Katrina Stories: 20 Years Gone
A groundbreaking documentary uncovering the untold stories of Hurricane Katrina, examining the controversial role of the Army Corps of Engineers, and exploring the lasting impact on communities two decades later.
About the Film
Feature Documentary
90-minute investigative film premiering August 2025, marking the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's devastating impact on the Gulf Coast.
Untold Engineering Stories
Uncovers critical issues regarding the Army Corps of Engineers' role in the disaster that have remained hidden from public discourse for two decades.
Exclusive Content
Features never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with key witnesses, survivors, and experts who reveal new perspectives on the catastrophe.
Twenty Years Later: Why Katrina Still Matters
1
2005
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans, becoming a defining event in American history and exposing systemic failures at multiple levels of government.
2
2015
A decade after the storm, uneven recovery highlights persistent inequities in rebuilding efforts and resource allocation across communities.
3
2025
Twenty years on, Katrina's legacy continues to shape policy, culture, and identity, with many neighborhoods still bearing scars of unresolved trauma and loss.
The Untold Issues with the Army Corps of Engineers
Critical Failures
Catastrophic levee breaches that could have been prevented
Design Flaws
Decades of engineering missteps and ignored warnings
Legal Accountability
Unresolved questions of responsibility and compensation
Suppressed Evidence
Documents and testimony hidden from public view
Stories from the Storm: Personal Accounts
Before the Storm
Life in vibrant Black and Indigenous communities of New Orleans before Katrina struck, highlighting cultural heritage and community bonds.
During the Disaster
First-hand accounts of survival during the hurricane and subsequent flooding, revealing both tragedy and extraordinary human resilience.
Displacement
Stories of forced relocation, separated families, and the struggle to maintain cultural identity while displaced across the country.
Rebuilding Lives
Long-term journeys of those who returned to rebuild and those who created new lives elsewhere, examining the meaning of home and community.
Legacy, Justice, and Climate Realities
1
1
Environmental Justice
How Katrina exposed and exacerbated environmental racism in vulnerable communities, creating a blueprint for understanding climate injustice nationwide.
2
2
Community Advocacy
Grassroots organizing that emerged from the crisis to fight for equitable recovery and future protection for all neighborhoods.
3
3
Climate Preparation
New infrastructure and policy approaches developed over two decades to address the realities of more frequent extreme weather events.
4
4
Ongoing Struggles
Continued challenges faced by Gulf South communities as they navigate increasing climate threats with limited resources.
Watch, Learn, Take Action
View the Documentary
Catch the film at premiere screenings across the Gulf South starting August 2025, followed by festival circuit appearances and digital streaming release in Fall 2025.
Deepen Your Understanding
Access our curated resource library featuring legal analyses, engineering reports, oral histories, and connections to community organizations continuing Katrina-related work.
Support Climate Resilience
Join efforts to strengthen vulnerable communities through donations, volunteering, or advocating for policy changes that address both past injustices and future climate threats.
Share Your Story
Contribute to our ongoing oral history project documenting the extended impact of Katrina across generations and geographies.
Remembering and Moving Forward
1,833
Lives Lost
Honoring those who perished in the hurricane and its aftermath, whose stories must never be forgotten.
20
Years of Resilience
Celebrating two decades of community strength, cultural preservation, and determination to rebuild.
100,000+
Displaced Residents
Acknowledging those who never returned and the diaspora of New Orleanians across America.
True healing requires confronting uncomfortable truths about engineering failures, governmental neglect, and systemic inequities. Join us in this ongoing conversation about memory, justice, and the path forward.
