Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time

The Coming Storm - Photos

Episodic

Now a District Fire Chief, Paul Hellmers was an New Ooreans Fire Department Captain when Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005. Along with fellow Captain Joe Fincher, he appears to have been the first to have reported and documented a breach in the levees from atop their Katrina HQ. A long distance runner and triathlete, Hellmers later ran an unofficial rescue operation, swimming out into the dying storm to commandeer boats and quickly organize his crew to use their skillset to rescue people from attics, or shuttle evacuees. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

Now a District Fire Chief, Paul Hellmers was an New Ooreans Fire Department Captain when Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005. Along with fellow Captain Joe Fincher, he appears to have been the first to have reported and documented a breach in the levees from atop their Katrina HQ. A long distance runner and triathlete, Hellmers later ran an unofficial rescue operation, swimming out into the dying storm to commandeer boats and quickly organize his crew to use their skillset to rescue people from attics, or shuttle evacuees. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_18.jpg

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Now a District Fire Chief, Paul Hellmers was an New Ooreans Fire Department Captain when Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005. Along with fellow Captain Joe Fincher, he appears to have been the first to have reported and documented a breach in the levees from atop their Katrina HQ. A long distance runner and triathlete, Hellmers later ran an unofficial rescue operation, swimming out into the dying storm to commandeer boats and quickly organize his crew to use their skillset to rescue people from attics, or shuttle evacuees. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

Now a District Fire Chief, Paul Hellmers was an New Ooreans Fire Department Captain when Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005. Along with fellow Captain Joe Fincher, he appears to have been the first to have reported and documented a breach in the levees from atop their Katrina HQ. A long distance runner and triathlete, Hellmers later ran an unofficial rescue operation, swimming out into the dying storm to commandeer boats and quickly organize his crew to use their skillset to rescue people from attics, or shuttle evacuees. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_52.jpg

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Malik Rahim recounts his experience to Director Traci A. Curry while being interviewed for the production of National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

Malik Rahim recounts his experience to Director Traci A. Curry while being interviewed for the production of National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_53.jpg

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FEMA's Marty Bahamonde recounts his experience during Hurricane Katrina while being interviewed for the production of National Geographic's Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. In "The Coming Storm," Hurricane Katrina looms over New Orleans, while residents face a chaotic evacuation. 100,000 are left behind as the city scrambles to hunker down. (National Geographic)

FEMA's Marty Bahamonde recounts his experience during Hurricane Katrina while being interviewed for the production of National Geographic's Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. In "The Coming Storm," Hurricane Katrina looms over New Orleans, while residents face a chaotic evacuation. 100,000 are left behind as the city scrambles to hunker down. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_47.jpg

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Tremé resident Lynette Boutte survived the devastation of Hurricane Katrina through chest-deep waters and the scorching concrete of the Claiborne Bridge. Boutte, who is now an advocate for the restoration of the culture and heritage of New Orleans, recounts her experience during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

Tremé resident Lynette Boutte survived the devastation of Hurricane Katrina through chest-deep waters and the scorching concrete of the Claiborne Bridge. Boutte, who is now an advocate for the restoration of the culture and heritage of New Orleans, recounts her experience during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_43.jpg

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Tremé resident Lynette Boutte survived the devastation of Hurricane Katrina through chest-deep waters and the scorching concrete of the Claiborne Bridge. Boutte, who is now an advocate for the restoration of the culture and heritage of New Orleans, recounts her experience during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

Tremé resident Lynette Boutte survived the devastation of Hurricane Katrina through chest-deep waters and the scorching concrete of the Claiborne Bridge. Boutte, who is now an advocate for the restoration of the culture and heritage of New Orleans, recounts her experience during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_42.jpg

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Keith Craft lived in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Unable to evacuate, he and other family members seek shelter at a his brother’s home on the lower 9th Ward. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural.

Keith Craft lived in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Unable to evacuate, he and other family members seek shelter at a his brother’s home on the lower 9th Ward. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_54.jpg

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When Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005, Lucrece Phillips lived in New Orleans’ 8th Ward, almost at the beginning of the 9th Ward. She was interviewed soon after escaping her attic by a Times-Picayune reporter. She recounts her experience during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. My house was in the Eighth Ward, almost the beginning of the Ninth Ward.

When Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005, Lucrece Phillips lived in New Orleans’ 8th Ward, almost at the beginning of the 9th Ward. She was interviewed soon after escaping her attic by a Times-Picayune reporter. She recounts her experience during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. My house was in the Eighth Ward, almost the beginning of the Ninth Ward. Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_40.jpg

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When Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005, Lucrece Phillips lived in New Orleans’ 8th Ward, almost at the beginning of the 9th Ward. She was interviewed soon after escaping her attic by a Times-Picayune reporter. She recounts her experience during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. My house was in the Eighth Ward, almost the beginning of the Ninth Ward.

When Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005, Lucrece Phillips lived in New Orleans’ 8th Ward, almost at the beginning of the 9th Ward. She was interviewed soon after escaping her attic by a Times-Picayune reporter. She recounts her experience during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. My house was in the Eighth Ward, almost the beginning of the Ninth Ward. Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_41.jpg

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LSU Hurricane Center Co-founder Ivor Van Heerden discusses events surrounding Hurricane Katrina and other hurricanes during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. Van Heerden is known for his criticism of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), attributing the 2005 levee failures in New Orleans to their faulty design and execution. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

LSU Hurricane Center Co-founder Ivor Van Heerden discusses events surrounding Hurricane Katrina and other hurricanes during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. Van Heerden is known for his criticism of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), attributing the 2005 levee failures in New Orleans to their faulty design and execution. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_26.jpg

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LSU Hurricane Center Co-founder Ivor Van Heerden discusses events surrounding Hurricane Katrina and other hurricanes during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. Van Heerden is known for his criticism of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), attributing the 2005 levee failures in New Orleans to their faulty design and execution. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

LSU Hurricane Center Co-founder Ivor Van Heerden discusses events surrounding Hurricane Katrina and other hurricanes during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. Van Heerden is known for his criticism of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), attributing the 2005 levee failures in New Orleans to their faulty design and execution. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_25.jpg

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When Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005, Eddie Compass was New Orleans' Police Department Chief/Superintendent. He recounts his experience as key figure in many of Katrina’s political controversies, during an interview conducted for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

When Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005, Eddie Compass was New Orleans' Police Department Chief/Superintendent. He recounts his experience as key figure in many of Katrina’s political controversies, during an interview conducted for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_31.jpg

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When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, John Keller lived in the American Cannery building located in New Orleans’ 5th Ward. He helped organize his fellow building residents to move to the rooftop so they could be rescued. He recounts his experience during an interview for the production of National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, John Keller lived in the American Cannery building located in New Orleans’ 5th Ward. He helped organize his fellow building residents to move to the rooftop so they could be rescued. He recounts his experience during an interview for the production of National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_46.jpg

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Thanh Truong was a reporter for WWL4 TV station when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

Thanh Truong was a reporter for WWL4 TV station when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_30.jpg

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When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Malik Rahim was a West Bank, an Algiers Point resident. He recounts his experience while being interviewed for the production of National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Malik Rahim was a West Bank, an Algiers Point resident. He recounts his experience while being interviewed for the production of National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_24.jpg

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When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Shelton Alexander lived in Violet, La., St. Bernard Parish. Using his video camera, he starts recording as the winds started picking up and narrates his experience over hours of footage from the Superdome – the storm as experienced inside the Dome, where thousands of people found shelter and waited for rescue. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Shelton Alexander lived in Violet, La., St. Bernard Parish. Using his video camera, he starts recording as the winds started picking up and narrates his experience over hours of footage from the Superdome – the storm as experienced inside the Dome, where thousands of people found shelter and waited for rescue. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_08.jpg

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Now a District Fire Chief, Paul Hellmers was an New Ooreans Fire Department Captain when Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005. Along with fellow Captain Joe Fincher, he appears to have been the first to have reported and documented a breach in the levees from atop their Katrina HQ. A long distance runner and triathlete, Hellmers later ran an unofficial rescue operation, swimming out into the dying storm to commandeer boats and quickly organize his crew to use their skillset to rescue people from attics, or shuttle evacuees. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

