This area marked the first point of impact for one of the most devastating hurricanes in U.S. history.In November 2006, Jeré Longman of The New York Times wrote that "almost no evidence of recovery exist[ed]" in the post-Hurricane Katrina period.

[6] The town was founded in the 1840s; 20 years later, it was the site of Civil War battles at Forts Jackson and St. Philip.

In the pre-Katrina period (before August 29, 2005) Buras had about 30-40 Cambodian shrimpers, presenting the area's large Asian American population.

In the post-Hurricane period (after August 29, 2005) Brenda Kap, quoted in The New York Times, stated most of them had returned.

[16] In the immediate post-Katrina period no new campuses opened in Buras, leading some residents to feel that the community may further erode.