At 7 a.m. on August 29, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Louisiana coast between Grand Isle and the mouth of the Mississippi River as a strong Category 4 hurricane. The devastation she would bring to the Gulf Coast was widespread and unimaginable. Though warnings had been issued for days and evacuations initiated, thousands stood in the path of one of the strongest storms in the history of America. Left with no power, no drinking water, dwindling food supplies, and steadily rising waters from major levee breaches, survivors also faced life-threatening looting and widespread fires. Efforts to limit the flooding were initially unsuccessful and refugees from the hurricane fought for their very survival on the streets of New Orleans and throughout Louisiana and Mississippi. While tragedy and desperation brought out the worst in some, it also inspired courage and hope in others, giving them the will to triumph against incalculable odds. Searching for loved ones and pets, seeking shelter and the basic necessities of life, thousands continued to fight on to simply survive the harshest of conditions and help others do the same. Many of these gripping and heroic moments are captured in KATRINA: Stories of Rescue, Recovery and Rebuilding in the Eye of the Storm, vividly reflected in stories and dramatic four-color photographs from the Associated Press and other wire services. A portion of the proceeds of this book will be donated to the American Red Cross to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.