2005. Katrina sent a tidal surge of up to 25–30 feet in height that drowned St. Bernard Parish in a matter of minutes. Boasso was in Baton Rouge at the time, and on being advised of the situation returned to the parish before the winds had completely died. He spent the following weeks bringing supplies, including fuel, food, medicines, and transportation to the parish. Many local residents said that Boasso and Democratic then U.S. Representative Charlie Melancon of Louisiana's 3rd congressional district were nearly the only source of help for his parish. Media coverage was aimed almost entirely at New Orleans alone. Boasso noted that rescuers from Canada were in the parish before any state response got there. Boasso has continued to push for assistance for St. Bernard Parish and has promised that Boasso America will continue to operate there. Quotes during Hurricane Katrina "I've got 122,000 people in my district, and everybody's been affected (by Hurricane Katrina)," said Boasso. "I don't care about finger pointing," Boasso said. "I'm hollering and screaming and you know what? If they can't help us we're going to help ourselves." "Fabulous, fabulous guys," Boasso said. Referring to the Vancouver, Canada's USAR team who came to his flooded town's aid, "They started rolling with us and got in boats to save people." "We've got Canadian flags flying everywhere." Legislation Seven weeks after Hurricane Katrina, Boasso proposed SB95 that would eliminate seven local levee boards in Greater New Orleans and replace them with one board. His bill was heavily backed by local business leaders. The bill failed, but a similar version passed in a special session in early 2006. Before Katrina, the Governor selected levee board commissioners. After Boasso's bill passed, a local blue ribbon committee selects who serves. Electoral history In 1996, Boasso succeeded the Republican state Senator Lynn Dean of Plaquemines Parish. After Boasso's defection, the seat returned to Republican hands. In the 2007 primary, state Representative A. G. Crowe of Pearl River defeated the Democrat Kenneth L. Odinet Sr., 11,625 (52 percent) to 10,811 (48 percent). In 2008, Odinet switched to the Republican Party in an unsuccessful candidacy for the Louisiana Public Service Commission. State Senator, 1st Senatorial District, 2003 Threshold > 50% First Ballot, October 4, 2003 Second Ballot, November 15, 2003 Governor of Louisiana, 2007 Threshold > 50% First Ballot, October 20, 2007 See also List of American politicians who switched