The Brief

On August 28, 2005, an urgent and ominous weather message was sent out by the National Weather Service calling Katrina "a most powerful hurricane with unprecedented strength."

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has left lasting and devastating impacts on New Orleans, the state of Louisiana and surrounding areas.

The message

What they're saying:

The message was sent out by NWS at approximately 10:11 a.m. CT the day before Katrina hit the United States.

"...DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED...HURRICANE KATRINA...A MOST POWERFUL HURRICANE WITH UNPRECEDENTED STRENGTH...RIVALING THE INTENSITY OF HURRICANE CAMILLE OF 1969.

MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS...PERHAPS LONGER. AT LEAST ONE HALF OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOMES WILL HAVE ROOF AND WALL FAILURE. ALL GABLED R

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