Hurricane KatrinaPress Briefing

Julia SmithGovernor of Louisiana

Hurricane Katrina

Started as a tropical storm in the Bahamas on August 23

Strengthened to Category 5

Full evacuation issued of New Orleans

State LevelDeclared a state of emergency in Louisiana

Levee failure occurred

Evacuees gathered at Superdome and convention center

Many unable to evacuate

National Guard brought in to aid in evacuation