What were the effects of Hurricane Katrina? What turned this tragedy into a manmade failure? Was it the levees that were not properly built? Or was it simply a tragedy that no one could control? Hurricane Katrina left people without homes and shelter, leaving them with no choice. The high winds and flooding destroyed businesses and infrastructure across the area of New Orleans, with breaks in the levee system surrounding New Orleans causing rapid and deep flooding in more than 80 percent of the city. Yet there are still more stories to be told. In the new Hulu documentary, Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time, we delve into what it was really like for the people of Louisiana to deal with this natural disaster. What it was like when the government was slow to react. What does Louisiana look like today, after 20 years?
The Introduction
Directed by Tracy A. Curry and executive produced by Ryan Coogler, the documentary interviews Katrina survivors, activists, scientists, and government employees. Some have footage of when they were there. Curry focuses on the people of New Orleans, especially those who have lost their homes and loved ones. How, for many, it was extremely hard to evacuate, whether it was a lack of money, transportation, or because they had to care for other family members who also couldn’t evacuate.
In this documentary, we aren’t learning new information or coming to a new understanding of what happened. Coogler and Curry aim for a straightforward and passionate reminder of what went wrong in New Orleans. A stark reminder of what has been. From areas such as the 9th Ward, Algiers, and Tremé, these people tell their stories. It shows the reasons behind what kept many from evacuating and, interestingly, when many were forced to, even if their house wasn’t flooded due to sitting above sea level. Militias brandishing AKs forced people out of their homes. As a result, people fled to the Interstate Ten for higher ground and, eventually, the Caesar Superdome for shelter.
Shelter
The Superdome, New Orleans’ NFL stadium, was used as a last resort for people who could not evacuate or did not have family to stay with. However, the Superdome became just as bad, with hundreds of people coming in. Rescuers brought them to what they thought was a safe haven. In reality, bathrooms were not being cleaned, and trash was strewn around. There was no food, water, or supplies, all of which FEMA was supposed to provide.
People even went to the convention center, which was a similar shelter to the dome. Conditions worsened to the point where people began looting. The documentary mentions one instance where a group of people took trucks of water from one area and brought that water to the people on Interstate 10. People started taking more than water, like dry food and clothes, as nothing was being provided to the people. They were feeling abandoned, ignored, and alone.
The Media and the Truth
The survivors tried to gain the media’s attention, but that’s when the news started to spin stories, as it tends to do. They started reporting that crime was way up in the area, “thugs” were stealing and looting, and people were being murdered and raped in the convention center or Superdome.
None of these were proven true. There was an instance where the news reported a little girl was murdered and raped, but there was never a little girl to begin with. Rumors spread, everyone was in a panic, and people feared these made-up stories. There were even rumors of snipers shooting at helicopters, which was also likely false. There was a close incident where people tried to get the attention of passing helicopters by shooting at them, but there was never harmful intent.
Promises and Failures
Then the government said that FEMA would provide buses. In an emergency, you would think that they would get those buses out as fast as possible. However, they were delayed and took longer than they should have. It wasn’t just the people of New Orleans who were in chaos, but first responders and the military as well.
This federal failure wasn’t being covered by the media, only discussions of thugs, crime, and how the people of New Orleans are out of control. In reality, people were desperate, and the lackluster response only amplified that. The documentary emphasizes that it was not a crime issue but an evacuation issue. The situation became so hectic that the government declared martial law, where the military takes over and regular legal processes are suspended.
Rescuers were grounded for a time because they thought a shooter damaged one of their helicopters, which turned out to be false. The alleged “crashed helicopter” had simply not called in for a while, as they were busy rescuing people. One instance of lackluster communication grounded every rescuer, delaying aid for potentially hundreds or thousands. And when they went back up, some noticed the helicopters focusing more on areas like Lakeview, which is an affluent area. Nice houses and, presumably, wealthy people. Many claimed it wasn’t fair that so many were being passed over just so the more affluent area could get more assistance.
Survivors Doing Their Part
It took civilians on boats to rescue people from their attics and rooftops. Then came the time when the government had to discuss whether people were getting food and water, and supplies. The officials were questioned by the media, and it was found that supplies were only being sent to the Superdome, not the convention center or anywhere else. They claimed they didn’t hear any reports of the Convention Center not having supplies. The government thought that by doing a little bit, they were helping, but not the majority of people. They were protecting property, not people.
In this documentary, Curry does not give us the people whom we could criticize or place blame on. Whether it’s because these people would not give interviews or could not give interviews is unknown. We are instead given the Coast Guard and citizens who did everything they could to help their own families and strangers. The footage from personal experiences gives us such a detailed look that it speaks for itself.
Then came the so-called vigilantes, who would shoot anyone they deemed “looters” or “thugs”. The “hoodlums” should have turned back and stayed where they were. One vigilante couldn’t even remember how many he killed because, “who cares?” Only one of them was ever charged or convicted for the shootings at Algiers Point. They weren’t the only ones who went on killing sprees. In the aftermath of Katrina, police officers shot at the Bartholomew family. They were six civilians trying to obtain supplies, according to an article by PBS.
The End Is in Sight
When the buses finally arrived, the government took the survivors to airplanes with no destination in mind. As they continue to evacuate people, it was reported that around one million people were displaced from the Gulf Coast. One million people. It was as if they had to start their lives all over again. When they came back, it wasn’t just the sight of death; it was the smell, the feeling of it. That it was never going to be right again.
What happened in New Orleans was a tragedy, but the lack of support turned it into a disaster. The fact that they wanted to take over property or bulldoze houses was terrifying for many. They didn’t want to give up their land or home; they wanted to rebuild. There was no crime; the stories covered up the real problem of an unprepared government.
We cannot say for certain why these events played out as they did. But we know we can’t forget. Though we cannot let this sort of situation happen again. We can’t control natural disasters, but we can control how we react to the damage and how we help.
