On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, causing catastrophic flooding as numerous levees failed around New Orleans.

More than 1,300 people died in what was the costliest natural disaster in US history. More than 1 million people were displaced.

Editor's note: This gallery contains graphic images. Viewer discretion is advised.

Cars sit in traffic as people flee New Orleans on August 28, 2005. The next day, Katrina made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane with winds near 127 mph.
Cars sit in traffic as people flee New Orleans on August 28, 2005. The next day, Katrina made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane with winds near 127 mph.
Sean Gardner/EPA/Shutterstock
Strong winds blow the roof off the Backyard Barbeque restaurant in Kenner, Louisiana, as Katrina makes landfall on August 29, 2005.
Strong winds blow the roof off the Backyard Barbeque restaurant in Kenner, Louisiana, as Katrina makes landfall on August 29, 2005.
Irwin Thompson/The Dallas Morning News/AP
Arnold James tries to keep his feet as a strong gust nearly blows him over in New Orleans. The roof on his home blew off, forcing him to seek shelter at the Superdome.
Arnold James tries to keep his feet as a strong gust nearly blows him over in New Orleans. The roof on his home blew off, forcing him to seek shelter at the Superdome.
Dave Martin/AP
National Guard trucks haul displaced New Orleans residents to the Superdome a day after the hurricane flooded their neighborhoods. About 25,000 evacuees were sheltered at the stadium.
National Guard trucks haul displaced New Orleans residents to the Superdome a day after the hurricane flooded their neighborhoods. About 25,000 evacuees were sheltered at the stadium.
Eric Gay/AP
Police officer Terrence Gray helps Lovie Mae Allen and group of children evacuate their flooded homes in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Police officer Terrence Gray helps Lovie Mae Allen and group of children evacuate their flooded homes in Gulfport, Mississippi.
John Bazemore/AP
A man swims by the Circle Food Store in flooded New Orleans.
A man swims by the Circle Food Store in flooded New Orleans.
Rick Wilking RTW/PN/Reuters
The hands of Shirley Ward, 40, are waterlogged after she was rescued on New Orleans' Rocheblave Street.
The hands of Shirley Ward, 40, are waterlogged after she was rescued on New Orleans' Rocheblave Street.
Douglas R. Clifford/St. Petersburg Times/AP
Paramedic David Mitchell examines Greg Farteberry on the roof of a destroyed home in New Orleans as Farteberry's friend Eric Charles holds his hand. Farteberry broke his ankle during the storm and spent the night on the roof until he was rescued.
Paramedic David Mitchell examines Greg Farteberry on the roof of a destroyed home in New Orleans as Farteberry's friend Eric Charles holds his hand. Farteberry broke his ankle during the storm and spent the night on the roof until he was rescued.
Arthur D. Lauck/The Advocate Press/AP
A New Orleans resident carries bottled water as she walks through oil-coated floodwaters downtown.
A New Orleans resident carries bottled water as she walks through oil-coated floodwaters downtown.
Bill Haber/AP
A mother and her children are rescued by boat in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward.
A mother and her children are rescued by boat in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott D. Rady pulls a pregnant woman from her flooded New Orleans home.
Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott D. Rady pulls a pregnant woman from her flooded New Orleans home.
US Coast Guard/Reuters
Evelyn Turner cries alongside the body of her longtime companion, Xavier Bowie, after he died in New Orleans. Turner and Bowie decided to ride out Hurricane Katrina when they could not find a way to leave the city. Bowie, who had lung cancer, died when he ran out of oxygen. He was 57.
Evelyn Turner cries alongside the body of her longtime companion, Xavier Bowie, after he died in New Orleans. Turner and Bowie decided to ride out Hurricane Katrina when they could not find a way to leave the city. Bowie, who had lung cancer, died when he ran out of oxygen. He was 57.
Eric Gay/AP
Floodwaters pour through a levee along the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal near downtown New Orleans.
Floodwaters pour through a levee along the Inner Harbor Navigational Canal near downtown New Orleans.
Vincent Laforet/Pool/AP
New Orleans police officer Mark Wilson yells at people in stores looters on Canal Street. In Katrina's aftermath, many questioned whether some people accused of looting were just people scavenging for the supplies they needed to survive.
New Orleans police officer Mark Wilson yells at people in stores looters on Canal Street. In Katrina's aftermath, many questioned whether some people accused of looting were just people scavenging for the supplies they needed to survive.
Khampa Bouaphanh/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS/ABACA/Reuters
A section of the Mississippi bridge connecting Ocean Springs with Biloxi was wiped out by the storm.
A section of the Mississippi bridge connecting Ocean Springs with Biloxi was wiped out by the storm.
Marc Serota/Reuters
In this handout photo provided by the White House, President George W. Bush looks out over Katrina devastation as he rides Air Force One back to Washington, DC.
In this handout photo provided by the White House, President George W. Bush looks out over Katrina devastation as he rides Air Force One back to Washington, DC.
Paul Morse/Handout/White House/Getty Images
New Orleans police and volunteers use boats to rescue residents from a flooded neighborhood on the east side of New Orleans.
