National Geographic is telling the real story of Hurricane Katrina with Essence Festival. At the event in New Orleans this weekend, Essence Festival of Culture held a panel with Okla Jones. Director Traci A. Curry shared the story of this documentary series with fellow contributors Shelton Alexander and Lynette Boutte.

In conjunction with Ryan Coogler’s Proximity Media, Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time follows the before, during, and after of a true American disaster. Not just for the life lost and monetary damage to the city, but the spiritual cost one city still carries to this day. Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time was designed as a safe space for the creators to share their experiences and unify through those shared hardships. Check out a photo from the event right here.

Why tell the story of Hurricane Katrina at this moment?

Race Against Time
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 06: (L-R) Lynette Boutte, Shelton Alexander and Traci A. Curry speak onstage during the 2025 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture presented by Coca-Cola – Day 3 at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 06, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for ESSENCE)

“This is far more than a story about a storm,” executive producers Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn (Lightbox) said. “It’s a compelling, essential reexamination of systemic failure and the enduring consequences of decisions made before, during and after the levees broke.”

“This series goes beyond the headlines. It reveals stories of survival, heroism and resilience,” added executive producers Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian (Proximity Media). “It’s a vital historical record and a call to witness, remember and reckon with the truth of Hurricane Katrina’s legacy.”

What’s in the episodes of Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time?

  • EPISODE 1: THE COMING STORM

Premieres July 27 at 8/7c, streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu

It’s a typically vibrant New Orleans summer when Hurricane Katrina looms. Sitting in the bullseye of a Category 5, the city faces a reality check. With a delayed evacuation order, many are trapped and forced to brace for the storm’s fury. Residents recount for the first time how they navigated the impending disaster, capturing the harrowing experience of preparing for “The Big One.”

  • EPISODE 2: WORST CASE SCENARIO

Premieres July 27 at 9/8c, streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu

After Hurricane Katrina passed, citizens soon discovered the levees breached, quickly flooding New Orleans like a bathtub. First responders and everyday citizens jumped in heroically to save locals; many residents were forced to flee their houses for dry land. As residents braved dangerous conditions to survive, ineptitude at all levels of government was exposed as the water rose.

Race Against Time
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 05: (L-R) Shelton Alexander, guest, Traci A. Curry, guest, and Okla Jones III attend the 2025 ESSENCE Festival of Culture presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 05, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images for ESSENCE)
  • EPISODE 3: A DESPERATE PLACE

Premieres July 27 at 10/9c, streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu

Three days into the flood, rescue operations continue around the clock. Thousands remain trapped, as the government struggles to coordinate a rescue effort. Inside the Superdome, stories of resilience and survival emerge above the sometimes-horrific conditions. Meanwhile, media coverage shifts to emphasize disorder, focusing on looting rather than the thousands still stranded.

Things Turn Uglier!

  • EPISODE 4: SHOOT TO KILL

Premieres July 28 at 8/7c, streams same day on Disney+ and Hulu

In post-Katrina New Orleans, Gen. Honoré leads rescue efforts amid pressure to use force, while local heroes tirelessly save lives. Thousands remain stranded in their homes, the Superdome, the convention center, and along the interstate as evacuation efforts continue to fail. Tensions rise while violence erupts and militias target residents.

  • EPISODE 5: WAKE UP CALL

Premieres July 28 at 9/8c, streams same day on Disney+ and Hulu

New Orleans’ resilient residents exit the city, forming part of the Katrina diaspora. As they navigate the uncertainty of how and when they might restore their lives, a plan for a new New Orleans takes shape. The future of the devastated city hangs in the balance as its residents struggle to return, rebuild and restart their lives even 20 years later.

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