1A New Orleans And Katrina, 20 Years Later
Aug 28, 2025
Tyrone Turner, WAMU's visuals editor and former National Geographic reporter, shares his firsthand experience of covering Hurricane Katrina. Clint Smith, a staff writer at The Atlantic and New Orleans native, discusses the deep emotional and racial implications of the disaster, while Brianna Sachs, a Washington Post reporter, highlights FEMA's lasting challenges and the need for reform. Together, they reflect on the city's ongoing recovery and the lessons learned in disaster response, emphasizing the importance of community ties and cultural heritage.
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Aerial Shock At The Flooded City
- Tyrone Turner flew over New Orleans after Katrina and saw miles of water and destruction that he couldn't initially grasp from the air.
- He recognized his old neighborhood and high school surrounded by floodwater, making the scale feel unreal.
Warnings And Structural Vulnerability
- National Geographic warned about New Orleans' vulnerability months before Katrina in an article called Gone with the Water.
- Tyrone Turner says weakened wetlands and canal structures amplified storm surge impacts on the city.
Evacuation Felt Different This Time
- Clint Smith recalled evacuating at 17 and watching landmarks like his church and grocery store on TV underwater while in Houston.
- He noted that evacuation had been routine but Katrina felt fundamentally different and more devastating.
