[Wolfstar]

NOAA satellite image of Katrina taken as the storm continued to move farther inland after it came ashore August 29. While the media concentrated on the story in New Orleans, this photo shows the massive region hit by Katrina. East to west, it stretched across the Gulf Coast from the Florida panhandle to about Lafayette, Louisiana. North to south at the time this satellite image was taken, it stretched from well out in the Gulf up into Illinois and Indiana.

At points along the entire front of that monster storm, FEMA had to stage first responders and initial supplies in safe locations. As the storm moved out of the Gulf region Monday afternoon, the first response would have been directed to areas that seemed the hardest hit. At that time, New Orleans seemed to have escaped any serious damage. The area directly hit was the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. That's where initial first-response aid was directed.

[Wolfstar]

This NOAA satellite image was taken Monday, August 29 at 15:15 ET (3:15pm. 2:15pm Central), as the worst of the storm moved northward and skies were just beginning to clear along the Gulf Coast.

This image was taken a half-hour later at 15:45 ET. Although the worst had passed, there was still considerable cloud cover and rain in the region, while localities north of the Gulf were experiencing the effect of Katrina. With roads flooded and blocked by debris, first responders and supplies had to move through that weather on their way to the Gulf as initial damage assessments started to come in.

Mark the time. It was late afternoon before the weather cleared enough to begin moving the first responders into the area.

[Smokin' Joe]

You bring up a salient point. New Orleans did pretty well in re damage, compared to Biloxi and other areas, until the levees gave way.

The hurricane did not seem to do as much damage as the flood which followed.

The parishes toward the Gulf appear to have been harder hit in terms of overall destruction.