WASHINGTON – Earlier this week, the U.S. Census Bureau released a report marking the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, comparing pre-Katrina data to the most recent statistics on everything from the racial makeup of New Orleans residents to the number of gas stations and restaurants in the metro area.

As previously reported, the Census Bureau said the population of the New Orleans metropolitan area dropped from 1.38 million in 2004 to 1.252 million in 2014, while the city of New Orleans population declined from 494,294 to 384,320. However, population growth in the past several years has restored New Orleans to 50th place among the nation's top cities for the first time since Hurricane Katrina.

While the Census Bureau report showed that the number of businesses had decreased by 1,677 since Katrina hit in 2005, increases were seen in both the number of gas stations as well as hospitality businesses. The metro area gained 34 gas stations over the past decade, counting 481 in the 2013 census count, compared to 447 pre-Katrina. The New Orleans metro area also has more restaurants and hotels, not including casino hotels, compared to 2005.

At the same time, the region lost 26 pharmacies and drug stores, down to 194 in 2013 from 221 in 2005, as well as experienced a decline of 112 grocery stores since 2005.

In this month’s issue of NACS Magazine, we take a look back at “Katrina: 10 Years Later,” recalling how this devastating natural disaster affected not only the city of New Orleans but the entire convenience and fuel retailing industry.