Leevile bridge partially submerged after Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina proved to be the storm the New Orleans region always feared, flooding the city and the outlying parishes of St. Bernard and Plaquemines, rendering hundreds of thousands homeless and leaving the state and the nation faced with a massive rebuilding effort. Making landfall just to the east of Grand Isle in the early morning hours of August 29, Katrina brought high water to the lower reaches of LA 1, but spared the highway from a debilitating storm surge that could have washed out the critical energy corridor. Port Fourchon sustained wind damage and was left without electrical power for a short time until massive generators were brought in, re- powering the port for its role in the national energy supply.

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	America's Energy Corridor, LA 1, on Sept. 23, 2005 before Hurricane Rita made landfall approximately 300 miles to the west.

Portions of LA 1 were underwater again on September 23 and 24 when Hurricane Rita's southeast winds pushed water inland as she moved through the central Gulf of Mexico, closing down America's Energy Corridor. Clearing of and repairs to the highway allowed critical deliveries to Port Fourchon to resume at 2 pm on September 25th. Erosion caused by Katrina and Rita has left the road more susceptible to rising waters.

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LA 1 North of Leeville, looking from the South at the
Louisiana Shrimp and Packing Plant (upper right).

LA 1 South of Leeville, looking from the South at
Chevron's Leeville Base.

LA 1 South of Leeville, looking from the
South at Southern Leeville.

Flood waters caused a buckle along LA 1 South of Leeville.

LA 1 highway embankments experienced floodwater damage.

A houseboat washed ashore on LA 1.