New Orleans police and volunteers use boats to rescue residents from a flooded neighborhood on the east side of New Orleans.
Eric Gay/AP
Cars are piled up in debris in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Cars are piled up in debris in Gulfport, Mississippi.
David J. Phillip/AP
Boats travel down a flooded highway in New Orleans.
Boats travel down a flooded highway in New Orleans.
Marc Serota/Reuters
The Stump family stays in their car in Biloxi, Mississippi, after their home was destroyed by Katrina.
The Stump family stays in their car in Biloxi, Mississippi, after their home was destroyed by Katrina.
Jared Lazarus/Miami Herald/KRT/ABACA/Reuters
New Orleans residents are rescued by a helicopter on August 31, 2005, two days after Katrina made landfall.
New Orleans residents are rescued by a helicopter on August 31, 2005, two days after Katrina made landfall.
David J. Phillip/AP
Members of the National Guard, standing in the foreground, watch over evacuees who took shelter at the Superdome in New Orleans. The shaft of light came from a hole in the roof of the dome.
Members of the National Guard, standing in the foreground, watch over evacuees who took shelter at the Superdome in New Orleans. The shaft of light came from a hole in the roof of the dome.
Melissa Phillip/AP
From left, Tam Cu, Jason Jackson and Linda Bryant look for belongings from Bryant's home, which was devastated in Biloxi, Mississippi.
From left, Tam Cu, Jason Jackson and Linda Bryant look for belongings from Bryant's home, which was devastated in Biloxi, Mississippi.
Barbara Davidson/The Dallas Morning News/AP
Jason Jennison, an aviation survival technician with the US Coast Guard, pulls a Katrina survivor aboard a helicopter in New Orleans.
Jason Jennison, an aviation survival technician with the US Coast Guard, pulls a Katrina survivor aboard a helicopter in New Orleans.
Sam Wolfe/AP
Residents wait to be rescued from a rooftop in New Orleans on September 1, 2005.
Residents wait to be rescued from a rooftop in New Orleans on September 1, 2005.
David J. Phillip/Pool/AP
Wind and water damage to the Superdome roof created unsafe conditions, leading authorities to conduct emergency evacuations there.
Wind and water damage to the Superdome roof created unsafe conditions, leading authorities to conduct emergency evacuations there.
Phil Coale/AP
Members of the National Guard stand outside the Superdome as emotional evacuees await their next destination.
Members of the National Guard stand outside the Superdome as emotional evacuees await their next destination.
Michael Appleton/NY Daily News/Getty Images
A dead body is seen in the foreground as people push a boat outside the Superdome on September 2, 2005.
A dead body is seen in the foreground as people push a boat outside the Superdome on September 2, 2005.
John Pendygraft/The St. Petersburg Times/AP
A military helicopter makes a food and water drop near the Convention Center in New Orleans.
A military helicopter makes a food and water drop near the Convention Center in New Orleans.
Eric Gay/AP
Thousands of New Orleans residents gather at a evacuation staging area along Interstate 10 in Metairie, Louisiana.
Thousands of New Orleans residents gather at a evacuation staging area along Interstate 10 in Metairie, Louisiana.
Dave Martin/AP
Terri Jones tries to cool Dorthy Divic, an 89-year-old who was overheated and exhausted at the Convention Center in New Orleans.
Terri Jones tries to cool Dorthy Divic, an 89-year-old who was overheated and exhausted at the Convention Center in New Orleans.
Eric Gay/AP
This aerial photo shows a flooded neighborhood adjacent to the 12th Street levee in New Orleans.
This aerial photo shows a flooded neighborhood adjacent to the 12th Street levee in New Orleans.
Vincent Laforet/The New York Times/Redux
Charlene Veillon hugs her grandson Thearon Ellis after they learned that her daughter Joanna Ellis was killed during Hurricane Katrina in Waveland, Mississippi.
Charlene Veillon hugs her grandson Thearon Ellis after they learned that her daughter Joanna Ellis was killed during Hurricane Katrina in Waveland, Mississippi.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
A man clings to the top of a vehicle in New Orleans before being rescued by the Coast Guard.
A man clings to the top of a vehicle in New Orleans before being rescued by the Coast Guard.
Robert Galbraith/Reuters
A man in the foreground looks at Katrina evacuees who received food, shelter and medical attention at the Astrodome in Houston.
A man in the foreground looks at Katrina evacuees who received food, shelter and medical attention at the Astrodome in Houston.
Carlos Barria/Reuters
Eugene Green holds his baby, Eugene Jr., as they wait to be airlifted from a highway overpass in New Orleans on September 4, 2005.
Eugene Green holds his baby, Eugene Jr., as they wait to be airlifted from a highway overpass in New Orleans on September 4, 2005.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
Leonard Thomas cries after a SWAT team burst into the flooded New Orleans home he and his family were living in. Neighbors had reported that they were squatting in the house in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, but the authorities left after his family proved they owned the house.
Leonard Thomas cries after a SWAT team burst into the flooded New Orleans home he and his family were living in. Neighbors had reported that they were squatting in the house in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, but the authorities left after his family proved they owned the house.
Rick Bowmer/AP
A helicopter drops sandbags to plug a levee in New Orleans on September 11, 2005.
A helicopter drops sandbags to plug a levee in New Orleans on September 11, 2005.
Jerry Grayson/Helifilms Australia PTY Ltd/Getty Images