Nat Geo, Disney+ to launch landmark Hurricane Katrina documentary series next month

Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time will mark the 20th anniversary of the disaster

National Geographic and Disney+’s Lightbox-produced documentary series marking the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina will launch next month.

From Ryan Coogler’s Proximity Media and the multiple award-winning producers at Lightbox, Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time (5×60′) offers an “unprecedented, heart-pounding look at the disaster directly from those who lived through it,” Nat Geo said.

Directed by Oscar-nominated Traci A Curry, it has been in the pipeline for many years ahead of the landmark anniversary of one of the deadliest and most devastating natural disasters in US history, which took place on August 29, 2005.

All episodes will be available to stream on Disney+ on July 28, when the first two episodes will launch on Nat Geo. Subsequent episodes will air weekly on Nat Geo.

The hurricane tore through the Gulf Coast with catastrophic power, driving a massive storm surge toward the city and the people of New Orleans. With no rescue in sight, the residents who were left to face the rising floodwaters alone became heroes, fighting to survive against unimaginable odds.

Oscar-winning producer Simon Chinn and Emmy-winning producer Jonathan Chinn’s production company Lightbox and Proximity Media (Sinners) teamed up for the documentary series, which is one of numerous high-profile projects on natural disasters at Nat Geo.

“This is far more than a story about a storm,” said executive producers Jonathan and Simon Chinn in a joint statement. “It’s a compelling, essential re-examination of systemic failure and the enduring consequences of decisions made before, during and after the levees broke.”

Executive producers Coogler, Zinzi Coogler and Sev Ohanian of Proximity Media added in a joint statement: “This series goes beyond the headlines. It reveals stories of survival, heroism and resilience. It’s a vital historical record and a call to witness, remember and reckon with the truth of Hurricane Katrina’s legacy.”

Other executive producers include Myles Estey and Ted Skillman for Lightbox as well as Peter Nicks and Kalia King for Proximity Media, with Kelli Buchanan as co-executive producer. For National Geographic, Sean David Johnson and Carolyn Payne executive produce, while Tom McDonald is executive VP of global factual and unscripted content.

Over the past fortnight the US factual specialist has been at Sheffield Doc/Fest and Sunny Side of the Doc discussing what it looks for when commissioning projects that mark important anniversaries.