Hurricane Katrina hit the state line between Mississippi and Louisiana, August 29, 2005. New Orleans was moderately affected by the winds. The Mississippi Gulf Coast took the brunt of winds and storm surge. New Orleans flooded due to the failure of man-made levees.
An airplane flying Paris to Houston would have ample opportunity to land anywhere between coastal Atlantic states and Gulf Coast at dozens of airports. It would not be forced to land at Houston.
210 mph winds may be a Cat 6 storm, but it has been recorded for a landfall Hurricane. Hurricane Camille on August 17, 1969, anemometer readings at Keesler AFB measured 225mph winds before the anemometer broke.