NAACP to Honor 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Plans to Release New Disaster Resilience Toolkit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 25, 2025
Contact: Communications@naacpnet.org 
 

NEW ORLEANS, LA — For the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, the NAACP will host a series of events to honor the lives lost, homes destroyed, uplift Black and brown frontline communities, and advance a policy vision for a more equitable future in the face of climate-related disasters.  

Part of the Katrina 20 (K20) Local Planning Committee's Week of Action, a week-long series of cultural, educational, and healing events that will take place across Louisiana, Mississippi, the NAACP will gather local leaders, youth, faith communities, and policy experts across Louisiana and Mississippi to reflect on Katrina's legacy while charting a path forward.

Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, causing more than $170 billion in damages, displacing 1.2 million people, and claiming at least 1,700 lives. The storm exposed racial inequities in disaster response, recovery, and resilience. These inequities continue to shape climate and environmental justice today,

"Our communities don't just remember the storm, we remember the injustice that followed," said Derrick Johnson, President & CEO, NAACP. "Twenty years later, we honor that history by fighting for a future where Black and brown communities are not left behind when disaster strikes. Katrina taught us hard lessons. And, with the climate crisis intensifying, the urgency of action has never been greater."

The K20 NAACP Week of Action includes:

• Tuesday, August 26 | Equity and Justice: The Role of Nonprofits 20 years after Katrina (Gulfport, MS)
• Wednesday, August 27 | Community Training: Ready People, Resilient Future (open to press) Xavier University, Admin Auditorium, New Orleans | 10am–3pm

A day-long training introducing NAACP's new Power in the Stormdisaster resiliency toolkit. Sessions will cover equity-based disaster management, legal strategies, community emergency response, youth engagement, andclimate justice in disaster prevention and recovery. Includes a screening of Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Timewith Malik Rahim at 2pm.

• Thursday, August 28 | Convening and Reception (closed to press)

A community gathering and town hall to reflect on Katrina's impact and discuss the urgent challenges of climate change.

• Friday, August 29 | Report Release: Power in the Storm – A Policy Framework for Climate-Related Disasters (open to press) Armstrong Park, Tent 1, New Orleans | 10–11:30am

A panel discussion and the official release of NAACP's new policy framework, outlining equitable solutions for disaster response, resilience, and recovery.

Developed in partnership with Counterstream, the NAACP's Power in the Storm toolkit builds on two decades of advocacy and community input since Katrina, offering a roadmap for how local, state, and federal leaders can center equity in disaster preparedness and climate resilience.

"From Katrina to today, we've seen how the climate crisis hits frontline and fence line communities the worst," said Abre' Conner, Director of Environmental and Climate Justice, NAACP. "These events are about honoring the past, equipping communities with tools for the present, and building policies that protect future generations." 

For more information on K20 Activations and to access Power in the Storm after its release, visit naacp.org.

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About NAACP  

The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.  

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.