexico.
TheWeekInCongress.com is located just right of the red spot (Lake Okeechobee) in lower Florida.
Photo: NASA
August 28
Feeling her oats Hurricane Katrina strengthens to Category 5 and leaves little doubt that New Orleans is in her travel plans.
Photo: NASA
The canal system
The New Orleans Canal system (blue lines) was considered a vulnerable point and proved to be so. Lake Pontchartrain above and the 17th Street canal that ultimately gave way connects to the lake in the center/top of the photo.
The Mississippi River is the grey line snaking from the photo left to the photo bottom right.
Photo: NASA-Lines: Southbear
After the Flood
Lake Pontchartrain (large dark area) and the Mississippi before and after the levee failed.
New Orleans is located at the lower right area below the lake and above the snaking Mississippi River.
Photo: NASA
Masses Left Behind.
Short of some looting, 200,000 people never behaved so well under such extreme circumstances.
The Buck Starts Here
Ease the Pain and Rebuild
Congress cuts the check. Here's where the money may go.
Photo: Deb Hibbard