August 2005, Hurricane Katrina took over 1800 lives in New Orleans, Louisiana. 80% of New Orleans was submerged as the levees failed and storm waters surged. Katrina sustained winds of 175 mph, making the most severe Atlantic hurricane on record. It formed over the Bahamas on August 23, 2005, then crossed southern Florida as a moderate category 1 hurricane, before strengthening to a category 5 over the Gulf. The breaking of the levees left the flood-waters lingering for weeks, causing dismal property damage, especially in the coastal areas.