National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warning: Victims of Hurricane Katrina fight through the crowd as they line up for buses to evacuate the Superdome and New Orleans, Sept. 1, 2005. Storm refugees reported being raped, shot and robbed, gangs of teenagers hijacked boats meant to rescue them, and frustrated hurricane victims menaced outmanned law officers. Hurricane Katrina Day by Day | National Geographic - YouTube Even $20, if thats all you can afford in the recession, that helps. 2005 Hurricane Katrina: Facts, FAQs, and how to help She contacted the New Orleans police in October and filed a report that she was beaten with a bat and raped on Sept. 6th in broad daylight next to a flooded McDonald's at Gentilly Boulevard and Elysian Fields, near her father's house. Listen 7:57. According to a New York Times article of September 29, "During six days when the Superdome was used as a shelter, the head of the New Orleans Police Department's sex crimes unit, Lt. David . By the end of the day, it is upgraded to Tropical Storm Katrina, with 50 mph maximum sustained winds. Mann and Pass | The Cultural Visualization of Hurricane Katrina The city's buses have been positioned around the city in locations that have never been flooded. "A close eye will be kept this system could strengthen ". His death came nearly two years to the day after his wifes passing. Hurricane Katrina Superdome. Then we kind of figure out ways that we could coordinate. More women are coming forward with stories of sexual assault in the lawless days after the storm. The California Disaster Medical Assistance Team spent 24 hellish hours inside the Superdome. ", At that time, I thought we had done a pretty good job because we had gotten about 80 percent of the people out. And he said: 'Mr. He announces FEMA is moving supplies and equipment into the hardest hit areas. I'm just not going to go on, on public television and bash in the middle of a disaster what I think people should or should not be doing. Since many New Orleans streets are still filled with stagnant, fetid waters smelling of garbage and raw sewage, the military was considering using planes to spray for mosquitoes.". hurricane katrina ripped through the Gulf Coast, claiming 1,800 lives. Dave Cohen was one of the few reporters to stay in New Orleans as Katrina bore down on the city, and continued broadcasting as the . More Stories Emerge of Rapes in Post-Katrina Chaos : NPR Walter Maestri, Jefferson Parish emergency manager: Other people call me the Dr. Phil of the streets.. Interstate 10 is shut down with damage to 40 percent of its Twin Span Bridge over Lake Ponchartrain. In October 2005, The Historic New Orleans Collection initiated Through Hell and High Water: Katrina's First Responders Oral History Project, partnering with local, state, and federal agencies to document their experiences. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. Walter Maestri, Jefferson Parish emergency manager: Richard Falkenrath, Homeland Security Adviser (2001-2004): In Fight Against ISIS, a Lose-Lose Scenario Poses Challenge for West. By. The interviews done as part of this project reflect the disaster's painful, chaotic, and murky aftermath. Thats just one of the chain of catastrophes at the local, state and national level brought to vivid life in FRONTLINEs Emmy Award-winning 2005 documentaryThe Storm. HBO. The numbers are not dramatic, but they are significant when seen in light of the official number of post-Katrina rapes and attempted rapes: four. Ray Nagin, mayor of New Orleans: But I am happy to help, even if it takes me an extra two hours at the grocery store. The account of her rape was verified by a trained forensic nurse at Earl K. Long Hospital in Baton Rouge, where Lewis sought treatment. We have so much intelligence down here in New Orleans, and yet, even four years after the hurricane, we cant rely on the school system. More than 1 million more in the Gulf region were displaced. HBO. 14 Days - A Timeline | The Storm | FRONTLINE | PBS Under the best of circumstances, rape is one of the hardest crimes to solve. The Katrina images we see in the film -- people on rooftops, the Superdome being shredded by hurricane winds, dogs stranded in attics -- are ones that once would have been guaranteed to put lumps . "[Michael] Brown I did not see the first couple of days. 'Katrina Babies' documentary explores the childhood impact of Hurricane and catcalls of 'What took you so long?,' a National Guard convoy packed with food, water and medicine rolled through axle-deep floodwaters Friday into what remained of New Orleans and descended into a maelstrom of fires and floating corpses. "All I know is on Wednesday night I was convinced that there were no FEMA buses. Your email address will not be published. Katrina first made landfall in South Florida. Where is all the things that we need to get out of here?"' Kathleen Blanco: Brian Williams' reporting on Katrina: What we know - CNNMoney Surviving the Superdome. Thousands of troops poured into the city September. We were moving school buses in. Producer Martin Smith: Were they going back and forth with each other? The storm traveled the Gulf of Mexico and then made landfall on the Gulf Coast in southeast Louisiana near the town of Buras, on Aug. 29, 2005. Around 6 a.m., Category 4 Hurricane Katrina strikes the Gulf Coast with 145 mph maximum sustained winds. ', So they went into another section of the plane, had a meeting. ", Michael Brown, FEMA director: "As I have said, I think that one of the biggest mistakes that I made as the FEMA director during Katrina was not immediately turning to the military and saying: 'We have been overwhelmed. The Katrina survivors who fled devastation only to freeze in Texas It is 250 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. President Bush flies over the area on his way back to Washington. You'll receive access to exclusive information and early alerts about our documentaries and investigations. Who Is Pamela Mahogany Really Happened At The Superdome? New Orleans resident climbing through roof of