AP reporters reflect on Hurricane Katrina, 20 years later

Hurricane Katrina was a major storm when it made landfall in New Orleans in August 2005. It claimed more than 1,400 lives, destroyed entire neighborhoods and caused $151 billion in damage. The disaster changed how emergency response is handled in the United States. On an episode of “The Story Behind the AP Story,” journalists reflect on the atmosphere in the city before the storm and how they covered it. Retired Associated Press journalist Chevel Johnson Rodrigue recalls the eerie calm before the storm. AP photographer Alex Brandon shares his experience working with the New Orleans Police SWAT team during the hurricane.

Post from AP on August 28, 2025