In Focus

It’s hard to believe nearly 20 years have passed since Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana. Many of us remember watching the images on television—entire neighborhoods were underwater, people stranded on rooftops, and there were heartbreaking stories of loss. But no photograph or video could truly capture the scale of the disaster. Even for those not directly affected, Katrina remains unforgettable.

On August 29, 2005, Katrina struck Louisiana and Mississippi as one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in U.S. history. Winds reached 140 miles per hour, and storm surges as high as 28 feet overwhelmed coastal defenses. In New Orleans, the surge broke through levees in more than 50 places, flooding 80 percent of the city. By the time the waters receded, more than 1,300 people had died and damages were estimated at $125 billion, making it the costliest hurricane in American history.

While federal and state agencies faltered in their response, it was ordinary people and community groups who led the recovery. Grassroots organizations, faith-based groups, and neighborhood associations stepped in to provide aid, rebuild homes, and preserve the city’s culture. Their work showed that in the face of crisis, resilience often begins at the local level.

Katrina also forced lawmakers to act. In 2006, Congress passed the Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act, which strengthened FEMA’s authority and created new safeguards for people with disabilities. The same year, the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act was passed after it became clear many residents refused to evacuate because they could not bring their pets. And I do not blame them, I wouldn’t leave mine behind either. Later reforms, such as the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018, improved funding for pre-disaster mitigation and planning. These changes were born out of lessons from Katrina’s failures.

As climate change intensifies, storms like Katrina are becoming more common and more destructive. Warmer oceans fuel stronger hurricanes. Rising seas magnify storm surges. And vulnerable communities—often with the fewest resources—bear the greatest risks.

Twenty years later, Katrina remains both a tragedy and a warning. It showed us how fragile our systems were, but it also showed us the strength of communities determined to rebuild. The question now is whether we will take those lessons seriously enough to prepare for the future.

Investing in stronger infrastructure, improving emergency planning, and ensuring no community is left behind are not just policy choices—they are moral responsibilities. Katrina revealed failures, but it also revealed resilience. As the climate crisis grows, we cannot afford to forget either.