Hurricane Katrina, now a Category 5 storm, is heading for New Orleans, and a mass evacuation is in progress. What was the last major hurricane to hit this city directly, and how powerful was it?

peasypod

Has there been one since Betsy (catagory 3) in 1965? Aug 28 05, 6:08 PM

lanfranco

No, peasy. Camille, in 1969, grazed New Orleans, but Betsy scored the last direct hit. Betsy was the reason for the levees now built around the city, but they were constructed according to 1960's technology, and the view is that they cannot withstand a larger-than-Category-3 storm. This question was suggested to me by a friend at Tulane University, who left New Orleans this morning. Let's keep our fingers crossed for the people of that beautiful city. And may I add a personal prayer for the people of Houma, Louisiana? Aug 28 05, 6:17 PM