August 2005

Hurricane Katrina made landfall on August 29, 2005. Failures of Army Corps of Engineers–maintained levees flooded the Lower Ninth Ward, home to 120,000 residents, and other majority-Black neighborhoods. An estimated 393,000 Black residents were displaced. The federal response was widely condemned as racially negligent. Over 1,800 people died.

Katrina's storm surge exposed Army Corps of Engineers levee failures. The Lower Ninth Ward — 98% Black, median household income ~$27,000 — flooded under 20 feet of water. Approximately 393,000 Black residents were displaced from the metro area; 100,000 had not returned five years later. The racial composition of the neighborhoods that flooded most severely reflected decades of discriminatory zoning placing Black communities in low-lying flood zones.

New Orleans Superdome held ~25,000 predominantly Black residents who could not evacuate. Federal aid was delayed five days. No functioning toilets, inadequate food and water, no medical care. FEMA Director Brown's slow response drew accusations of racial indifference from Rep. Elijah Cummings.

Approximately 25,000 New Orleans residents, predominantly Black and low-income, sheltered at the Louisiana Superdome after Katrina. They endured five days without adequate food, water, or sanitation while awaiting federal evacuation. FEMA's slow response became a defining symbol of institutional neglect. Media coverage drew criticism for racially coded descriptions of survivors.

Approximately 25,000 New Orleans residents, predominantly Black and low-income, sheltered at the Louisiana Superdome after Katrina. They endured five days without adequate food, water, or sanitation awaiting federal evacuation. FEMA's slow response became a defining symbol of institutional racial neglect.

New Orleans Superdome became a refuge of last resort for approximately 25,000 predominantly Black residents — many elderly, disabled, or carless — who could not evacuate. Federal aid was delayed for five days. Conditions deteriorated severely: no functioning toilets, inadequate food and water, no medical care. FEMA Director Michael Brown's slow response drew accusations of racial indifference from officials including Rep. Elijah Cummings.

Orleans Parish Prison — 88% Black, mostly pretrial — was not evacuated as Katrina approached. Floodwaters entered; prisoners were left without food, water, or medical care for days. Human Rights Watch documented beatings by guards and adult-juvenile mixing. Several inmates died.

The Orleans Parish Prison — holding approximately 6,500 inmates, 88% of whom were Black, the majority awaiting trial and not convicted — was not evacuated as Katrina approached. Floodwaters entered the facility; prisoners were left without food, water, or medical care for days. Human Rights Watch documented beatings by guards and intermingling of adult and juvenile detainees. Several inmates died; hundreds suffered medical crises.

The storm and the failed response expose deep racial inequities in New Orleans.