Hurricane Katrina strikes as FEMA's response collapses

Hurricane Katrina made landfall near Buras, Louisiana on August 29, 2005, breaching New Orleans levees and killing roughly 1,400 people. FEMA Director Michael Brown, dubbed "Brownie" by President Bush, had no disaster background; he kept the agency on standby as floodwaters rose. FEMA regional director Marty Bahamonde emailed Brown that thousands were stranded without food or water; Brown's aide replied that he needed an hour for dinner.