Katrina Cop in the Superdome. I probably should have asked sooner. The eye of Hurricane Katrina made landfall near Buras in Plaquemines Parish at approximately 6:00 a.m. on August 29 as a Category 3 hurricane. Twenty-five thousand miserable people - many of whom lost their homes to Hurricane Katrina - hunkered down with little food and little water, overflowing toilets, stifling heat and the . And, in 2004, FEMA sponsored a disaster planning exercise in which the scenario was a major hurricane striking New Orleans. ', So they went into another section of the plane, had a meeting. The storm has ripped a hole in the Superdome where the power has gone out. Because of the ensuing . There is a belief that the city has avoided a direct hit. Virtually all communication systems are out. Phyllis Montana-Leblanc is a Hurricane Katrina survivor. By the end of the day, there are 30,000 people at the Superdome. Already, these preliminary cases show a high number of gang rapes and rapes by strangers, both unusual characteristics. I said, 'If you guys don't get together and work this out, this is going to get worse.' Go up there, face to face and say, "What is happening here? ", Leo Bosner, FEMA watch officer: August 28, 2005. [Governor Blanco] probably should have asked sooner. My old high school, Joseph S. Clark, shut down, and we dont even have parks yet for kids to hang out inthats what we did in the 70s, at leastIm still trying to petition for these things, to organize our community, and these fool ass people have not yet gotten down here to rebuild. President Bush's Sept. 15th address to the nation. Phone service and electricity to some 770,000 people in the area is cut off. Newly rescued people are still being brought to the Superdome. In the six weeks since the Web site has been up, with almost no publicity, it has received 42 reports of sexual assaults. But the problem was that because of the fear that resulted from the civil unrest, the bus drivers said, 'We're not going in there to pick these people up unless you put a law enforcement official on every one of the buses, because we're afraid. It was called "Hurricane Pam" and the exercise was conducted with state and local emergency managers. It is 250 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. And I had a piece of paper where I wrote down like a five-point plan of the things that we needed to do. Exploring the experiences of a black member of the New Orleans Police Department and assorted other New Orleans residents during their stay in the Louisiana Superdome during and after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005. The Convention Center becomes a destination for walk-in refugees seeking evacuation. 'Rebirth in New Orleans' reflects on . I've got to know. ". In September 2006, the New Orleans Saints marched into the Superdome for their first game since Hurricane Katrina, providing the spark for a revival. New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, as seen in the new documentary Katrina Babies. Surviving the Superdome. People can say that writing a check doesnt mean anything, but honey, it does. Exploring the experiences of a black member of the New Orleans Police Department and assorted other New Orleans residents during their stay in the Louisiana Superdome during and after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans in 2005. More than four days after the storm hit, the caravan of at least three-dozen camouflage-green troop vehicles and supply trucks arrived along with dozens of air-conditioned buses to take refugees out of the city. 7:577-Minute Listen. She contacted the New Orleans police in October and filed a report that she was beaten with a bat and raped on Sept. 6th in broad daylight next to a flooded McDonald's at Gentilly Boulevard and Elysian Fields, near her father's house. The interviews done as part of this project reflect the disaster's painful, chaotic, and murky aftermath. The National Weather Service writes that Hurricane Katrina is "one of the five deadliest hurricanes to ever strike the United States." Hurricane Katrina caused up to $161 billion worth of damage, largely due to the fact that the breached levees led to flooding in 80% of New Orleans. In all, more than 1,500 died either duringthe storm or inthe famouslybungled aftermath which saw local, state, and federal officials uncoordinated and overwhelmed. Thousands of troops poured into the city September. He had been shot by a rookie police officer while walking through the parking lot of a run-down strip mall, and his brother had brought Glover who was curled up and bleeding from a gunshot wound to the chest to a temporary SWAT compound seeking medical attention. Required fields are marked *. And I wanted to cut to the chase because I knew what the real issue was. "[Michael] Brown I did