<human>:  When did the evacuation of New Orleans begin?
<bot>: The evacuation of New Orleans began on August 29, 2005. The hurricane hit New Orleans on August 29, 2005, and it was the worst natural disaster in U.S. history. More than 1,800 people died and more than $100 billion in property damage occurred. The storm surge caused the levees to fail and the flooding caused more than 80% of the city to be under water.