Two decades after one of the deadliest natural disasters in American history, National Geographic is honoring the resilience of survivors with a powerful new five-part documentary series. Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time premieres July 27, 2025, at 8/7c on National Geographic. All episodes stream on July 28 on Disney+ and Hulu.
Powerful Voices, Groundbreaking Collaboration
Directed by Oscar®-nominated filmmaker Traci A. Curry (Attica), the docuseries places survivors’ voices front and center. Produced by Lightbox and Proximity Media—the production companies led by Simon and Jonathan Chinn and filmmaker Ryan Coogler—the series blends cinematic storytelling with real-time footage and gripping testimony.
More Than a Storm: A National Reckoning
With rare archival material and powerful interviews, Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time revisits how a devastating natural event exposed political and systemic breakdowns. Yet it also highlights the bravery of those who saved lives when official help failed to arrive. Through this lens, the series explores not only history but humanity.
Curry and her team aimed to share truth with raw honesty. Their approach results in a compelling call to reflect, remember, and act.
Episode Guide: Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time
Episode 1: The Coming Storm (Premieres July 27 at 8/7c)
New Orleans braces for the worst. With delayed evacuation orders, many residents are forced to confront the storm directly.
Episode 2: Worst Case Scenario (Premieres July 27 at 9/8c)
When the levees break, New Orleans floods quickly. Citizens and first responders become heroes, navigating chaos and waterlogged streets.
Episode 3: A Desperate Place (Premieres July 27 at 10/9c)
Rescue efforts continue but fall short. Inside the Superdome, stories of human strength rise above worsening conditions.
Episode 4: Shoot to Kill (Premieres July 28 at 8/7c)
Violence erupts amid stalled evacuations. General Honoré steps in while communities struggle to stay safe.
Episode 5: Wake Up Call (Premieres July 28 at 9/8c)
As residents begin to rebuild, those who refuse to give up actively shape the city’s uncertain future.
This series reframes how Hurricane Katrina is remembered. By highlighting firsthand stories and long-term consequences, it honors those who lived through unimaginable hardship and sheds light on a crisis still echoing today.
