A hurricane that caused serious flooding in New Orleans. One of the strongest and largest hurricanes seen in the Gulf of Mexico, it caused extensive damage to the Gulf Coast of the USA; but its most serious effect was, on 29 August 2005, to breach the levees that protected the city of New Orleans, 80% of which lay below sea level. The consequent flooding exceeded the worst expectations. New Orleans ceased to function and had to be completely evacuated, amid chaotic scenes of suffering and lawlessness broadcast worldwide. Over 1600 people died, and the total cost of the physical and economic damage exceeded $100 billion. The administration of President George W. Bush was held to have acted slowly and incompetently in response to the disaster.