The storm might be over, but the economic and emotional effects of Hurricane Katrina, which hit Louisiana and Mississippi in late August last year, are far from over and felt to this day. As of April this year, the Bush Administration has sought $105 billion for repairs and reconstruction in the region, making it the costliest natural disaster in US history. And this does not account for damage to the economy caused by potential interruption of the oil supply and exports of commodities such as grain. Also, before the hurricane, the region supported approximately one million non-farm jobs, with 60,000 of them in New Orleans. As such, the total economic impact to Louisiana and Mississippi may exceed $150 billion.

The media reported that hundreds of thousands of residents of southern Louisiana and Mississippi, including nearly everyone who lives in New Orleans, were left unemployed. No paycheques were being cashed and no money was being spent, and therefore no taxes were being collected by local Governments. The lack of revenue will limit the resources of the affected communities and states for years to come. Before the storm, the region was already one of the poorest in America with one of the highest unemployment rates.

Katrina also redistributed New Orleans’ population across the southern United States. Houston, Texas saw an increase of 35,000 people, Mobile, Alabama gained over 24,000, Baton Rouge, Louisiana over 15,000 and Hammond, Louisiana gained over 10,000 - nearly doubling its size. As of February this year, barley 100,000 were once again living in New Orleans, less than a quarter of the pre-storm population.

Additionally insurance companies have stopped insuring the area due to the high costs from Hurricane Katrina and Rita, or have raised insurance premiums to cover their risk.

Federal disaster declarations covered 90,000 square miles of the US, an area almost as large as the United Kingdom. The hurricane left an estimated three million people without electricity and as of May this year, the confirmed death toll - total of direct and indirect deaths - stood at 1,836 - mainly from Louisiana (1,577) and Mississippi (238). However 705 people remain categorised as missing in Louisiana, so this number is not final even 11 months after the storm.

On August 29, Katrina’s storm surge caused several breaches in levees around New Orleans. Most of the city was subsequently flooded, as the breached drainage and navigation canals allowed water to flow from the lake into low lying areas of the city and Saint Bernard Parish. Most of the major roads travelling into and out of the city were damaged and the only route out of the city was the westbound Crescent City Connection, as the 1-10 twin span bridge travelling eastbound towards Slidell, Louisiana had collapsed.

Later that day it was reported that most of the windows on the north side of the Hyatt Regency New Orleans had been blown out, and many other high rise buildings had extensive window damage.

The Hyatt was the most severely damaged hotel in the city, with beds reported to be “flying” out of the windows. Insulation tubes were exposed as the hotel’s glass exterior was completely sheared off.

Meanwhile the Superdome, which was sheltering large numbers of people who could not evacuate, sustained significant damage.

Two sections of the roof were compromised and the dome’s waterproof membrane has essentially been peeled off.

Storm surge devastated the coasts of Mississippi and Alabama, making Katrina the most destructive and costliest natural disaster in the history of the United States with the total damages estimated at $75 billion, nearly double the cost of the previously most expensive storm, Hurricane Andrew, when adjusted for inflation.

Katrina also caused widespread loss of life with over 700 bodies recovered in New Orleans by October 23. Some survivors and evacuees reported seeing bodies lying in city streets and floating in still-flooded sections, especially in the east of the city.

The advanced state of decomposition of many corpses, some of which remained in the water or sun for days before being retrieved, hindered efforts by coroners to identify many of the dead.

The Gulf Coast of Mississippi suffered massive damage from the impact of this Category Four hurricane on August 29, leaving 238 people dead, 67 missing and billions of dollars in damages.

Battered by wind, rain and storm surges, some beachfront neighbourhoods were levelled entirely. Preliminary estimates by Mississippi officials calculated that 90 percent of the structures within half a mile of the coastline were completely destroyed.

One apartment complex with approximately 30 residents seeking shelter inside, collapsed. More than half of the 13 casinos in the state, which floated on barges to comply with Mississippi land-based gambling laws, were washed hundreds of yards inland by waves. A number of streets and bridges were washed away and over 90,000 people through the state experienced power outages - which is almost a third of the population.