not see the first couple of days. FEMA National Situation Update: Years later, much of the money committed to New Orleans residents had yet to reach them. Then we kind of figure out ways that we could coordinate. More than four days after the storm hit, the caravan of at least three-dozen camouflage-green troop vehicles and supply trucks arrived along with dozens of air-conditioned buses to take refugees out of the city. " Troops poured in to restore order after almost a week of near-anarchy. The population of New Orleans was about 400,000 by 2020, some 20 percent below its population in 2000. I laid that out for him. Some 11,000 National Guardsmen are now on duty in Louisiana and increased security begins to have an effect on lawlessness in New Orleans, although some violence continues. Michael Brown, FEMA director: "What you had was a situation where you've got a tremendous number of vulnerable people, and then some predatory people who had all of the reasons to take their anger out on someone else," Benitez says. When we didn't get any assistance from the state or from FEMA in the time period that we thought was appropriate, I got someone in an automobile and said, 'Go to Baton Rouge, go find out. Kathleen Blanco: If we arent talking about what we still need, how can we be sure people wont forget?. There are still areas that look like Katrina hit yesterday. Issues of race, class, government response and responsibility, and political rivalries interweave with personal stories of challenges faced and decisions made. With all due respect, Mr. President, if you and the governor don't get on the same page, this event is going to continue to spiral down, and it's going to be a black eye on everybody -- federal, state and local.' He says his team only saw a fraction of the desperate people who sought assistance. Around this time 17 years ago, Hurricane Katrina bore down on New Orleans, and permanently . And they hadn't. We'll put a couple of medical teams on standby. There's no question.". ", Mayor Ray Nagin: Around 6 a.m., Category 4 Hurricane Katrina strikes the Gulf Coast with 145 mph maximum sustained winds. I am still going out into the streets every day to talk to people about their experiencesI call it getting phyllisophical. Ten years ago this Saturday, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast. Persons, pets, and livestock exposed to the winds will face certain death if struck. In Louisiana, New Orleans is of particular concern because much of that city lies below sea level. HBO. Locals adopt it in their idea of the city. More women are coming forward with stories of sexual assault in the lawless days after the storm. ". The only person I saw from FEMA was basically this guy named Marty [Bahamonde]. Blanco announces New Orleans must be evacuated because of the still- rising water and uninhabitable conditions. so you had a very dynamic situation.". On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, causing catastrophic flooding as numerous levees failed around New Orleans. A Louisiana State University computer model of a 115 mph storm strike shows the overtopping of levees protecting New Orleans and nearby areas. FRONTLINEs documentary The Old Man and the Storm followed Gettridge for 18 months as he worked to rebuild his home, which took on 10 feet of water when the levees breached. The Army Corps of Engineers attempts to plug breaches in the 17th Street Canal and Industrial Canal levees. Nature Documentary hosted by Helen Baxandale, published by Channel 4 in 2010 - English narration Cover Information . And he had flown in a helicopter. I immediately hung up the phone, called my city attorney because they had always advised that you can't do a mandatory evacuation. By Chris Edwards. Phyllis Montana-LeBlancthe breakout star of Spike Lees When the Levees Broke documentary and author of Not Just the Levees Broke: My Story During and After Katrina (and a consultant on David Simons new post-Katrina HBO drama)writes below about why viewers should still care about New Orleans four years later, and why Trouble the Water just may be the wakeup call we need. Where is all the things that we need to get out of here?"' "And so now I think it's swung the other direction and it's underreported. Pack carefully. The line to get in was already a quarter-mile long. Sept. 27, 2005, 12:58 PM PDT / Source: The Associated Press. Reports put the population there in the tens of thousands. The Coast Guard mobilizes to respond after the storm hits. In Louisiana, New Orleans is of particular concern because much of that city lies below sea level. Katrina first made landfall in South Florida. [2] Approximately 10,000 residents, along with about 150 National Guardsmen, sheltered in the Superdome anticipating Katrina's landfall. 