The name of the Category 5 hurricane that hit New Orleans and its surrounding areas in 2005 was Hurricane Katrina. It made landfall on August 29, 2005, causing massive devastation and flooding in the region. It is considered one of the deadliest and costliest natural disasters in the history of the United States, and its effects were felt for many years after the event. The name "Katrina" was retired from the hurricane naming list due to the catastrophic damage it caused.