Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time thrusts viewers into the chaos that consumed New Orleans during one of America’s deadliest catastrophes. Grounded in wrenching testimony from survivors, first responders, and officials, and brought to life with immersive archival footage, the series delivers a raw account of personal, political and societal fallout, revealing how a natural disaster became a national tragedy. From Oscar®- and Emmy®-winning producers Lightbox, filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s Proximity Media, and director Traci A. Curry, the landmark documentary marks Hurricane Katrina’s 20th anniversary.

 

Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time

National Geographic documentary series from Proximity Media and Lightbox

Winner of the Critics Choice Documentary Award for Best Historical Documentary
Nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series
Nominated for four News & Documentary Emmy Awards including Best Documentary
Nominated for a Peabody Award

Director: Traci A. Curry
Series Lead Editor: Jeremy Siefer
Editors: Rejh Cabrera, ACE, Erik L. Barnes, Carlos David Rivera

Press

“The Katrina documentary filmography is more extensive than this, and is likely to grow as the anniversary ticks closer. But one wonders whether they’ll come close to matching the visceral wake-up call ‘Hurricane Katrina: Race Against Time’ represents.”

Salon

”Eventually, what emerges is a perfect storm; the series is a devastatingly precise illustration of systemic failure, political impotence and media distortion.”

The Guardian

“Director Traci A. Curry (“Attica”) necessarily repeats many of Lee’s incidents and themes. But she finds her own way through mountains of material in the series that is at once highly compelling and difficult to watch — though I suggest you do.”

Los Angeles Times

 

Time - The Best New TV Shows of July 2025

 
 

Accolades

 

Critics Choice Documentary Awards

Best Historical Documentary (won)
Best Limited Documentary Series (nominated)

Independent Spirit Awards

Best New Non-Scripted or Documentary Series (nominated)

News & Documentary Emmy Awards

Best Documentary (nominated)
Outstanding Historical Documentary (nominated)
Outstanding Promotional Announcement (nominated)
Outstanding Research (nominated)

Peabody Awards

Documentary (nominated)

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