WASHINGTON, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- Almost 10 million people living in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi experienced hurricane force winds as Katrina crashed into the Gulf Coast this week.
The U.S. Census Bureau reported that in the three states hardest hit by the storm, about 4.9 million people -- or about 41 percent of the population -- live in coastal areas.
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About 3.2 million people lived within the imminent or occurring flood area -- with 1.7 million in southeast Louisiana; 940,000 in southern Mississippi; and 420,000 in southwest Alabama.
Cities hit by flooding along the Gulf include Biloxi and Gulfport in Mississippi, Mobile, Ala., and New Orleans.
Mississippi has been the largest land area affect by the massive storm.
