Aug. 29 marks 20 years since one of the deadliest hurricanes in American history rocked the Gulf Coast region. Hurricane Katrina landed in Louisiana, wreaking havoc on hundreds of thousands of families in the South and permanently tearing Black communities apart. But despite Katrina being a household name, many folks today still don’t know the horrific details or untold facts about the storm.
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In its aftermath, Hurricane Katrina has impacted legislation, government agencies, and even the structure of many Black communities across the nation. So now, The Root is looking closely to reveal the unknown stories behind Hurricane Katrina and who exactly paid the ultimate price.
Total Cost of the Storm
Katrina is the most expensive hurricane in U.S. history, according to the Data Center, a New Orleans-based research organization. It damaged more than a million homes in the region and covered 80 percent of New Orleans with water. In total, it cost an estimated $170 billion, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported.
FEMA Camp Conspiracy
FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) helps to coordinate the nation’s response to disasters. But after Hurricane Katrina, many expressed suspicions on whether FEMA is secretly kidnapping people and sending them to detainment camps. There’s no evidence to support this conspiracy, but that hasn’t stopped folks from running with it. “‘FEMA camp’ rumors are founded in long-standing conspiracy theories intended to discredit our efforts to help survivors,” the government agency stated, according to NBC News. “FEMA does not round up or detain people, does not enact martial law, does not set up internment camps, and does not secretly operate mining settlements.”
The Ultimate Human Cost
Katrina ranks no. 4 for the deadliest hurricane in American history, right after the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, which killed an estimated 8,000 to 12,000 people, according to USA Today. In Louisiana, 1,500 people died because of Katrina: 40 percent from drowning, 25 percent from additional injures and trauma and about 11 percent suffered from heart conditions, according to a report published in 2008 by the American Medical Association.
What Happened to Mayor Ray Nagin?
New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was well-loved in the Louisiana community until Hurricane Katrina showed up. The storm put the Democrat in the hot seat as he faced criticism for not ordering mandatory evacuations sooner. He left office in 2010. But in 2014, he was convicted of bribery, fraud and money laundering charges committed while in office. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for 20 of the charges, according to NPR. He was released in 2020.
Where Did the Victims Migrate?
An estimated 1.5 million people fled their homes in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi in the wake of Katrina, American Progress reported. But because of the severe damage, around 40 percent of those folks could not return home. Instead, they settled in northern parts of Louisiana, Georgia and Texas. Only 25 percent of evacuees relocated within a 10-mile radius of their previous county. Twenty-five percent relocated over 450 miles away and 10 percent moved to areas 830 miles away or more.
Hundreds Were Never Found
As of 2025, hundreds of people are still deemed “missing” after Katrina. According to a report for the Louisiana Department of Health in 2006 — one year after the storm — 987 people were still missing.
How Systemic Racism Played a Role
Large groups of Black Americans migrated to New Orleans in the ’50s and ’60s, the Lab Xchange reported. In response, public housing was constructed in areas below sea level for them, as these were the “least desirable” parts of New Orleans. At the same time, white residents moved to the suburbs, emphasizing the already distinct wealth gap between the two communities. Decades later, a similar system — rooted in systemic racism — still plagued the city. Faulty infrastructure and old levees were beyond outdated in these Black areas, so when Katrina hit, Black communities were left defenseless.
International Donations
According to the Department of State, more than 130 countries donated in the wake of Katrina. Famously, China, Pakistan and Cuba made substantial donations. The country of Kuwait pledged $500 million in relief, according to Relief Web.
Pet Evacuation Bill
Before Hurricane Katrina, no legislation formally required political leaders to include pets in their evacuation plans. Around 259,400 families owned pets prior to Katrina, but an estimated 104,000 pets were left behind in the storm’s wake. At least 88,700 pets went unaccounted for, according to Louisiana SPCA. In the end, around 60,000 pets died in the storm. This led to the passing of House Resolution 3858, also known as the “Pet Evacuation Bill,” requiring governments on all levels to include pets in their evacuation plans.
Hurricane Rita Came Weeks Later
Most people don’t know that another hurricane touched down in the Gulf Coast just a few weeks after Katrina wrecked the same region. Hurricane Rita formed near the Bahamas in early September and reached the Gulf Coast by September 24, according to LSU. An estimated 120 people died from the disaster.
Why ‘Katrina’ Was Retired
Because of the record-breaking damage caused by Katrina, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) “retired” the name Katrina for future storms. This means Katrina will never be used again for any new hurricane. In 2011, they replaced the name with Katia.
What Happened to Gov. Kathleen Blanco?
La. Gov. Kathleen Blanco — the first woman governor in Louisiana — was on her way to reelection when Katrina hit her state and ruined her political career. People blamed Blanco for failing to send emergency assistance earlier. She even told Politico that Katrina would be a permanent stain on her legacy. The Democrat did not seek reelection. Instead, she faded to the political background until her death in 2019. She was 76 years old.
People Died Inside the Superdome
Many of those who remained in Louisiana during the storm took refuge inside New Orleans’ Superdome — which has a capacity of 83,000. But within days, water and food supplies were completely gone, and there was no plumbing available. The Superdome turned into a visceral nightmare, and three people died, according to USA Today. One of the victims reportedly committed suicide.
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