On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on the southeast coast of Louisiana with storm surges reaching into Mississippi, as well as Alabama and Florida. The days and weeks that followed were devastating for the region and the nation, as communities faced the full impact of the storm. Yet, the same communities that had lost everything rallied together to find relief and rebuild.
While Cornerstone had just been founded a few years before, many of our team members have roots in the states that saw the greatest destruction – Louisiana and Mississippi. In honor of the 20th anniversary, they’re sharing what they remember about Hurricane Katrina and how it shaped them. It inspired action, changed career trajectories and shifted the meaning of ‘community’ for many. Continue reading below to learn from these insightful first-hand accounts.
Ashley Cain
“I was a senior at LSU, living in Baton Rouge when Hurricane Katrina hit. At first, it felt like just another storm—we rode it out with friends, roommates, and like a true Louisianan – several adult beverages. But once the party ended, reality set in. The devastation was overwhelming, communication was nearly impossible, and misinformation was everywhere. My family and I were lucky—just a couple of weeks without power—but the memories of the destruction we saw and heard never leave you.”
Rachel Farmer
“In 2005, I was 28 years old, living in Baton Rouge and married to my husband for nearly two years. In May of that year, I left the House Appropriations Committee staff to join Governor Kathleen Blanco’s Administration working as the Confidential Assistant to Commissioner of Administration, Jerry Luke LeBlanc. Little did I know, just a few months later, Hurricane Katrina would hit Louisiana and change the course of our world in so many ways. We rode out the storm in Baton Rouge with family and friends with the usual hurricane parties.
“That morning, I woke up to absolute chaos and the following weeks and months were spent at the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness. Every day, we fielded calls from Louisiana citizens in desperate need and from people across the state and country offering help. At that time, it was the most humbling yet inspiring experience of my life. Reflecting, I am reminded of the extraordinary demands put on public servants in times of crisis – and the strength that emerges through leadership, teamwork, and sheer determination. We leaned on each other constantly – sharing updates, coordinating information, encouraging one another. Everyone simply did what needed to be done.”
Jordan Gleason
“I was 16 when Hurricane Katrina hit. My family and I were riding out the storm at home in New Roads, Louisiana. There was very little impact felt in Pointe Coupee Parish. We lost power for a few hours—a minor inconvenience. But I remember my family being glued to Fox News’ 24-hour coverage. My most distinct memory was flying out of New Orleans six months after the hurricane and seeing the sea of blue tarps draped across the city. One thing I learned about this experience was that it made me proud to be from Louisiana. It was a prime example of how resilient we are as a state and how ingrained this is in our culture.”
Campbell Kaufman
“Cornerstone was two years old, and we were located at 300 Independence Avenue on Capitol Hill. The national call for volunteers, supplies, clothes, and so forth seemed unprecedented. We sprung into action emailing a listserv of friends and colleagues from around DC for their support. Cornerstone became the drop-off point for supplies – David Gwaltney, who was one of our co-founders, managed the operation in our conference room as dozens and dozens of people dropped off food, supplies, clothes, and tools.
“Six volunteers, only one of whom I knew, joined me in driving three trucks of supplies south. We stopped in Birmingham, AL and slept on couches at friends’ houses before getting to Jackson, MS and dropping off chainsaws and other needed supplies. The devastation was obvious even then. We inched our way to Baton Rouge, where we had predetermined supply stops at local churches. Then, we used the trucks to make local runs for a week to Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge, and finally to New Orleans. We slept on couches in Baton Rouge for a week making these runs.
“Driving down the interstate to NOLA was intense, and frankly a little scary. Police and National Guard were everywhere; it looked like a war zone. When we got to the state police checkpoint, where they were turning away cars who were trying to get back to their homes, but let us through because we had a makeshift sign in our truck labeled “supply truck.” Once in the city, the only people there were first responders, National Guard, and a smattering of locals who never left the city and made it through alive. A scene I’ll never forget.”
Gabrielle Kees
“I was 34 years old when Hurricane Katrina hit, and during that time, I lived in Baton Rouge, a location that was typically a 15-minute commute to the downtown area and the state capitol. I chose to ride out the hurricane at home, watching TV until the power went out; I then stayed in contact with my colleagues using PIN messages on my BlackBerry. Growing up in Louisiana, I was accustomed to hurricane warnings, but they usually ended up being a lot of fuss over a heavy wind and rainstorm. This one changed everything, especially the way we prepare for storms.
“The couple of days and the week after the hurricane were a period of hot chaos and mania; the majority of businesspeople from the New Orleans area moved to Baton Rouge, and every single house and vehicle that was for sale was instantly sold for ridiculously high prices.
“A specific memory that stands out to me is when, shortly after the storm, my family hosted a family from New Orleans. This family, consisting of the parents plus their three small children, moved into our house for several months. We did not know them very well before they moved in; they were merely business acquaintances, but they needed a place to live. This sweet and extremely vulnerable family grew to become some of our best friends for life. The three small children grew up to be a physician, a physical therapist, and an engineer, and their parents made sure they remember us. The biggest lesson I learned from this experience is that people never forget kindness and how you make them feel. Also, a 15-minute commute to work can become a one-hour and 15-minute commute in Katrina traffic.”