1) At least 1,800 people died due to Hurricane Katrina. And the guard unitspent most of the next 24 hours saving itself. Katrina caused more than $160 billion in damage. And the impression given in those four days is basically indelible. FEMA organizes 475 buses to be sent in to transport many of the estimated 23,000 people from the Superdome to the Houston Astrodome. But Mayor Nagin goes on radio and castigates state and federal officials for their inaction and demands they "fix the biggest god-damn crisis in the history of this country." New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, as seen in the new documentary Katrina Babies. New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, as seen in the new documentary Katrina Babies. And that is unacceptable. After suffering heavy damage during Hurricane Katrina, the Superdome was re-opened on September 25, 2006 for the Saints' Monday night game against the Falcons. You have responded to my calls." "The fact that something wasn't reported to the police doesn't mean it didn't happen," Benitez says. By the end of the day, it is upgraded to Tropical Storm Katrina, with 50 mph maximum sustained winds. These defenses held for Hurricane Ida, a category 4 storm, in August 2021. National surveys show that half of all sexual assaults are never reported. In television interviews, Michael Brown, FEMA director, states that he only just heard about the suffering at the Convention Center, when in fact, he tells FRONTLINE, he misspoke; he was told the previous day about the situation. Stranded victims of Hurricane Katrina rest inside the Superdome September 2, 2005 in New Orleans. and catcalls of 'What took you so long?,' a National Guard convoy packed with food, water and medicine rolled through axle-deep floodwaters Friday into what remained of New Orleans and descended into a maelstrom of fires and floating corpses. In the decade since Katrina, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) which came under harsh criticism for its response to the storm says it has improved its preparedness for future natural disasters. background photo copyright 2005 corbis Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. Where is water? A hurricane warning is issued for the Southeast Florida coast. TV-PG. Inside the four triage tents, medical personnel tended to people who had gone for days without their medication. Bring enough to sustain yourself, your family, your children. And at that time I took some liberties I probably shouldn't take. We all did. I've never seen a hurricane like this in my 33-year career. And Michael Brown was there listening. But I am happy to help, even if it takes me an extra two hours at the grocery store. Producer Martin Smith: So we're just eating sandwiches and making nice while people are stranded on rooftops? Evacuating hospitals is a top priority: Patients and staff are stranded and supplies and power are dwindling. "We did meet with [Mayor Nagin] Tuesday morning. In New Orleans chaos . Concerned over unreported and underreported rapes, her organization, together with the National Sexual Violence Resource Center -- which is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- created a national database to track sexual assaults that happened after Katrina. In one notorious incident known as the Danziger Bridge case, police opened fire on a group of civilians, who were later found to be unarmed and searching for food and medicine. We need you to take over logistics, distribution of commodities, etc. In an effort to get victims to come forward, the Louisiana Foundation Against Sexual Assault asked Charmaine Neville, a popular New Orleans jazz singer, to tape a public service announcement for national airplay. And we need to get these people out of the Superdome because it's a shelter of last resort, and they only have a limited amount of resources.". Note: The Earlier Warnings -- In 2001, FEMA identified the three most likely disasters facing the U.S.: an earthquake in California, a hurricane in New Orleans and a terrorist attack in New York City. In what looked like a scene from a Third World country, some people threw their arms heavenward and others nearly fainted with joy as the trucks and hundreds of soldiers arrived in the punishing midday heat. The Army Corps of Engineers renews work to fix the breach in the 17th St. Canal. Floodwaters keep rising. Two national crime-victims' groups have reported a spike in the number of reported rapes that happened to storm evacuees. Around this time 17 years ago, Hurricane Katrina bore down on New Orleans, and permanently changed life for thousands of people across the country. Ten years ago this week, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the Gulf Coast and generated a huge disaster. About 2,000 medical evacuees remain at Louis Armstrong Airport, which has become a