The American Insurance Association says Katrina showed stronger buildings save lives. The industry has been urging states and cities to pass rules requiring strong building materials and techniques that help homes resist wind and water. The AIA’s Jim Whittle says homes built with stronger materials and better construction techniques are more likely to survive.

“The roof stays on, the doors stay in position. The windows stay in position, Any time you have some breech within the envelope of the building, that could create a pressurization issue that can result in destruction of the home,” Whittle said.

Facts About Hurricane Katrina

Slammed into New Orleans on August 29, 2005 as a Category 3 hurricane 'Katrina' had sustained winds of 201 kilometers an hour when it came ashore 80-percent of New Orleans flooded after its protective levees were breached 1,800 people were killed More than 1,000,000 residents were forced from their homes US Army Corps of Engineers was given about $14 billion to improve levees and flood walls in New Orleans area

In the floods after Katrina, the U.S. Coast Guard struggled to rescue people stranded on rooftops and elsewhere, using aircraft and boats.

Coast Guard Captain Ed Cubanski says the Coast Guard has moved personnel and equipment out of the direct path of the storm.

“We have assets to the West and the East, and, depending on which directions the storm goes, we can mobilize on the backside to assess what needs to be done, and then we will have the assets to follow in and do the rescues,” Cubanski said.