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Category 2 storms can produce winds between 96 to 110 miles per hour (mph). Category 2 storms will cause major damage to roofs and sides of well-constructed buildings. Many trees with shallow roofs will fall down, causing blockages of roads and railway lines. The winds will bring down may power lines and poles, causing widespread electricity blackouts, which could last for weeks.

In 2008, Hurricane Gustav made landfall as a Category 2 in southeast Louisiana. Once making landfall, Gustav slowly moved across the region, leading to very heavy rainfall.

Category 3 storms can produce winds between 111 to 129 miles per hour (mph). Category 3 storms will cause major structural damage to well-constructed buildings, such as the roof being ripped off and gable ends collapsing. There will be widespread uprooting of trees, blocking transport routes. Electricity cables and water pipes will be destroyed, leaving people without electricity or clean water for a significant period of time.

In 2020, Hurricane Zeta made landfall over southeast Louisiana coast, at maximum intensity of 115 miles per hour (mph). Zeta left Jefferson Parish with downed power lines, trees in the road and power outages. Reported damage consisted of a casino boat hitting the Kerner bridge, an apartment complex in Gretna receiving structural damage that left twenty five people displaced, a home in Marrero that caught fire and a pole that fell near Fire Station 17.

Category 4 storms can produce winds between 130 to 156 miles per hour (mph). Category 4 storms will cause severe damage to well-constructed buildings, such as loss of the roof and exterior walls. Most trees will be uprooted and most electricity poles will be brought down - both blocking roads and cutting off power supplies for weeks - isolating residential areas. Widespread flooding and destruction will make most of the area uninhabitable for weeks or months.

In 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall along the Southeastern Louisiana coast, with maximum sustained winds of 150 miles per hour (mph). The damage from wind and storm surge was catastrophic over Southeast Louisiana. On September 4, the Louisiana Department of Health confirmed four deaths in Jefferson Parish; three individuals who died of carbon monoxide poisoning and an individual who drowned in floodwater.

Damages to Grand Isle, LA were the worst the island had endured since Hurricane Katrina. The "burrito levee", a 13-foot-high surge protector, was breached during Hurricane Ida. In addition, 80% of the island's structures sustained damage, 100% of the Entergy power system was damaged and the Jefferson Parish's water distribution system was damaged.

Category 5 storms can produce winds 157+ miles per hour (mph). Category 5 storms will cause widespread destruction of buildings, including those made of steel frames - roofs will be destroyed and walls will collapse. Nearly all trees and electricity posts will be uprooted meaning that communities will be cut off and without power for weeks, maybe months. Widespread flooding and destruction will make most of the area uninhabitable, and most people will have to be evacuated and housed in temporary accommodation and for weeks or months.

Hurricane Katrina became a large and extremely powerful hurricane that caused enormous destruction and significant loss of life. After moving west across south Florida and into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Katrina intensified rapidly and attained Category 5 status (with peak sustained winds of 175 mph) for a period of time as it moved northwest. Katrina weakened to a Category 3 before making landfall along the northern Gulf Coast, first in southeast Louisiana (sustained winds: 125mph). The loss of life and property damage was heightened by breaks in the levees that separate New Orleans from Lake Pontchartrain. At least 80% of New Orleans was under flood waters on August 31, 2005.

https://www.weather.gov/mob/katrina