staging area for responders and injured refugees. Hurricane Katrina Superdome. HBO. "I'm not gonna go on television and publicly say that I think that the mayor and the governor are not doing their job, and that they don't have the sense of urgency. Funding for FRONTLINE is provided through the support of PBS viewers and by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. It took me too long and I worked too hard to build what I had here.. In downtown New Orleans, some streets were merely wet rather than swamped. The Katrina images we see in the film -- people on rooftops, the Superdome being shredded by hurricane winds, dogs stranded in attics -- are ones that once would have been guaranteed to put lumps . "All I could do was pray, pray for rescue, pray that I didn't have any type of transmitted disease," she says. In a documentary aired in October 2005 on the Sundance Channel, "In His Own Words: Brian Williams on Hurricane Katrina," Williams said, . Floodwaters from Hurricane Katrina fill the streets near downtown New Orleans, La., on Aug. 30, 2005. The film features 15 minutes of live hurricane video shot by Kimberly Roberts, an aspiring rapper whose family was too poor to leave New Orleans, and follows Kims family and others through the horrific aftermath of the storm. Gov. Follow a day-by-day account of Hurricane Katrina's wrath, from its birth in the Atlantic Ocean to its catastrophic effects: flooded streets, flattened homes,. A timeline of the warnings, some of the decisions leading up to the disaster, and what went wrong with the government's response. Oh, absolutely not. It regained strength as its path turned northwest. New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin says he'll follow the state evacuation plan and will not call for mandatory evacuation until 30 hours before projected landfall. We do our video conference calls before and during disasters. To get medical teams and search teams out the door and get 'em down there. Four were wounded, and 17-year-old James Brisette and 40-year-old Ronald Madison were killed. He escaped the chaotic shelter a few days . Watch it: For a powerful story of resilience and determination in the face of tragedy. Exacerbated by the recent BP oil spill in the region, the storm and its aftermath remains an open wound for local residents and others affected . 1. Around this time 17 years ago, Hurricane Katrina bore down on New . With camera lenses and lights abounding, the . Widespread looting continues. A shaft of light falls throught an opening in the fully evacuated Superdome on Sept. 5, 2005 in New Orleans, La. Even $20, if thats all you can afford in the recession, that helps. We knew we were gonna have to shelter people. Nearly two decades after Hurricane Katrina, Edward Buckles Jr. asks what happened to the generation of kids who grew up with that trauma in the documentary "Katrina Babies" on HBO Max. Michael Brown, FEMA director: A decade later . At landfall, Katrina's maximum winds were about 125 miles per hour (mph) to the east of its center. I think the American Red Cross already had shelters and was already feeding people. Katrina becomes a Category 3 with 115 mph maximum sustained winds. Reports stream in from people needing rescue. It is 250 miles south-southeast of the mouth of the Mississippi River. About 16,000 people . I aint about to leave, Gettridge said. We have Brad Pitt and Chris Rocks wife here now, and I think collectively its making a huge, huge difference. Hurricane Katrina, tropical cyclone that struck the southeastern United States in late August 2005. "I know more sexual assaults took place. Glover, you dont know me, but Im Phyllis, and I was in another Katrina documentary and I have to see this film! He grabbed onto me and I wouldnt let go until I got a seat insidethats the way I am. Flew into the city. August 27, 2015, 2:18 PM. Rescue efforts are delayed because of the inability of rescuers to communicate with each other. "I went into New Orleans and stood beside Mayor Nagin and emphasized the need to leave. They lost power. We have got to start getting people out.' And I said [to the president], "Here's my piece of paper. President Bush flies over the area on his way back to Washington. The Department of Defense's "Joint Task Force Katrina" -- 4,600 active-duty military headed by Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honor -- sets up at Camp Shelby, Miss. Hurricane Katrina: Caught on Camera Over three days in August 2005, a cataclysmic storm brought flooding and disaster to the Gulf Coast of America, leaving over 1,800 people dead in Louisiana and Mississippi. And we said, "Plan your route carefully. FEMA Situation Update: What happened next was more than just a natural disaster especially in New Orleans, where the . She gripped my arm at the store, and she