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Remembering Hurricane Katrina: August 27, 2005

The strengthening storm approaches, and evacuations are ordered.

NEW ORLEANS — August 29 marks 19 years since Hurricane Katrina made landfall.

WWL Louisiana takes a look back at what happened on August 27, 2005.

Hurricane Katrina is a Category 3 storm, predicted to become Category 4. At 10 PM CDT, it is still 335 miles from the mouth of the Mississippi River.

Credit: NASA
August 27, 2005

National Hurricane Center issues Hurricane Katrina Special Advisory Number 19

Credit: National Hurricane Center

Director of the National Hurricane Center warns officials of potential devastation.

Credit: Associated Press

"I called Governor Kathleen Blanco in Louisiana. She was also concerned about people not heeding the evacuation orders. She actually encouraged me to call the mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin. So, I called him... " 

"This is Saturday evening. I don't remember exactly what I said to these folks, but I know one thing I said was, This is a life-threatening situation. You have some tough decisions ahead of you. You have the possibility of extreme loss of life. I wanted to be able to go to bed that night, knowing that I'd done everything that I could do.” 

        Max Mayfield - National Hurricane Center, Director (2005)


Governor Kathleen Blanco asks President Bush to Declare an Emergency for the State of Louisiana due to Hurricane Katrina.

Credit: Office of the White House Press Secretary, 27 Aug 2005

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