 The first two hurricanes to strike the Gulf Coast — in August and September , respectively — caused significant inundation of low @-@ lying and coastal communities , inflicting severe damage and killing dozens of people . In some cases , flood waters were more than 12 ft ( 3 @.@ 7 m ) deep , and the center of destruction shifted slightly with each storm . Sugar cane crops were destroyed by these two systems as well as the succeeding storm in early October . Property and infrastructure suffered with all three events . With the third storm that made landfall , extreme winds blasted the city of New Orleans and surrounding areas . All other storms remained away from land with no effects except on shipping . 
