Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time is a ground-breaking docuseries that recounts the horrors and copious mistakes that were made in both the preparation for the storm and the handling of its aftermath. Set to premiere on National Geographic on July 27 at 8:00 PM/ET, the series is divided into five episodes and arrives a month shy of the storm’s 20th anniversary.
The docuseries has some heavy hitters behind it, including Oscar® and Emmy®-winning producers Simon and Jonathan Chinn, acclaimed filmmaker Ryan Coogler, and Oscar-nominated Traci A. Curry, who was tasked with directing the series. The offerings of this series are unprecedented, following a painful timeline of events that would change the trajectory of the city and its residents forever.
Kicking off with the first episode, “The Coming Storm”, it transports viewers into the chaos that engulfed New Orleans, capturing the fear, heroism, and resilience of those who fought to survive. Looking back, it’s painful to hear first-person accounts from leadership where either neglect or lack of resources played a part in the disaster. With countless hours of archival footage and gut-wrenching testimonies, the series sheds light on how the biggest disaster wasn’t the hurricane itself, but a culmination of failed leadership and irresponsible media.
The series is incredible and is unlike any documentary I’ve seen covering the tragedy. Expect to hear from residents affected by the storm and the events that followed, first responders and aid providers, scientists, law enforcement, and former government and military officials.
Watching the mass exodus of people, mostly Black, felt eerily close to what happened during Reconstruction. The significant difference here is that residents were forced away against their will, surrendering any belongings or property left behind. Looking back to that period in 2005, I vividly remember receiving new students from New Orleans at my university. Now, I wonder how many were forced out compared to those who transferred voluntarily.
By the last episode, “Wake Up Call”, you’ll start to understand exactly how badly events were fumbled and the importance of accurate journalism, a problem we’re still dealing with today. Poor choices plagued the leaders at the time, with some feeding into the propaganda machine while others showed no care whatsoever. At the root of these costly decisions was the topic America still hasn’t reckoned with: racism.
Whenever events involve non-whites, there’s a casualness that comes with it. Whether it’s racism in healthcare (lack of urgency, dismissing cries for help, foul overall treatment) or real estate (lower home values, lack of care, dismissing residents’ concerns), Black people are always the ones to suffer the most. In episode three, “A Desperate Place”, citizens are surviving horrific conditions inside the Superdome. When the government says it’ll provide and fails to do so, people will take matters into their own hands. With that, people were forced to find food, water, and other supplies for themselves, their families, and even their neighbors. The valiant efforts and survival instincts were quickly labeled as looting by media outlets, which hastily shifted efforts from rescuing survivors to securing the city and local businesses.
Watching the archival footage, coupled with firsthand accounts, painted a clearer picture of how poorly the storm was handled. The leadership in place was pretty poor, to be frank, and the citizens who were affected by the storm ultimately suffered because of it. One of the few decision-makers who is sure to become a fan favorite in this series is Lt. General Russel Honoré, commander of Joint Task Force Katrina. Among the many things he did, probably the most impactful was, firstly, showing empathy for those who were stranded. Then, the way he handled the National Guard troops surveilling the city with guns drawn. It seemed like everyone in power needed a reminder that the people who were stranded had nothing and were U.S. citizens.
Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time gets a 9.5 out of 10. It’s a series that’s so good that you don’t want it to end. Hurricane Katrina will be remembered as one of the worst hurricanes in our history, but thanks to this series, audiences will understand that the biggest disaster wasn’t a natural one. The inhumane treatment of fellow citizens and the shadow cast over the poor was documented and serves as a reminder that race and economic status are always considered, even in emergencies.
The first three episodes will premiere on National Geographic on July 27, with the final two premiering on July 28. All five episodes will be available to stream on Disney+ and Hulu on July 28.
Watch the premiere on National Geographic HERE on July 27.
-Jon Jones
Photos: National Geographic
Genre: Docuseries
Rating: Unrated
Runtime: Five Episodes | 40 mins.
Trailer: Watch
U.S. Release Date: July 27, 2025