told me, the way you shared with everybody so openly, you helped me to heal. They spend the next 24 hours trying to save themselves. After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast, Congress appropriated an unprecedented $126.4 billion for relief, recovery and rebuilding efforts. A final, official tally of those killed in the disaster is still not in. And there seems to be this dance about who has ultimate authority. Now, other than media reports, I don't know what's happening at the other end. He co-wrote the novel,"The Spencer Haywood Rule," and he was co-producer of the "Katrina Cop in the Superdome," a 2010 documentary about the experiences of a black New Orleans police officer and other citizens as they sheltered in the Louisiana Superdome during the Hurricane Katrina disaster of 2005. Rescuers drop them off wherever there is high ground; many are dropped at interstate overpasses and the Superdome. New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, as seen in the new documentary Katrina Babies . Hurricane Katrina becomes Category 2 by 11 am, with 100 mph maximum sustained winds. Having largely emptied the cavernous Superdome, which had become a squalid pit of misery and violence, officials turned their attention to the Convention Center, where people waited to be evacuated as corpses rotted in the streets. That she could turn this 15 minutes of footage into an Oscar-nominated documentaryIm amazed by it. More women are coming forward with stories of sexual . We had pre-positioned supplies, medical teams, Meals Ready To Eat, and food in the Superdome. We go to Sam's and Wal-Mart and Winn-Dixie and gather up food and water and start distributing it because we had 60 hours' worth of resources that we had stored, but now we're out of it. and catcalls of 'What took you so long?,' a National Guard convoy packed with food, water and medicine rolled through axle-deep floodwaters Friday into what remained of New Orleans and descended into a maelstrom of fires and floating corpses. And they both shook their heads and said, 'Yes, you're right.' New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, as seen in the new documentary Katrina Babies. The Times-Picayune reports that Jefferson Parish residents are allowed to return to the area to inspect the damage to their homes.The breach in the 17th Street Canal is finally repaired, and engineers continue to work on other levee breaks. Mahogany describes her actions before deciding to evacuate her home, her trip to the New Orleans Saints' Superdome, her horrific time at the Superdome, and finally her decision to leave New Orleans. The storm traveled the Gulf of Mexico and then made landfall on the Gulf Coast in southeast Louisiana near the town of Buras, on Aug. 29, 2005. Mississippi and Louisiana governors declare states of emergency. FRONTLINE reports from Iraq on the miscalculations and mistakes behind the brutal rise of ISIS. And he was the first guy that told us about the amount of devastation and the levee breaches. On that first night after the storm, the city had lost power, and she was sleeping in a dark hallway, trying to catch a breeze. New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, as seen in the new documentary Katrina Babies. "I didn't see any police officers -- I could have gotten away with murder," she says. We arent looking for a handout, but its hard to believe that the city that we love (and everyone lovesthe Mardi Gras, the jazz, the hospitality!) And the president comes, and we have this meeting. The death toll in the city is not known, but the dying continues as people succumb to illness, exhaustion and days without food and water. Neville says she was sexually assaulted early the morning of Aug. 31st, while she was sleeping on the roof of Drew Elementary School in the Bywater Neighborhood, where she and others had taken refuge. At least one half of well constructed homes will have roof and wall failure. Pack as though you're going on a camping trip. And he basically asked me, 'Mr. The vast majority of them were elderly. I went to the Adjutant General [Landreneau] and I went to Gov. I had all the police, the firefighters in rescue mode, so the looting thing started to rear its head. Met in the little office at the Super Dome where the heliport is. ", Gov. By. It doesn't make any sense.". There is a documentary about . Recalling her attack, she sobs, "They just left us to die. He announces FEMA is moving supplies and equipment into the hardest hit areas. Follow a day-by-day account of Hurricane Katrina's wrath, from its birth in the Atlantic Ocean to its catastrophic effects: flooded streets, flattened homes, and horrific loss of life. Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe#NationalGeographic #HurricaneKatrina #StormsAbout National Geographic:National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure. Victims of Hurricane Katrina fight through the crowd as they line up for buses to evacuate the Superdome and New Orleans, Sept. 1, 2005. She requests President Bush to declare a state of emergency in Louisiana. After Katrina, the spectacle of a Black refugee population in the Superdome, along with the short-lived plan from Mayor Nagin's committee to wipe out some Black neighborhoods, revived these . Then, the airman hesitated a minute, and asked Landreneau to hold. The California Disaster Medical Assistance Team spent 24 hellish hours inside the Superdome. At 10 a.m., the Thorntons headed together to the Superdome. Several thousand National Guard troops start reaching the thousands of evacuees at the Convention Center and elsewhere. Kathleen Blanco, governor of Louisiana: Police Chief Eddie Compass admitted even his own officers had taken food and water from stores. We've all feared a catastrophic hurricane striking New Orleans. City officials say 80 percent of New Orleans is flooded. ' Gettridge told FRONTLINE. Around this time 17 years ago, Hurricane Katrina bore down on New Orleans, and permanently changed life for thousands of people across the country. And I said, "We're doing one in the morning.". Driving in from the popular suburb of Metairie, it's the first building you pass. Katrina Cop in the Superdome. Per this CNN Money report, a Brian Williams' Katrina tale appears to have evolved somewhat dramatically over the course of just one year.In 2005, Williams reported in a documentary that he had "heard the story" of a man killing himself in the Superdome. And he passes, literally, hundreds of school buses lined up to come and get these folks. But problems persist. Documenting evidence of potential war crimes in Ukraine. As the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, explore three different FRONTLINE documentaries about the disaster, its lingering aftermath and the lessons learned. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Gov. "I at least wanted a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans and the surrounding parishes [on Saturday]. Michael Brown, FEMA director: "I got a call, I think Saturday afternoon [from] Max Mayfield, the hurricane director. Here's the things I think we need to focus on. In fact, at the headquarters of the Louisiana National Guard, located in the Lower NinthWard, soldiers were not yet aware that the levees were giving way. Expressed my concerns, my frustration He needed to really get us resources to save people. As of Nov. 22, 2005, more than 900 people are known to have died in New Orleans. I just sent President Obama 10 letters the other day ( I remember Oprah saying persistence pays off) saying that since Katrina, we still only have two medical trailers in this part of town, and they arent equipped to handle emergencies or even basic lab work. U.S. Cities and States Are Suing Big Oil Over Climate Change. "There was a period of days when we weren't sure who was directing the federal response and were all the actions being taken. Under the best of circumstances, rape is one of the hardest crimes to solve. Military planners are considering setting up a permanent rapid reaction unit designed to respond to domestic disasters. Victims of Hurricane Katrina fight through the crowd as they line up for buses to evacuate the Superdome and New Orleans, Sept. 1, 2005. "[On Air Force One] we gave the president a briefing on everything that had gone on. In the 2005 documentary "In His Own Words: Brian Williams on Hurricane Katrina," Williams indicated that he wasn't a witness to the suicide. I said, 'We need to do this.' Lipin says when he arrived in Baton Rouge and turned on the TV, he was surprised by reports of rampant violence in New Orleans. " After Katrina passed, we thought we're pretty much out of the woods. If you do not want us and our partners to use cookies and personal data for these additional purposes, click 'Reject all'. During Hurricane Katrina, then known as the Louisiana Superdome, the arena was used as . By midday, water levels between the city and Lake Ponchartrain have equalized. When Hurricane Katrina ripped the Superdome's rubber seal off, tore open the steel roof paneling and penetrated the stadium, it shed light on the conjoined problems of concentrated poverty, socialized and environmental racism, and America's ability to ignore the suffering of its own citizens. With Glovers story as a jumping-off point, FRONTLINE partnered with the Times-Picayune and ProPublica in 2010 to investigate six questionable shootings by police revealing that, in the midst of post-Katrina chaos, law-enforcement commanders issued orders to ignore long-established rules governing the use of deadly force.
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