Scores of hurricanes have hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast , but the most destructive , as measured by storm surge levels in the Biloxi Lighthouse , occurred in 1855 , 1906 , 1909 , 1947 , 1969 ( Hurricane Camille ) , and 2005 ( Hurricane Katrina ) On August 29 , 2005 , Hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast with high winds , heavy rains and a storm surge , causing massive damage to the area . Katrina came ashore during the high tide of 6:56 AM , +2.3 feet more . Commenting on the power of the storm and the damage , Mayor A. J. Holloway said , " This is our tsunami . " Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour was quoted as saying the destruction of the Mississippi coastline by Hurricane Katrina looked like an American Hiroshima
tsunami
2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami
Biloxi, Mississippi