Hurricane Katrina’s Legacy: A New Orleans Survivor Reflects 20 Years Later

Twenty years have passed since Hurricane Katrina battered the Gulf Coast, leaving New Orleans and its neighbors scarred in ways still visible today. For many, Katrina wasn’t just a storm; it was a life marker, a before and after that split families, neighborhoods, and even the city itself. While some wounds have faded, others remain fresh, etched into the landscape and the memories of those who lived through that August in 2005.

Video Summary generated with Artificial Intelligence. Source: WESH 2 News.

Remembering Hurricane Katrina’s Devastation

Hurricane Katrina stands as one of the most devastating and expensive natural disasters to ever hit the United States. The storm’s power, combined with failing levees, pushed water deep into neighborhoods already vulnerable due to New Orleans’ geography. Even two decades on, reminders of that destruction are everywhere in the city each year, from fallen foundations to the stories survivors hold close.

Katrina by the Numbers:

• Over 1,300 lives lost
• Hundreds of thousands displaced
• Widespread destruction of homes and infrastructure

When Katrina struck, some of New Orleans’ tightest-knit communities were hit the hardest. Recovery has been slow in places, marked by both physical scars and lasting trauma. Twenty years later, you can still see and feel the echoes of loss, especially in neighborhoods like the Lower Ninth Ward.

Katrina by the Numbers

Statistic	Figure
Death toll	1,300+
People displaced	Hundreds of thousands
Estimated cost	$125 billion+
Homes destroyed	134,000+
Time to restore power citywide	Months

Personal Stories from the Storm Surge

Some experiences stick to the heart, none more so than Robert Lynn Green Sr.’s account of Hurricane Katrina. Robert, a lifelong New Orleans resident, wasn’t able to evacuate with his family to the Superdome. Instead, as the storm closed in, they stayed home, trusting the walls around them to shield them from the wind and water.

But nature had other plans.
That morning we were fighting the storm surge and our house lifted off its foundation. We floated on the roof of the house, not knowing where we would wound up.

As the waters kept rising, Robert remembers grabbing family members and climbing to the attic. With nowhere left to go, they broke through the roof, hoping for safety above the floodline.

Their house became a boat in a sea of chaos, floating through streets-turned-rivers. The moment of impact came as their home collided with another, and in the confusion, tragedy struck.

My three year old granddaughter fell in the water. Disappeared in 25 feet of water and through the wind and the waves, I was never able to find her. I lost my mother that day as well.

These words capture the heartbreak so many endured. Robert’s story is not unique. Over 1,300 people died during Katrina and countless families were uprooted, losing not just possessions but the very things that made a place home.

Meteorological Perspective – What Made New Orleans Vulnerable

To understand Katrina’s path and why New Orleans was so hard-hit, former WDSU chief meteorologist Margaret Orr offered insight from science and firsthand observation. Margaret described how, after the storm, she saw an unstoppable wall of water sweeping through the city.

It was about two feet high, maybe, but it was moving. And I knew the city would flood until we reached an equilibrium with the lake.

New Orleans sits in a natural bowl below sea level. This means that the higher water level in canals and lakes is literally held back by large levees and floodwalls. When the protection failed—like at the London Avenue Canal—water traveled straight from the breach into homes, pouring in until water inside the city matched the height outside.

Key reasons for severe flooding in New Orleans:

• Much of the city sits below sea level, surrounded by water on three sides
• Levee and floodwall breaches let high water into low-lying neighborhoods
• The city’s “bowl effect” led to water collecting in populated areas with little escape

A look at a map or diagram of New Orleans shows the stark changes in elevation. In some areas, the difference between water in a canal and a nearby living room is a matter of feet, not yards. When water found a weak spot in the system, it poured in like a faucet left turned on.

Community Resilience – Life After Katrina

Despite unimaginable loss, New Orleans refuses to be defined by disaster. The city’s unique spirit shines brightest in how people remember, rebuild, and continue to celebrate life. Robert Lynn Green Sr. keeps the steps to his old home—a symbol of what was lost, and a daily reminder of what matters most.

It isn’t denial; it’s hope. The Lower Ninth Ward and places like it hold onto their history while looking forward. When people ask why residents chose to come back after the storm, the answer comes from the heart.

Mardi Gras, JazzFest, and so many other traditions bring people together, echoing resilience. For New Orleans, these events aren’t just parties—they’re proof of endurance, music, laughter, and memory, mixing together with every parade and saxophone note.

Robert offers this message to outsiders:

People don’t want to come to just be looky loos. They want to come to help. They want to come to know what happened.

It’s a truth both honest and inviting. Visitors find a city changed but not beaten. The soul of New Orleans pulses in its culture, its festivals, and its warm welcomes. Residents know that, for all Katrina took, she could never drown the city’s joy.

Lessons from Katrina for Homeowners and Insurance

Katrina’s aftermath brought hard lessons not just for survivors but for everyone navigating insurance claims. In the weeks and months following the storm, families struggled to sort out policies, prove their losses, and rebuild lives from scratch.

An expert in flood-related insurance shared a reality that catches many off guard:

• 43% of all flood losses nationally happen outside officially designated flood zones.
• Many homeowners not in a flood zone feel safe skipping extra coverage, only to be surprised by unexpected disasters.

Practical insurance tips for homeowners:

• Review both homeowner’s insurance and flood policies annually.
• Buy flood insurance even if you’re not in a “special hazard” area.
• Use the same insurance carrier for your home and flood policies to avoid claim confusion.
• Keep important paperwork, photos, and receipts in a safe, waterproof place.

Rising insurance rates remain a challenge, especially in areas like Florida. Many now rely on Citizens Property Insurance (the state-run insurer), as private options pull back or become unaffordable. Florida continues to work toward bringing more private carriers to ease the pressure on Citizens and offer more choices for homeowners.

Flood Insurance FAQ

Q: Do I need flood insurance if I don’t live in a flood zone?
A: Yes. Floods can—and do—happen outside official zones. Nearly half of all losses are in these areas.

Q: Why have one carrier for both policies?
A: Filing claims is smoother when one company handles both wind and water damages.

Q: Can I buy flood insurance anytime?
A: Most policies have a 30-day waiting period, so don’t wait for a storm to approach.

Media Coverage and Continuing Awareness

The power of Katrina’s story lives on thanks to continued media coverage and survivor accounts. Stations like WESH 2 News’ New Orleans affiliate keep the spotlight on what happened, how communities have changed, and what still needs healing.

Hearing survivors like Robert tell their stories isn’t just history—it’s a reminder that real people still face the consequences of that storm, every day. Sharing these stories helps ensure the lessons and memories aren’t lost to time.

For those who want to see video accounts or read more updates, there’s a wealth of resources available:

• WESH 2 News on YouTube has video coverage of survivors and special reports.
• WESH official site shares local reporting and in-depth features.
• You can stay connected with updates from WESH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

To keep up with fresh insights or moving survivor stories, subscribe or follow WESH 2 News. You’ll find firsthand accounts, recovery updates, and important advice that can make a difference when the next storm approaches.

Conclusion

Hurricane Katrina changed New Orleans forever. It taught hard lessons about safety, loss, and what it means to call a place home. Yet, in the Lower Ninth Ward and every corner of the city, people proved that tragedy can’t silence hope. By telling and hearing stories—from survivors, from experts, from the pulse of the city itself—we remind each other what truly matters.

Twenty years later, the scars are real, but so is the spirit that brings New Orleans together. It’s in the music, the festivals, the unbreakable friendships, and the will to rebuild. Katrina’s legacy is more than loss. It’s about how a city, and its people, rise every day to face tomorrow.