This month marks 20 years since Hurricane Katrina carved its name into the history books as one of the deadliest and most devastating natural disasters in American history.
On Aug. 23, 2005, what began as a tropical depression near the Bahamas quickly gained strength, becoming the 11th named storm of the season — Tropical Storm Katrina. Just two days later, on Aug. 25, it made its first landfall near Miami as a Category 1 hurricane, downing power lines and flooding streets.
But the storm's most destructive chapter was still ahead.
After crossing Florida, Katrina entered the Gulf and rapidly intensified over warm waters, reaching Category 5 status with sustained winds topping 170 mph. On the morning of Aug. 29, 2005, Katrina made its final and most catastrophic landfall along the Gulf Coast as a Category 3.
Though the eye of the storm passed just east of New Orleans, the city bore the brunt of its wrath. Storm surge overwhelmed levees, flooding approximately 80% of the city. Entire neighborhoods were submerged. Tens of thousands of residents were stranded, with many seeking shelter for days at the Superdome under deteriorating conditions.
In the days that followed, the nation watched in disbelief as the scale of the disaster became clear. More than 1,800 people lost their lives, and an estimated 1.5 million were displaced — marking the largest displacement of Americans since the Dust Bowl era.
The federal and local response came under intense scrutiny. FEMA faced widespread criticism for its delayed and inadequate efforts. The storm exposed significant gaps in emergency preparedness and infrastructure resilience.
Recovery was slow and, for many, incomplete. Two decades later, some communities have yet to fully rebuild. However, the storm also prompted sweeping reforms in emergency management, flood protection, and national disaster response protocols.
As the Gulf Coast reflects on Katrina's impact, the scars remain visible — in the levees, in the landscape, and in the lives forever changed. But so do the stories of survival, courage and community strength.
