Five-Part Docuseries Revisits New Orleans Flood
A military helicopter arrives to rescue stranded New Orleans residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. (John Keller)
A Landmark Docuseries by Traci A. Curry, From Proximity Media and Lightbox
Premiering Sunday, 27 July 2025 at 21:00 CAT on National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarTimes 220)
JOHANNESBURG, 23 July 2025 — On 29 August 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck southeastern Louisiana with relentless force. With New Orleans at its centre, the deadly storm devastated the Gulf Coast, flooding the city and exposing a glaring lack of coordinated emergency response. In the absence of timely rescue efforts, survivors became heroes — enduring unimaginable hardship, saving one another against impossible odds.
Now, as the world approaches the 20th anniversary of that watershed moment in American history, National Geographic presents HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME, a gripping five-part docuseries directed by Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Traci A. Curry (Attica).
Produced by Ryan Coogler’s Proximity Media (Judas and the Black Messiah) and award-winning Lightbox (LA 92, Whitney, TINA), this landmark series offers an unflinching account of the disaster through the voices of those who lived it.
The series premieres in two parts:
- Sunday, 27 July 2025: Episodes 1–3 back-to-back
- Sunday, 3 August 2025: Episodes 4 and 5
Both nights at 21:00 CAT on National Geographic (DStv 181 / StarTimes 220)
A Survivor-Led Narrative That Rewrites History
Executive producers Simon Chinn and Jonathan Chinn (Lightbox) describe it best:
“This is far more than a story about a storm. It’s a compelling, essential reexamination of systemic failure and the enduring consequences of decisions made before, during and after the levees broke.”
With a 20-year lens, HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME pierces through old narratives. It fuses archival footage with first-hand testimonies to retell the tragedy from the inside out. Coogler, along with Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian, affirms the mission:
“It’s a vital historical record and a call to witness, remember and reckon with the truth of Hurricane Katrina’s legacy.”
Episode Guide
EPISODE 1: THE COMING STORM
As Katrina threatens, a delayed evacuation traps thousands. Residents recount preparing for “The Big One.”
EPISODE 2: WORST CASE SCENARIO
The levees breach, flooding the city. As rescues begin, systemic failures become impossible to ignore.
EPISODE 3: A DESPERATE PLACE
Rescue efforts stall while the Superdome becomes a crucible of suffering and resilience. Media narratives shift.
EPISODE 4: SHOOT TO KILL
As military response intensifies, violence and desperation rise. Grassroots heroes continue saving lives.
EPISODE 5: WAKE UP CALL
Survivors begin a long road to rebuild their lives while confronting a transformed New Orleans.
Produced With Unfiltered Authenticity
Under the direction of Traci A. Curry, the series prioritises lived experiences. Survivors, first responders, and officials offer an unvarnished retelling of events. In a world driven by media spin, this docuseries stands out for its emotional weight, journalistic courage, and human truth.
Production Credits
HURRICANE KATRINA: RACE AGAINST TIME is a Lightbox and Proximity Media production for National Geographic.
- Director: Traci A. Curry
- Executive Producers for Lightbox: Simon Chinn, Jonathan Chinn, Myles Estey, Ted Skillman
- Executive Producers for Proximity Media: Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler, Sev Ohanian, Peter Nicks, Kalia King
- Co-Executive Producer: Kelli Buchanan
- National Geographic Executives: Sean David Johnson, Carolyn Payne
- EVP Global Factual & Unscripted: Tom McDonald
