Hurricane Katrina: Bush To Visit New Orleans

Former US president George W Bush is to revisit one of his presidency's lowest points when he travels to New Orleans to mark the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Mr Bush will deliver a speech at Warren Easton Charter High School, where he also spoke a year after the hurricane, and will congratulate the region for its recovery from what was the country's most expensive natural disaster.

Nearly 2,000 people died, mostly in New Orleans, when powerful wind and driving rain bore down on Louisiana on 29 August 2005.

The storm also caused major damage to the coast from Texas to Florida and built a storm surge that breached the banks meant to protect New Orleans from flooding.

Residents sheltered on rooftops, inside stadiums and convention centres while Mr Bush flew over the flooded city on Air Force One and told then-director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency Michael Brown "you're doing a heck of a job, Brownie" as homeless and hungry residents watched on.

Mr Brown resigned 10 days later, saying he had underestimated the initial impact of the hurricane.

The disaster's aftermath came to symbolise government failure with Mr Bush becoming the subject of resentment and mockery.

At Warren Easton Charter High School, however, he will be able to draw on some success - he will be accompanied by wife Laura, whose library foundation helped to re-build the school.

The Bush government dealt with the bulk of the rebuilding effort post-Katrina, spending more than $140bn (£91bn), according to his office, but he decided early on to leave the rebuilding itself to locals.

After his New Orleans visit, Mr Bush will travel to Gulfport in Mississippi for an event thanking those who were first responders after the hurricane.