From Ryan Coogler and His Production Company Proximity Media and the Multiple Award-Winning Producers at Lightbox, the Five-Part Series Premieres Across Two Nights Beginning July 27 at 8/7c on National Geographic;
All Episodes Stream July 28 on Disney+ and Hulu
Katrina From Disaster to Tragedy
The gutwrenching, eye-opening and meticulously researched series displays the horrifying aftermath of one of the most devastating storms in U.S. history. The 20th anniversary series bring to light the injustices, the disparities, the misinformation, and how America failed its own people. It also highlights community, and how civilians and first responders came together to aid their own people.
I kept these tears back as I spoke with Oscar-nominated Director, Traci A. Curry, whose empowering vision drives the series impactful storytelling.
Traci A. Curry is an Academy Award®-nominated filmmaker, producer, showrunner, and writer of powerful stories. She has spent more than two decades creating compelling, in-depth narratives for multi-media platforms across both long and short form. Most recently, Curry spent 18 months directing National Geographic’s upcoming five-part documentary series Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. This meticulously researched series culls thousands of files of archival footage, combined with first-person accounts, to bring revelatory insight into the causes and consequences of Hurricane Katrina two decades later.
Executive produced by Oscar® and Emmy®-winning producers Simon and Jonathan Chinn (Lightbox) and acclaimed filmmaker Ryan Coogler (Proximity Media), and directed by Oscar-nominated Traci A. Curry (“Attica”), HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME. is a groundbreaking series that offers an unprecedented, heart-pounding look at the disaster directly from those who lived through it. It transports viewers into the chaos that engulfed New Orleans, capturing the fear, heroism, and resilience of those who fought to survive.
- As of 2023 the official death toll of Katrina stands at 1392
- Hurricane Katrina displaced more than one million people from the Gulf Coast
Through unprecedented access to archival footage and gut-wrenching eyewitness testimony, HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME is a gripping historical record of the storm and its aftermath. With unflinching urgency, the series exposes how a natural disaster became a national tragedy. The riveting, moment-by-moment portrayal offers new details of how the storm and ensuing flood unfolded in real time and transports viewers into the chaos that engulfed the city in the days leading up to and following the hurricane’s landfall.
- Series Contributors:
- Residents/Survivors: Those directly impacted by the events, offering powerful first-hand accounts.
- Support & First Aid Providers: Individuals who were on the ground, providing crucial aid.
- Scientists: Experts conducting environmental studies and proposing preventative measures for future events.
Law Enforcement Authorities: Key figures addressing the situation and involved in the response efforts.
- 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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Gotham Geek Girl 