Plaquemines Parish

Rural Plaquemines Parish, located about 50 miles southeast of New Orleans, Louisiana, contains the first 70 miles of the Mississippi River. The area was hit hard during Hurricane Katrina, and was evacuated again in 2008 as Hurricane Gustav closed in on the Louisiana coastline, over-running two of the area's levees and threatening as many as 300 homes.¹ The parish has a population of about 21,500 citizens.¹

Fast Facts

1. At least 3 deaths in the parish during Hurricane Katrina
2. Nearly 2 million Louisiana residents in total have fled Hurricane Gustav
3. Power and Internet service went out the morning of September 1
4. Name "plaquemines" comes from Native American word for "persimmon"
5. Area: 2,429 sq mi

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