on 29 august 2005, the largest natural disaster the air national guard faced in its then 58-year history began when hurricane katrina hit the united states gulf coast. the most severe damage came from a 30-plus-foot storm surge along the mississippi coast and the north shore of lake pontchartrain in louisiana and breaks in the levies along a canal in new orleans. several weeks later hurricane rita devastated portions of western louisiana and eastern texas, and then the less severe hurricane wilma damaged florida.