Complete the text with the verbs in the grammatically appropriate form

Hardly [ ] the hurricane alert, when many immediately decided to go. By the time hurricane Katrina approached New Orleans, numerous citizens [ ] refuge. However, many did not want to leave before the hurricane [ ] for real. Soon some information came that the hurricane [ ] the protective levels — flood defenses protecting the city from the ocean. Tens of thousands [ ] several nights on rooftops of their houses before the troops came to their rescue. Journalists reported that Katrina [ ] part of the stadium roof where many [ ] escape hoping the place was safe.The hurricane [ ] fast areas that had never had such a disaster. The wind was so strong that it easily [ ] centenary palm trees. A witness later recalled that hurricane Katrina [ ] in on the city «like a ton of bricks».