OK, got my brother connected with NWS NOLA for storm surge info. They are also going to get high tide tonight and it will be an additional 2-3 feet.

At about 24 hours before landfall, Katrina's windfield was as follows: hurricane-force winds extended out 105 miles from the center, and tropical-storm-force winds extended out 205 miles from the center. These distances increased before landfall, as well (to 125mi & 230mi, when the eye was still 2 hours south of NOLA at 8am).

However before landfall the western side of the storm was attenuated greatly, so damaging winds did not extend out that far to the west of a line running along, say, Jefferson Parish, LA.

By comparison, right now Rita is at 80mi and 205mi respectively, about 24 hours from landfall.