S.Res. 344

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 344 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. RES. 344

Observing the 20th anniversary of the date on which Hurricane Katrina 
devastated the Gulf Coast and recognizing the progress of efforts to 
rebuild the affected Gulf Coast region.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

July 29, 2025

Mrs. Hyde-Smith (for herself, Mr. Wicker, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. 
Warnock, and Mr. Kennedy) submitted the following resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Observing the 20th anniversary of the date on which Hurricane Katrina 
devastated the Gulf Coast and recognizing the progress of efforts to 
rebuild the affected Gulf Coast region.

Whereas, on August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina, a Category 3 hurricane and 1 of 
the 5 deadliest hurricanes in United States history, hit the Gulf Coast 
and caused 1,833 recorded fatalities, including 1,577 in Louisiana, 238 
in Mississippi, 14 in Florida, 2 in Georgia, and 2 in Alabama, according 
to the National Hurricane Center;
Whereas Hurricane Katrina inflicted catastrophic damage, estimated at 
$161,000,000,000 in the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and 
Florida;
Whereas more than 1,200,000 people were under some type of evacuation order, 
including New Orleans' first mandatory evacuation in the city's history;
Whereas more than 1,000,000 Gulf Coast residents were displaced, and many remain 
displaced to this day;
Whereas hundreds of thousands were unemployed as a result of the devastation to 
businesses;
Whereas more than 200,000 homes and 20,000 businesses from Louisiana to Florida 
were destroyed;
Whereas an estimated 5,000,000 people were left without power, according to the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency;
Whereas major highways were destroyed, including the Interstate 10 Twin Span 
Bridge connecting the cities of New Orleans and Slidell in Louisiana and 
United States Highway 90 bridges connecting Bay St. Louis to Pass 
Christian and Biloxi to Ocean Springs in Mississippi;
Whereas the Louisiana Superdome sheltered an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 evacuees 
and suffered roof leaks and other significant damage from strong winds;
Whereas neighboring cities and States took in thousands of displaced residents 
and provided medical care and shelter at make-shift hospitals, such as 
the Katrina Clinic at the Astrodome (formerly named the Reliant Center) 
in Houston, Texas;
Whereas the United States Coast Guard rescued more than 33,544 people and 
assisted with the evacuation of 9,409 patients and medical personnel 
from 11 hospitals;
Whereas the United States Armed Forces orchestrated one of the largest domestic 
rescue operations in history, with command centers at the Emergency 
Operations Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; the Louis Armstrong New 
Orleans International Airport in New Orleans, Louisiana; the Naval Air 
Station in Pensacola, Florida; and Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, 
Mississippi;
Whereas the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, America's 
Second Harvest (now known as Feeding America), Catholic Charities, 
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, Southern Baptist 
Disaster Relief, United Way, and other religious and charitable 
organizations provided crucial food, water, and hygiene products to 
victims;
Whereas countless first responders, such as police officers, emergency medical 
personnel, and firefighters, from across the United States worked around 
the clock to provide care for and to protect the safety of residents 
from the affected communities;
Whereas those affected have shown great resilience and strength to rebuild and 
restore their communities;
Whereas the resident population of the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula, Mississippi 
metropolitan statistical area was 421,916 in March 2024, an 87 percent 
increase over its lowest point of 225,681 in 2006;
Whereas the number of tourists who visited New Orleans was 17,500,000 in 2022, 
up from 3,700,000 tourists in 2006; and
Whereas, although significant progress has been made in the Gulf Coast region, 
there is still more work to be done to address the challenges still 
attributable to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina: Now, 
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) expresses its support to the victims of Hurricane 
Katrina;
(2) commends the courageous efforts of those who assisted 
in the recovery progress;
(3) recognizes the contributions of communities in 
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Georgia to the 
United States; and
(4) reaffirms its commitment to rebuild, renew, and restore 
the Gulf Coast region.
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