Hurricane Katrina's impact still shapes flood legislation 20 years later

Hurricane Katrina is widely regarded as one of the most catastrophic hurricanes to hit the United States, with an estimated 1,833 fatalities and extensive damage and flooding caused by the storm's intense winds and storm surge, resulting in approximately $161 billion in damage.

In response to Katrina's devastation, Louisiana introduced significant changes to its flood-related laws and policies to addresses flaws in flood protection and coastal resilience with changes continuing to this day.

The state established the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority to develop a comprehensive coastal resilience plan and made infrastructure development a priority, with the establishment of levees and flood walls, including the $14.5 billion Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System (HSDR