Stephen Ledet
“During Hurricane Katrina, I was 37 years old and living in Baton Rouge. I rode out the storm at a friend’s house in Baton Rouge, surrounded by family and friends. The days and weeks following Katrina were chaotic, to say the least. Despite the challenges, we were able to come together and make a difference.
“With help from a State Senator, we were able to help organize and deliver 18-wheelers full of water and food to the New Orleans area. One specific memory that stands out to me is driving down to Metairie with an empty trailer, filling it up with freezers and refrigerators, and then discarding them at the dump in Baton Rouge. It was a small part of the larger effort, but it felt significant in its own way. The lesson I learned from this experience is the critical importance of collaboration and support during times of crisis. The strength and resilience of our communities truly shine through when we work together, and it was a clear reminder of the importance of the relationship between state and federal government in the recovery process.”
Cooper Moore
“I was four years old when Hurricane Katrina hit. My family and I were living in Prairieville, Louisiana, just outside of Baton Rouge. What I do remember is the many, many stories that I was told growing up. My father worked at Enterprise at the time working 20-hour days trying to get people vehicles as Ascension Parish’s population seemingly doubled overnight. One distinct memory I do have came a year after Katrina in 2006. My family and I watched the New Orleans Saints beat the Atlanta Falcons for the first game back in the Superdome since Katrina. I remember my mom crying tears of joy when Steve Gleason blocked Michael Koenen’s punt for a touchdown. That event, I think, is synonymous with the unique character and resiliency of our beloved state and the people that call it home.”
Nial Patel
“I was 25 and living in New Orleans when Katrina hit. For a while, I bounced between friends’ couches, but with so many people displaced, I eventually moved into the emergency operations center. That first week was a non-stop, frantic blur. With no experience, it felt like I was putting out a different fire every hour while desperately trying to get in touch with my family. Even with the news and videos we saw, we couldn’t grasp the scale of it. It took two weeks before I finally saw the city with my own eyes. The sight was surreal and gut-wrenching.
New Orleans looked like a war zone, the landscape a monochromatic canvas of black and brown from the floodwaters. The silence was eerie, and the air was thick with a nauseating smell. The devastation was so complete that I knew my life, and the city, would never be the same. In that environment of misinformation and panic, I learned a crucial lesson: trust but verify. So many of the circulating rumors were just that—rumors. But the people on the ground were real. They were the unsung heroes, working their hearts out to help one person at a time. It was a beautiful thing to see people from all over the country—regardless of gender, politics, race, or socio-economic background—come together to help us rebuild.”
Paul Rainwater
“When Hurricane Katrina hit, I was 42 years old living in Lake Charles, Louisiana. I was assigned to the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness watch desk as a member of the Army Reserves the night the levees broke. In the days following Katrina, I helped oversee the I-10 Causeway evacuation site, a scene of complete chaos with thousands of evacuees, casualties and separated children. A few days in, my team grew nervous and wanted to leave, not feeling safe. At that moment, I was carrying a four-year-old girl who had been separated from her parents. I told my team, ‘I’m staying for her and her family,’ and they stayed. The most important lesson I learned was to set ego aside and always do what is right. No matter the challenge, you must do what saves lives, fulfilling your duty with honesty and compassion.”
Camille Scales Young
“I was 32 years old, married with three very young children living in Madison – three hours north of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I didn’t think we would be affected, and boy was I wrong! Several windows were blown in on our home. Young trees were uprooted in our yard. Many friends were without power for 10 -14 days. Thankfully, our next-door neighbor worked for Entergy and he made sure our power was back on in 48 hours. I’m almost embarrassed to say that’s all the damage we had.
“Our church hosted families who evacuated from our Gulf Coast and LA. We hosted friends and their children who didn’t have power. We washed clothes, cooked meals, and loved on complete strangers to help them deal with their devastating losses. I will never forget how we came together as a state for the good of our fellow citizens and those we were fortunate to assist.”
Susan Sweat
“I was 26 and working for then-Rep. Roger Wicker (R-MS) who represented the northern part of the state. We had just been down on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for a colleague’s wedding the week before. When the storm hit Mississippi, it devastated one-third of our state. The Coast was unrecognizable and so many of our friends had lost everything.
“We volunteered to answer phones for the offices of Reps. Gene Taylor (D-MS) and Bobby Jindal (R-LA) so their staff could focus on their own recovery. The calls were heartbreaking and sometimes scary (like those from individuals stranded in the Superdome). But in the aftermath, Mississippi was amazing. I was so proud of our state. Our Governor Haley Barbour was masterful in his leadership, and everyone banded together to help and communicate with one voice. I remember taking meetings for years about how to help with the recovery and the people of the Mississippi Gulf Coast were always united. They made helping them easy and gave us clear ways to do it. I don’t know that I’ve ever been prouder of our state.”
Thank you to all those who share their memories in honor of this anniversary. We’re grateful to have you on our team.