Views of inundated areas in New Orleans following breaking of the levees surrounding the city as the result of Hurricane Katrina.

Views of inundated areas in New Orleans following breaking of the levees surrounding the city as the result of Hurricane Katrina.

Views of inundated areas in New Orleans following breaking of the levees surrounding the city as the result of Hurricane Katrina.

Views of inundated areas in New Orleans following breaking of the levees surrounding the city as the result of Hurricane Katrina.

Views of inundated areas in New Orleans following breaking of the levees surrounding the city as the result of Hurricane Katrina.

Views of inundated areas in New Orleans following breaking of the levees surrounding the city as the result of Hurricane Katrina.

Views of inundated areas in New Orleans following breaking of the levees surrounding the city as the result of Hurricane Katrina.

Views of inundated areas in New Orleans following breaking of the levees surrounding the city as the result of Hurricane Katrina.

Views of inundated areas in New Orleans following breaking of the levees surrounding the city as the result of Hurricane Katrina.

Breaks in I-10 bridges outside of New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Lakefront Airport on Lake Pontchartrain north side of New Orleans.

Aircraft blown around with one flipped over at Lakefront Airport.

Aircraft blown around with one flipped over at Lakefront Airport.

Remains of vehicles and a helicopter at Lakefront Airport.

A view of levee repairs following Hurricane Katrina.

A view of levee repairs following Hurricane Katrina.

A view of levee repairs following Hurricane Katrina.

A view of levee repairs following Hurricane Katrina.

Boats tossed around like kindling at a marina.

Boats tossed around like kindling at a marina.

A curious effect of Hurricane Katrina left one boat on the pier while others appear to have escaped relatively unscathed.

Sand bags prepared for plugging leaks in the dikes surrounding New Orleans.

NOAA ships at the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Laboratory pier.

NOAA ships at the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Laboratory pier.

NOAA ships at the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Laboratory pier.

Motiva refinery west of New Orleans.

Motiva refinery west of New Orleans.

Thousands of downed trees following Hurricane Katrina.

Thousands of downed trees following Hurricane Katrina.

Thousands of downed trees following Hurricane Katrina.

The NOAA National Weather Service forecast office at Slidell just north of Lake Pontchartrain.

The NOAA Ship THOMAS JEFFERSON surveying approaches to harbors and the interior of harbors for obstructions. NOAA also sent hydrographic field parties to the stricken area and had resurveyed and cleared harbors in the area for ship traffic within three weeks of Hurricane Katrina.

The NOAA Ship THOMAS JEFFERSON surveying approaches to harbors and the interior of harbors for obstructions. NOAA also sent hydrographic field parties to the stricken area and had resurveyed and cleared harbors in the area for ship traffic within three weeks of Hurricane Katrina.

The NOAA Ship THOMAS JEFFERSON surveying approaches to harbors and the interior of harbors for obstructions. NOAA also sent hydrographic field parties to the stricken area and had resurveyed and cleared harbors in the area for ship traffic within three weeks of Hurricane Katrina.

The Battleship ALABAMA museum and memorial in Mobile Bay.

The Battleship ALABAMA museum and memorial in Mobile Bay.

Helicopter - a victim of Hurricane Katrina.

Boats, barges and debris on the levee at Venice.

Boats on the bank at Venice.

Boats on the bank with oil slicks in the water. Mississippi River in distance.

Sunken boats near Venice.

Supply boat turned completely over and resting with bow on the pier at Venice. Spewing oil in the water.

Boats on bank and oil slicks in the water at Venice.

Shrimp boat on the bank at Venice.

Not boats but cars in a parking lot turned pond making their own oil slicks.

Venice still with at least two to three feet of water two weeks after Hurricane Katrina.

Venice still with at least two to three feet of water two weeks after Hurricane Katrina.

Shrimp boat on the bank near Venice.

Shrimp boats, barges, and debris on the bank at Venice after Hurricane Katrina.

Total devastation following Hurricane Katrina.