“Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time” is a 2025 documentary series directed by Traci A. Curry. It explores Hurricane Katrina, from those who lived it. Ryan Coogler, lately of “Sinners” fame, serves as an executive producer under his Proximity Media banner.
Hurricane Katrina formed in the Gulf of Mexico on August 28, 2005, as a Category 5 storm. It then tracked toward the Gulf Coast and made landfall in New Orleans, Louisiana, on the morning of August 29–winds at around 125 mph.
The storm’s impact on New Orleans was devastating. The city experienced strong winds, storm surge and catastrophic flooding after several levees failed.
This is an exciting documentary commemorating the 20th anniversary of the tragic, devastating hurricane.
The doc says that the hurricane came in two parts, downgraded from a Category 5 to a Category 4.
Former New Orleans’ Mayor Ray Nagin, his staff, city first responders and media were holed up in the Hyatt Hotel, but soon that place of security and respite was taking on damage
Then the levees broke.
Newscasters, politicians and everyday citizens are included in this five-part Nat Geo special that is also streaming on Hulu.
My God, you see and hear actual footage from folks caught up in the storm, who may have survived the initial hit, but were now faced with rising flood waters and the levee breaches—which sounded like an explosion.
One person said the water was changing colors and rising faster and faster, with hundreds of folks taking cover on their roofs, waiting to be rescued.
The documentary showed the 5th Ward, Treme, Lower 9th Ward and St. Bernard, among other areas.
“It came in like a tidal wave,” said one Lower 9th Ward resident.
“There were so many folks trapped, and the lines were furiously busy,” said an Emergency Response call operator.
There had been an emergency plan set in place, but the doc says that Mayor Nagin didn’t employ it because of finances, and they didn’t think Katrina would be that bad.
But as history tells us, it was that bad.
According to Google, Hurricane Katrina caused 1,392 fatalities and damages estimated at $125 billion from August 23-August 31.
Folks who were not financially able to leave headed to the Louisiana Superdome, which also sustained damage when the flood waters came through the roof.
Reportedly, during the hurricane, an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people sought refuge in the Superdome. Others also sought protection at the Convention Center. This included those who evacuated to these locations before the storm and those who were brought there by rescue efforts after the levees broke.
Retired three-star lieutenant general Russel L. Honoré was painful in his retelling of efforts to support affected citizens.
Contributing to the levees breaking was the absence of valuable marsh and wetlands that would have helped to disrupt the flow of floodwaters. And this breakdown, according to the documentary, was at the hands of the oil conglomerates, whose business practices slowly eroded that protection over time.
The episodes for “Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time” are: The Coming Storm, Worst Case Scenario, A Desperate Place, Shoot To Kill and Wake Up Call.
Look for all episodes on Hulu.
Kitchen + Kocktails by Kevin Kelley has a rebirth
This dynamic comfort soul food concept by Kevin Kelley had originally opened in 2021 in a location not far from this latest spot, which is conveniently set right next to the House of Blues at 339 N. Dearborn St.
Kelley and staff welcomed business owners, attorneys, non profits, media and influencers on August 1 to a brand new spanking, bright and vibing location to experience upscale soul food and luscious kocktails.
There were “shots” of soul egg rolls, lamb, grilled shrimp over deviled eggs, mac and cheese and collard greens, among other delicious bites.
In 2021, Attorney Kelley told this columnist: “We hope to offer an all-encompassing culinary experience that makes Chicagoans feel as if the South was delivered to the beautiful Windy City.”
He added: “We hope the city of Chicago supports that we are not only Black-owned, but that we’ve assembled a dream team of talent as diverse and unique as the city we will serve.”
Check out the restaurant’s menu at kitchenkocktailsusa.com.