This week marks the 10th anniversary of the tragic day that Hurricane Katrina violently swept through the southeastern U.S. The historic storm killed almost 2,000 people, left thousands stranded without homes and scarred many lives for years to come.
Katrina initially touched down in southeast Louisiana as a Category 3 storm on Aug. 29, 2005, at 6 a.m. As it worked its way up the southeast, it left the city of New Orleans unrecognizable. Over 100,000 homes were destroyed, and 80% of the city was flooded.
The government issued close to $142 billion in relief funds for the southeast region of the country, providing injured and displaced people, food, shelter and medical care.
The southeastern U.S. is still recovering 10 years later. The population of New Orleans dropped drastically after Hurricane Katrina, from 483,633 residents before the storm, down to around 200,000 in 2006. Relief organizations like Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross have made it possible for the New Orleans population to increase to approximately 378,315 residents.
Watch the video above to see the evolution of New Orleans, 10 years after Hurricane Katrina.
Read next: New Orleans, Here & Now
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Jane Fonda Champions Climate Action for Every Generation
- Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
- Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
- The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
- Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
- Why TV Can’t Stop Making Silly Shows About Lady Journalists
- The Case for Wearing Shoes in the House
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com