ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La. — was still at category three strength when its eye passed over St. Tammany Parish’s eastern border. By the time it was over, more than half of the parish’s homes had been damaged, low-lying areas were flooded, and an unknown number of people had died.

Friday, parish leaders held a ceremony to dedicate a new memorial in Camp Salmen Nature Park to the storm’s victims.

“Bless all these leaders, Lord, that we will make the right decisions, that we will be prepared in case any other hurricane comes,” said Parish Councilman Jimmy Strickland during an opening prayer.

“I didn't sleep too well last night,” former parish president Kevin Davis, who was in office in 2005, told the crowd, “lightning and thunder reminded me of Katrina.”

The storm damaged around 70% of homes

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