Now a District Fire Chief, Paul Hellmers was an New Ooreans Fire Department Captain when Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005. Along with fellow Captain Joe Fincher, he appears to have been the first to have reported and documented a breach in the levees from atop their Katrina HQ. A long distance runner and triathlete, Hellmers later ran an unofficial rescue operation, swimming out into the dying storm to commandeer boats and quickly organize his crew to use their skillset to rescue people from attics, or shuttle evacuees. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_20.jpg

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When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Ricky Robin was in his boat in the Violet Canal, St. Bernard Parish. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Ricky Robin was in his boat in the Violet Canal, St. Bernard Parish. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_34.jpg

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When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Ricky Robin was in his boat in the Violet Canal, St. Bernard Parish. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Ricky Robin was in his boat in the Violet Canal, St. Bernard Parish. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_35.jpg

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When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Shelton Alexander lived in Violet, La., St. Bernard Parish. Using his video camera, he starts recording as the winds started picking up and narrates his experience over hours of footage from the Superdome – the storm as experienced inside the Dome, where thousands of people found shelter and waited for rescue. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Shelton Alexander lived in Violet, La., St. Bernard Parish. Using his video camera, he starts recording as the winds started picking up and narrates his experience over hours of footage from the Superdome – the storm as experienced inside the Dome, where thousands of people found shelter and waited for rescue. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_09.jpg

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When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Malik Rahim was a West Bank, an Algiers Point resident. He recounts his experience while being interviewed for the production of National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Malik Rahim was a West Bank, an Algiers Point resident. He recounts his experience while being interviewed for the production of National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_23.jpg

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When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Malik Rahim was a West Bank, an Algiers Point resident. He recounts his experience while being interviewed for the production of National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Malik Rahim was a West Bank, an Algiers Point resident. He recounts his experience while being interviewed for the production of National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_22.jpg

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Alice Craft-Kerney was a nurse at Charity Hospital when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Unable to evacuate, she and other family members seek shelter at a her brother’s home on the lower 9th Ward. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

Alice Craft-Kerney was a nurse at Charity Hospital when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Unable to evacuate, she and other family members seek shelter at a her brother’s home on the lower 9th Ward. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_36.jpg

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A police car drives through the empty streets of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. (Neil Alexander)

A police car drives through the empty streets of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. (Neil Alexander) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_UHD_06.jpg

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When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Eric A. Wright lived in the 7th Ward’s Gentilly neighborhood. After weathering the storm, he connected with a local friend, grabbed a boat and some gas, and began rescuing people. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Eric A. Wright lived in the 7th Ward’s Gentilly neighborhood. After weathering the storm, he connected with a local friend, grabbed a boat and some gas, and began rescuing people. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_06.jpg

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Joseph Fincher was a Captain with the the New Orleans Fire Department Captain when Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005. Along with fellow Captain Paul Hellmers, he appears to have been the first to have reported and documented a breach in the levees from atop their Katrina HQ. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

Joseph Fincher was a Captain with the the New Orleans Fire Department Captain when Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005. Along with fellow Captain Paul Hellmers, he appears to have been the first to have reported and documented a breach in the levees from atop their Katrina HQ. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_12.jpg

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Alice Craft-Kerney was a nurse at Charity Hospital when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Unable to evacuate, she and other family members seek shelter at a her brother’s home on the lower 9th Ward. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

Alice Craft-Kerney was a nurse at Charity Hospital when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Unable to evacuate, she and other family members seek shelter at a her brother’s home on the lower 9th Ward. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_38.jpg

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Thanh Truong was a reporter for WWL4 TV station when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

Thanh Truong was a reporter for WWL4 TV station when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_29.jpg

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When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Sally Forman was Director of Communication for the city. She offers an insider's view of life in a disaster zone where communications and resources were practically non-existent during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Sally Forman was Director of Communication for the city. She offers an insider's view of life in a disaster zone where communications and resources were practically non-existent during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_01.jpg

