re: Unreleased footage of hurricane Katrina from New Orleans fire department documentary

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Cousin lived miles inland [still low] in MS and had feet of water inside his house.

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I was looking at a FEMA storm surge map about 6 months after the storm (I think. It's all kind of a blur...), but it was the first map released. According to their estimates, the back bay of Bay St Louis had the highest storm surge. The water pushed into the bay and drove up those creeks and rivers massively. I can't remember the estimate exactly, but it was over 30'. We had a carpenter friend who lived near one of those creeks/sloughs on the east end of the bay. He stayed for the storm. The floor of his raised house was 18' above sea level. They went out of a window when the water was rapidly rising. Tried to get on the roof, but were unable. He and his son washed into some trees and were able to hold on. He said he watched the water rise over the roof of his house, so he was happy to be in a tree instead of his attic.

We estimated about 29' to 30' feet at my Aunt's based on water marks on interior doors and walls (covered in sea grass). FEMA's estimate for that section of PC was 27' or 28'. So they weren't far off with their mapping estimates, at least in our area.