The Brief Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and coastal Mississippi 20 years ago, exposing major failures in planning, engineering and disaster response. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the Louisiana/Mississippi Gulf Coast, leaving more than 1,800 people dead and entire communities destroyed. The storm not only exposed vulnerabilities in levees and infrastructure but also highlighted gaps in emergency planning and federal response. MORE: Hurricane Katrina fueled major reforms at FEMA. FOX 13’s America After Katrina series explores these lessons in detail, featuring survivors, first responders, and military leaders who helped shape America’s recovery.