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Mark Schleifstein worked as a reporter for the Times-Picayune when Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005. He recounts his experience during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

Mark Schleifstein worked as a reporter for the Times-Picayune when Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005. He recounts his experience during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_15.jpg

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Big Chief Kevin Goodman is a cultural ambassador, coming from a family immersed in the rich traditions of the 7th Ward Black Masking Indian (also referred to as Mardi Gras Indian) culture, which blends African, Native American, and Creole influences. During Katrina, weakened from days without food and water, Goodman bravely held his months-old twin nieces in his arms as he stood in front of news cameras to report the reality of what was happening at the Convention Center. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

Big Chief Kevin Goodman is a cultural ambassador, coming from a family immersed in the rich traditions of the 7th Ward Black Masking Indian (also referred to as Mardi Gras Indian) culture, which blends African, Native American, and Creole influences. During Katrina, weakened from days without food and water, Goodman bravely held his months-old twin nieces in his arms as he stood in front of news cameras to report the reality of what was happening at the Convention Center. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_14.jpg

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Mark Schleifstein worked as a reporter for the Times-Picayune when Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005. He recounts his experience during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

Mark Schleifstein worked as a reporter for the Times-Picayune when Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005. He recounts his experience during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_16.jpg

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When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Sally Forman was Director of Communication for the city. She offers an insider's view of life in a disaster zone where communications and resources were practically non-existent during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, Sally Forman was Director of Communication for the city. She offers an insider's view of life in a disaster zone where communications and resources were practically non-existent during an interview for National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, the series reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_02.jpg

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Residents of New Orleans navigate flood waters after Hurricane Katrina. (Pond5)

Residents of New Orleans navigate flood waters after Hurricane Katrina. (Pond5) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_UHD_07.jpg

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Big Chief Kevin Goodman is a cultural ambassador, coming from a family immersed in the rich traditions of the 7th Ward Black Masking Indian (also referred to as Mardi Gras Indian) culture, which blends African, Native American, and Creole influences. During Katrina, weakened from days without food and water, Goodman bravely held his months-old twin nieces in his arms as he stood in front of news cameras to report the reality of what was happening at the Convention Center. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

Big Chief Kevin Goodman is a cultural ambassador, coming from a family immersed in the rich traditions of the 7th Ward Black Masking Indian (also referred to as Mardi Gras Indian) culture, which blends African, Native American, and Creole influences. During Katrina, weakened from days without food and water, Goodman bravely held his months-old twin nieces in his arms as he stood in front of news cameras to report the reality of what was happening at the Convention Center. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_13.jpg

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Hurricane Katrina batters infrastructure in New Orleans. (Prairie Pictures' StormStock)

Hurricane Katrina batters infrastructure in New Orleans. (Prairie Pictures' StormStock) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_UHD_04.jpg

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An aerial view of a levee breach and flooded New Orleans near Lake Marina Towers. (Paul Hellmers)

An aerial view of a levee breach and flooded New Orleans near Lake Marina Towers. (Paul Hellmers) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_UHD_05.jpg

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Ivor van Heerden working at his desk. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Ivor van Heerden working at his desk. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_UHD_01.jpg

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Mayor Nagin orders a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina. (ABC News Videosource)

Mayor Nagin orders a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina. (ABC News Videosource) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_UHD_02.jpg

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When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Shelton Alexander lived in Violet, La., St. Bernard Parish. Using his video camera, he starts recording as the winds started picking up and narrates his experience over hours of footage from the Superdome – the storm as experienced inside the Dome, where thousands of people found shelter and waited for rescue. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic)

When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, Shelton Alexander lived in Violet, La., St. Bernard Parish. Using his video camera, he starts recording as the winds started picking up and narrates his experience over hours of footage from the Superdome – the storm as experienced inside the Dome, where thousands of people found shelter and waited for rescue. With emotional accounts of survivors and immersive archival footage, National Geographic's Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time reveals Hurricane Katrina as a disaster that was anything but natural. (National Geographic) Episode: #01 "The Coming Storm" Air Date 07/27/2025 101_TheComingStorm_HurricaneKatrinaRaceAgainstTime_49.jpg

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