National Geographic Premieres Hurricane Katrina 20th Anniversary Docuseries

National Geographic is releasing a new five-part documentary series, Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time, marking the 20th anniversary of the devastating 2005 hurricane that caused catastrophic flooding in New Orleans after levee failures. The series, directed by Oscar nominee Traci A. Curry and co-produced by Ryan Coogler's Proximity Media, centers on firsthand accounts from survivors, first responders, and officials, revealing systemic failures and heroic resilience. LSU Hurricane Center co-founder Ivor Van Heerden, who warned about the levee vulnerabilities prior to the storm, criticizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for faulty levee design and highlights how landscape alterations and wetland destruction worsened the storm surge. The documentary also explores failures in federal response, including significant FEMA budget cuts under President George W. Bush and delayed evacuation orders by New Orleans officials. The series aims to correct false narratives by combining emotional eyewitness testimony with archival footage and will premiere on National Geographic with streaming available on Disney+ and Hulu. New Orleans natives featured in the series express pride and resilience despite the profound changes the city has undergone since the disaster.