On August 23, 2005, Hurricane Katrina formed over the Gulf of Mexico, eventually making landfall in Louisiana on August 29 as a Category 4 storm. The hurricane caused catastrophic flooding in New Orleans, leading to the deaths of over 1,800 people. It was one of the deadliest and most expensive natural disasters in U.S. history. The governments slow response to the disaster drew widespread criticism and highlighted the vulnerability of poor communities in disaster zones. The event also spurred debates over climate change and disaster preparedness.