Remembrance & Resilience
Survivor Stories
Honor the voices, memories, and strength of people whose lives were forever changed by Hurricane Katrina. This page centers lived experience, community truth, and the enduring fight for justice in New Orleans.
Stories That Carry Memory Forward
For 21 years, survivors, families, advocates, and neighbors have kept the memory of Katrina alive by telling the truth about loss, displacement, resilience, and rebuilding. These stories are not only reflections on the past, they are calls to protect community, dignity, and justice today.
Story One
Holding On to Home
Many survivors remember Katrina through the homes, blocks, churches, and gathering places they fought to return to. Their stories speak to the pain of displacement and the determination to preserve culture, family ties, and neighborhood identity.
Story Two
Community After the Storm
Survival did not happen alone. Across New Orleans, people leaned on one another for shelter, food, information, and hope. These accounts highlight the power of mutual care, local leadership, and collective action in the hardest moments.
Story Three
From Remembrance to Advocacy
Survivor testimony continues to shape public memory and public action. By speaking out, survivors help demand accountability, environmental justice, and long-term investment in the communities most affected by Katrina.
Voices of Resilience
Representative reflections inspired by the spirit of survivor testimony, remembrance, and advocacy that has shaped this work for more than two decades.
★★★★★
We carry the memory of what we lost, but we also carry the strength of everyone who helped us keep going.
Community Survivor
New Orleans resident
★★★★★
Telling our stories is how we honor those who endured Katrina and how we push for the justice our communities still deserve.
Advocacy Partner
Community organizer
★★★★★
Remembrance matters because it keeps truth alive. It reminds the next generation what happened and why we must keep showing up.
Commemoration Supporter
Annual participant