Hurricane Katrina hits on this day in history, August 29, 2005

On this day in 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed the Gulf Coast. The Hurricane, which at one point reached category 5, was the most devastating natural disaster to hit the United States. New Orleans, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana were all burdened by the storm. The hurricane was responsible for over 1,800 deaths and upwards of $150 billion in damages.

Other Events on August 29:
1949: "First Lightning", the first atomic bomb of the U.S.S.R., was successfully detonated.
1958: Pop music icon, Michael Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana.
1991: All Communist Party activities were suspended by the USSR parliament, effectively ending the institution of communism.
2004: Vanderlei de Lima, a Brazilian Marathoner, was attacked by a spectator during the Olympic final of the marathon event in Athens. The incident cost Lima his 30-second-lead with four miles to go. Lima finished third for the bronze medal.
2013: The US Treasury announced that it will recognize same-sex couple marriages for tax purposes.