"We continue to push for innovative ways to give our consumers the best coverage of Hurricane Katrina," said Charlie Tillinghast, general manager and publisher of MSNBC.com, as he launched "Katrina Flyover," a collection of one-of-a-kind before and after images of coastal and inland areas damaged by the hurricane, including New Orleans, La., and Biloxi, Miss.

 "Working with MSN's Virtual Earth team offers this powerful tool in that effort, unmatched by anyone in the industry," Tillinghast added. 

Taken by Pictometry from Sept. 6-11, the after images were captured from an aircraft flying a grid of the region at an altitude of 2,500 feet. The photos are the highest resolution images publicly available, offering exceptional detail beyond the typical birds-eye view. The low angle at which the photos were taken shows individual buildings and allows zooming capability. Users can actually see the extensive damage to houses, stacks of debris, overturned vehicles and more.

On the map, photos can be searched by individual address, by landmark, or by compass navigation. With this exceptional MSN technology, hurricane evacuees can view their homes, perhaps for the first time since the storm. The tool can also be used to support relief efforts, assist insurers in verifying claims and by officials to determine which areas were hardest hit to prioritize clean-up efforts. The images are free of charge and available only on MSNBC.com.