On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Mississippi Gulf Coast, leaving the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) with the monumental task of rebuilding or repairing nearly every major route in the region.
Now, 20 years later, MDOT is releasing a documentary that chronicles this historic recovery. “MDOT Remembers Hurricane Katrina: 20 Years Later” captures the restoration of infrastructure through the voices of those who led the effort to reconnect communities after the storm.
When Hurricane Katrina made landfall near the Mississippi-Louisiana border as a Category 3 storm with sustained winds of 120 miles per hour, it unleashed one of the most devastating disasters in state history. The resulting storm surge reached a record-setting 27.8 feet at Pass Christian – the highest ever recorded in modern U.S. history – and flooded as far as six miles inland and up to 12 miles along bays and rivers.
The destruction touched every corner of the state: 238 people lost their lives in Mississippi, and all 82 counties were declared federal disaster areas. Bridges, barges, casinos, and coastal communities lining U.S. 90 and I-10 were washed away or rendered impassable. In some areas, over 90% of structures within half a mile of the coastline were obliterated.
To mark the 20th anniversary of this unprecedented recovery, the 30-minute documentary from MDOT features firsthand stories from the company leaders past and present as well as engineers who spearheaded repairs. It promises to offer a time-capsule glimpse into the rapid rebuilding of highways, bridges, and vital infrastructure. Gov. Haley Barbour, Southern Transportation District Commissioner Charles Busby, MDOT Executive Director Brad White, former MDOT Executive Director Melinda McGrath, and several engineers will share their stories.
The documentary premieres next week on their YouTube channel with preview clips shared on Facebook, Instagram, and X. The trailer can be watched here.