house. New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, as seen in the new documentary Katrina Babies. The Times-Picayune reports that 4,600 active duty troops under the command of Gen. Russel Honor arrive in New Orleans. But we were working frantically to get it out. Driving in from the popular suburb of Metairie, it's the first building you pass. Mayor Ray Nagin orders the total evacuation of New Orleans due to the dangers posed by the contaminated standing water. Some 11,000 National Guardsmen are now on duty in Louisiana and increased security begins to have an effect on lawlessness in New Orleans, although some violence continues. My old high school, Joseph S. Clark, shut down, and we dont even have parks yet for kids to hang out inthats what we did in the 70s, at leastIm still trying to petition for these things, to organize our community, and these fool ass people have not yet gotten down here to rebuild. A suicide did occur inside the Superdome, . And the bosses say, 'Oh, okay. Kathleen Blanco, governor of Louisiana: Ultimately, more than 300 soldiers would be trapped inside their own headquarters. It doesn't make any sense.". Water Supply when Disaster Strikes: A Look Back at Hurricane Katrina Gov. so you had a very dynamic situation.". As Katrina hit, Alexander found himself in a desperate situation. Explore FRONTLINEs collected and ongoing reporting on Russia's war on Ukraine. Hurricane Katrina - Aftermath and flood-protection system Neville says she was sexually assaulted early the morning of Aug. 31st, while she was sleeping on the roof of Drew Elementary School in the Bywater Neighborhood, where she and others had taken refuge. The population of New Orleans was about 400,000 by 2020, some 20 percent below its population in 2000. Here in New Orleans East, we desperately need a hospital. And I knew it wasn't true, because 8:00 or 10:00 that morning, I received a report from one of my staffers that either a levee had been topped or had actually broken. Michael Brown, FEMA director: "Most of the area will be uninhabitable for weeks perhaps longer. Katrina documentary 'Mine' recounts pet owners' post-storm trials - NOLA In Louisiana, New Orleans is of particular concern because much of that city lies below sea level. During Hurricane Katrina, then known as the Louisiana Superdome, the arena was used as . Directed by New Orleans native Edward Buckles Jr., who was a teenager when Katrina struck, the documentary, which premieres Thursday on HBO, reminds us of the storm's real-life ramifications. There was all kinds of crime taking place on a much higher level than usual. New Orleans and the Superdome Post-Katrina | Nealon Discussion Blog Evacuating hospitals is a top priority: Patients and staff are stranded and supplies and power are dwindling. At 7 am Katrina is a Category 5 with 160 mph maximum sustained winds. "I think that that was probably over-reported," he says. At 10 a.m., the Thorntons headed together to the Superdome. New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, as seen in the new documentary Katrina Babies. The hurricane caused billions of dollars of damage to the city, and killed thousands. '", Mayor Ray Nagin We'd sent them all the information they needed. And at that time I took some liberties I probably shouldn't take. Over 1,800 people lost their lives in the hurricane and an estimated 1 million people were displaced from their homes. The choice was either run the risk of becoming stranded or take a detour to wait the storm out for a day or two in the Superdome. Instead, officers at the compound arrested Glover. Oh, absolutely not. I went to the Adjutant General [Landreneau] and I went to Gov. [Secretary of Homeland Security Michael] Chertoff is there. Gov. So many people have Katrina Fatigue, as I like to call itthe hurricane is four years out, and I applaud anything that brings another testimony into the public conversation; that shows people how bad it was, and how bad it still is. Hurricane Katrina Superdome Photos and Premium High Res Pictures We do our video conference calls before and during disasters. Surviving the Superdome - JEMS And that was that.". The police department -- reeling from desertions, flooding and the immensity of the disaster -- was in a survival mode itself. Crimes after Katrina may have been overblown - NBC News With a death toll of more than 1,800, Katrina was the third-deadliest hurricane in US history after Galveston in 1900 (which killed 8,000 to . "At that stage, we had mission-assigned the Department of Defense to start giving us everything they could in terms of air-lift capability. A Louisiana State University computer model of a 115 mph storm strike shows the overtopping of levees protecting New Orleans and nearby areas. special video+discussion+teacher's guide+readings & links In television interviews, Michael Brown, FEMA director, states that he only just heard about the suffering at the Convention Center, when in fact, he tells FRONTLINE, he misspoke; he was told the previous day about the situation. And then somebody came and called me and said, 'The president would like to see you.' Director of HBO Max documentary 'Katrina Babies' chronicles a Concerned over unreported and underreported rapes, her organization, together with the National Sexual Violence Resource Center -- which is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- created a national database to track sexual assaults that happened after Katrina. More women are coming forward with stories of sexual . So I can assume what the criminals were thinking, and that's exactly what happened.". And Mayor Nagin expressed his concerns. " Troops poured in to restore order after almost a week of near-anarchy. A Tropical Depression with 35 mph maximum sustained winds is located 250 miles east-southeast of southeast Florida. And he said: 'No, you don't have to leave. He came right back and he said, I dont know why, but theres probably a foot of water on Claiborne Street, Landreneau said. The film a raw and gripping investigation of the Katrina response, its tragic consequences and its political