Summary Package 2 L1

Hurricane Katrina had the most devastating impact on Louisiana where it struck the U.S. Gulf Coast in August 2005, may rank among the costliest natural disasters in lost human lives and destroyed property in U.S. history. Aerial surveys show that Louisiana's barrier islands have sustained especially heavy losses from Katrina's scouring winds and waves. The Chandeleur Islands off the southeastern coast, scarcely exist today. Katrina also damaged the Louisiana’s wetlands, a huge swath of marshes that makes up 40 percent of the wetlands in the Louisiana supports both freshwater and saltwater marshes which have been completely wiped out by Hurricane Katrina. Louisiana officials estimate that two-thirds of Louisiana's oysters may have been destroyed. Louisiana is the number one oyster producer in the nation. The Louisiana Coastal Area Ecosystem Restoration Plan is also planning to launch projects to rebuild barrier islands and replant lost marsh grass.