Told in unflinching, moment-by-moment detail, Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time transports viewers into the chaos that engulfed New Orleans as one of the deadliest catastrophes in U.S. history unfolded—capturing the fear, heroism and resilience of those who fought to survive the storm and its aftermath. With the clear-eyed perspective of two decades of hindsight, this gripping historical record corrects persistent false narratives and exposes how a natural disaster became a national tragedy. Grounded in gut-wrenching eyewitness testimony from survivors, first responders and officials, and brought to life with immersive archival footage, the series is an unparalleled, emotionally raw examination of the storm’s personal, political and societal fallout. From the Oscar- and Emmy®-winning producers at Lightbox and acclaimed filmmaker Ryan Coogler and his production company, Proximity Media, and directed by Oscar-nominated Traci A. Curry, this landmark documentary series arrives in time to mark the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.
“This is far more than a story about a storm,” said executive producers Jonathan Chinn and Simon Chinn (Lightbox). “It’s a compelling, essential reexamination of systemic failure and the enduring consequences of decisions made before, during and after the levees broke.”

“This series goes beyond the headlines. It reveals stories of survival, heroism and resilience,” added executive producers Ryan Coogler, Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian (Proximity Media). “It’s a vital historical record and a call to witness, remember and reckon with the truth of Hurricane Katrina’s legacy.”
To celebrate the release of this groundbreaking series, Nat Geo released a clip preview of episode 3 ‘A Desperate Place’ of Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time, as seen in the video above. Airing on July 27 at 10/9c, the clip focuses on day three of the flood, rescue operations continue around the clock. Thousands remain trapped, as the government struggles to coordinate a rescue effort. Inside the Superdome, stories of resilience and survival emerge above the sometimes-horrific conditions. Meanwhile, media coverage shifts to emphasize disorder, focusing on looting rather than the thousands still stranded.
To learn more about Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time, check out the gallery below.






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