As the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, National Geographic is remembering the tragedy with a five-part docuseries told by residents who lived through the storm.
The network released the trailer for Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time on Thursday, June 26.
“If you’re still hearing us and you haven’t left yet, please leave. I hate to say this but I just don’t have enough body bags,” a voice says at the start of the trailer.
“We expected FEMA to come in, but there was no help,” a woman recalls.
“In three minutes, it went from the ground to the roof” a man says about the water.
“I told the guys to go and find whatever boat you can find. We went and did whatever we had to do to try and save peoples’ lives,” a man shares.
A message at the end of the video reads: “The levees broke. The system broke. The people did not.”
According to the official description, “The series exposes how a natural disaster became a national tragedy,” with the five parts told in real time, leading up to and after the hurricane makes landfall.
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The docuseries comes from Oscar and Emmy winners Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn at Lightbox; Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian of Proximity Media; and director Traci A. Curry.
“This is far more than a story about a storm,” said executive producers Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn. “It’s a compelling, essential reexamination of systemic failure and the enduring consequences of decisions made before, during and after the levees broke.”
Hurricane Katrina struck southeastern Louisiana in predominantly Black neighborhoods on Aug. 29, 2005, causing wind gusts up to 100 miles per hour. After floodwaters breached levees in New Orleans, 80 percent of the city was underwater by Aug. 31.
“This series goes beyond the headlines. It reveals stories of survival, heroism and resilience,” added co-executive producers Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian (Proximity Media). “It’s a vital historical record and a call to witness, remember and reckon with the truth of Hurricane Katrina’s legacy.”
The storm claimed an estimated 1,833 lives, according to the National Weather Service. It caused more than $161 billion in damage and remains the costliest hurricane in U.S. history.
Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time premieres July 27 at 8/7c on National Geographic with three back-to-back episodes. All episodes will be available to stream July 28 on Disney+ and Hulu.
The trailer is above and details on the five episodes can be found below:
EPISODE 1: THE COMING STORM
Premieres July 27 at 8/7c, streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu
It’s a typically vibrant New Orleans summer when Hurricane Katrina looms. Sitting in the bullseye of a Category 5, the city faces a reality check. With a delayed evacuation order, many are trapped and forced to brace for the storm’s fury. Residents recount for the first time how they navigated the impending disaster, capturing the harrowing experience of preparing for “The Big One.”
EPISODE 2: WORST CASE SCENARIO
Premieres July 27 at 9/8c, streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu
After Hurricane Katrina passed, citizens soon discovered the levees breached, quickly flooding New Orleans like a bathtub. First responders and everyday citizens jumped in heroically to save locals; many residents were forced to flee their houses for dry land. As residents braved dangerous conditions to survive, ineptitude at all levels of government was exposed as the water rose.
EPISODE 3: A DESPERATE PLACE
Premieres July 27 at 10/9c, streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu
Three days into the flood, rescue operations continue around the clock. Thousands remain trapped, as the government struggles to coordinate a rescue effort. Inside the Superdome, stories of resilience and survival emerge above the sometimes-horrific conditions. Meanwhile, media coverage shifts to emphasize disorder, focusing on looting rather than the thousands still stranded.
EPISODE 4: SHOOT TO KILL
Premieres July 28 at 8/7c, streams same day on Disney+ and Hulu
In post-Katrina New Orleans, Gen. Honoré leads rescue efforts amid pressure to use force, while local heroes tirelessly save lives. Thousands remain stranded in their homes, the Superdome, the convention center, and along the interstate as evacuation efforts continue to fail. Tensions rise while violence erupts and militias target residents.
EPISODE 5: WAKE UP CALL
Premieres July 28 at 9/8c, streams same day on Disney+ and Hulu
New Orleans’ resilient residents exit the city, forming part of the Katrina diaspora. As they navigate the uncertainty of how and when they might restore their lives, a plan for a new New Orleans takes shape. The future of the devastated city hangs in the balance as its residents struggle to return, rebuild and restart their lives even 20 years later.
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