Two Decades After Katrina, New Orleans Faces a Critical Crossroads

Brander Guss-Lee, a security guard, stood outside an auditorium in New Orleans recently, listening to fragments of a documentary about Hurricane Katrina playing inside: news anchors struggling to convey the scale of destruction and human suffering in the storm’s aftermath, emotional testimonials, and mournful yet resilient saxophone melodies.

Though proud of her city, Ms. Guss-Lee was eager to leave the painful memories of Katrina behind.

“We’re still here,” she said firmly. “Believe that.”

Survival was far from assured in the immediate days after the devastating hurricane. The city appeared swallowed by the Gulf of Mexico, thousands were stranded in a damaged Superdome serving as a last refuge, and a slow, chaotic federal response fueled fears that New Orleans had been abandoned.

Now, as New Orleans commemorates the 20th anniversary of Katrina, many residents feel that mere survival is no longer sufficient.

In the wake of the flooding and trauma, the city received substantial funding, ambitious plans, and hope that entrenched issues might finally be addressed. Expectations ran high for improved governance, enhanced flood defenses, better schools, and more effective policing. Yet, two decades later, much of that optimism remains unfulfilled.