Reflections on Hurricane Katrina 20 Years Later

Two decades after Hurricane Katrina, both survivors and first responders share their ongoing struggles and how they’ve contributed to rebuilding New Orleans.

David Brittle, a captain with the Salvation Army, recalled a harrowing moment: “I was in the water trying to get to my parents, but I didn’t realize I was also helping others. Losing nearly everything in Katrina, including my parents, makes me appreciate the chance to share my faith even more.”

Hurricane Katrina, which struck in August 2005, was one of the deadliest and most expensive storms in U.S. history.

Volunteers Make a Difference

Despite police warnings, volunteers pushed ahead on an airboat along Highway 10. They navigated through the famed Garden District and the French Quarter, areas now unrecognizable.

“I’ve never experienced such darkness before,” Brittle reflected. “Gunshots rang out, helicopters hovered overhead, and I could hear screams in the distance.”

Just weeks before he embarked on this rescue mission, Brittle worked in Texas, living with his wife and kids. But they decided to relocate to New Orleans, where his father served as a regional commander for the Salvation Army. As the storm worsened, his father chose to stay and keep the hope center open for those in need, urging his son to drive his sister to Houston, which was a long, 12-hour trip.

August 29, 2005: A Day of Devastation

When Katrina made landfall, more than 50 levees failed, resulting in 80% of the city being flooded. The hope center, surrounded by floodwater, was among the affected buildings.

“To get to the first floor of the building, it was quite a lot of water,” Captain Brittle said.

In a desperate act, he tried to attract helicopter attention while battling through the flood. After repeated silence, he finally managed to make a call to his son, only to hear the line go dead after their brief conversation. This moment echoed his last exchange with his father.

“That call was fleeting,” Brittle said, “but his sister knew they had to return. On the way back to Louisiana, they stopped at a Salvation Army Disaster Relief location in Baton Rouge. With his father’s connections, David joined a boat crew to rescue trapped neighbors.

“We were saving people as we went and letting them out of their homes,” he remembered.

But as the days dragged on, hope wavered. “I lost hope,” he admitted. “The goals seemed out of reach.” Then a call came over the radio, announcing that 300 survivors were airlifted from the roof of the hope center.

Rushing to the drop-off site, he found a Salvation Army dining room where he recognized many familiar faces from his childhood. He inquired about Major Richard, only to learn that he had gone to Baton Rouge.

Brittle hurried back. The last hug he shared with his father was unforgettable, filled with expressions of love.

Sadly, two years later, his father succumbed to cancer after developing parasites from the floodwaters. “If my dad were still alive, I doubt I’d be in this position today,” Brittle reflected. “His faith helped guide me toward mine.”

Now, two decades later, he finds peace in the community’s resilience. “Out of devastation, something beautiful can emerge,” he noted. “Culture is revitalized. Hope has returned.”

Megan Foley, the national director of emergency services at the Salvation Army, witnessed this resilience firsthand. After the storm, she moved to New Orleans, where she taught at a newly opened charter school operating from a makeshift trailer.

“The kids had been moved from school to school, and many were behind academically due to the wrecked infrastructure,” she explained, recalling how some spoke casually about being airlifted. “It was almost as if they accepted it as normal.”

Yet, they still managed to find joy amidst the trauma. Foley recalls planning lessons around local culture, like painting coconuts for Mardi Gras, blending science learning with celebration.

“In those moments, their happiness outweighed the unconventional classroom setting,” she said. “It represented a blend of past pain and the vibrant spirit of New Orleans.”

“Resilience isn’t just a term; it’s about how people use joy to recover,” Foley concluded. “They lean on one another, which makes New Orleans truly special.”