ramifications includes candid interviews with key Katrina decision-makers, including the first televised interview with former FEMA Director Michael Brown since his resignation two weeks after Katrina hit. People continue to head towards the Superdome, which is now surrounded by water. Issues of race, class, government response and responsibility, and political rivalries . Ten years ago this Saturday, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast. "With the evacuee situation stabilizing somewhat, and increasing numbers of armed soldiers and police on the streets, officials said Saturday they would start aggressively dealing with the bands of armed looters who pushed the city to the brink of complete breakdown. He had been shot by a rookie police officer while walking through the parking lot of a run-down strip mall, and his brother had brought Glover who was curled up and bleeding from a gunshot wound to the chest to a temporary SWAT compound seeking medical attention. Refuge of last resort: Five days inside the Superdome for Hurricane Katrina. Locals adopt it in their idea of the city. Note: The Earlier Warnings -- In 2001, FEMA identified the three most likely disasters facing the U.S.: an earthquake in California, a hurricane in New Orleans and a terrorist attack in New York City. We've all feared a catastrophic hurricane striking New Orleans. Patrice Taddonio. Crime is at an all-time high. People begin arriving at the Ernest M. Morial Convention Center seeking shelter, food, and water. 7:577-Minute Listen. Exacerbated by the recent BP oil spill in the region, the storm and its aftermath remains an open wound for local residents and others affected . I aint about to leave, Gettridge said. Their communications center was useless. New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, as seen in the new documentary Katrina Babies. We began search-and-rescue missions using local state resources, waiting for the federal cavalry to arrive and believing that it would be here in 48 to 60 hours. Blanco announces New Orleans must be evacuated because of the still- rising water and uninhabitable conditions. He Says He Paid a Price. Years after Hurricane Katrina, a new documentary asks: What happened to The film features 15 minutes of live hurricane video shot by Kimberly Roberts, an aspiring rapper whose family was too poor to leave New Orleans, and follows Kim's family and others through the . FRONTLINEs documentary The Old Man and the Storm followed Gettridge for 18 months as he worked to rebuild his home, which took on 10 feet of water when the levees breached. When Hurricane Katrina forced New Orleans poet Shelton Alexander to evacuate his home, he took his truck and video camera to the Superdome. According to the New Orleans Data Center, racial disparities in income and employment are more pronounced in the city than they are nationally; the poverty rate is 11 points higher than the national average; and the incarceration rate is approximately three times the national average. And I said [to the president], "Here's my piece of paper. The Times-Picayune reports the Convention Center evacuees are still being loaded onto buses and evacuated and search-and-rescue operations continue. Because of the ensuing . Trachelle Addison cuddles her 2-week-old son, Jirra-e, in the stands of the Superdome, where some 25,000 refugees took shelter after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. Judy Benitez is executive director of the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault, a statewide coalition of rape crisis centers. I gave the governor two options. It was there, she says, that an unknown man with a handgun sexually assaulted her. August 29, 2005. First categorized as a tropical storm, Katrina hit New Orleans, flattening buildings, breaking levees, and flooding the city with terrifying 125 mph winds. And I said [to the president], 'Look, we talked about that option, and then we also talked about another option, that we would federalize, and the governor said she needed time to think about it. So I went to the premiere, knowing Danny Glover was hosting it, and I couldnt get into the screeningso I texted Spike Lee, who directed When the Levees Broke, the documentary I was in, and asked him to pull some strings, but he didnt have Dannys number. Producer Martin Smith: So, although you said that, you didn't feel that way at that time? And he was the first guy that told us about the amount of devastation and the levee breaches. Meanwhile, Lewis, the 46-year-old home health-care worker, has still not reported her assault to the police, and she has no plans to. Here's the things I think we need to focus on. Two national crime-victims' groups have reported a spike in the number of reported rapes that happened to storm evacuees. Buses have started evacuating people at the Superdome, but at the Convention Center thousands are still waiting and conditions continue to deteriorate there. Reports put the population there in the tens of thousands. 49 But it was the subsequent flooding of New Orleans that imposed catastrophic public health conditions on the people of southern . The Mercedes-Benz Superdome is a landmark in the city of New Orleans. Refuge of last resort: Five days inside the Superdome for Hurricane Katrina "We'd heard the story of a man killing himself, falling . "I didn't see any police officers -- I could have gotten away with murder," she says. [He] came on site, I think it was Monday after the event. Floodwaters keep rising. The Convention Center becomes a destination for walk-in refugees seeking evacuation. When Hurricane Katrina forced New Orleans poet Shelton Alexander to evacuate his home, he took his truck and video camera to the Superdome. More than 1,800 people died in what was the costliest . Watch Katrina Cop in the Superdome | Prime Video The Department of Defense's "Joint Task Force Katrina" -- 4,600 active-duty military headed by Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honor -- sets up at Camp Shelby, Miss. As of Nov. 22, 2005, more than 900 people are known to have died in New Orleans.