(Credit: Netflix)

It has been almost 20 years since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, yet the memories are still fresh for many. The floods, the mess, and the long wait for help changed the city forever. Now, Netflix is bringing those stories back into focus with a new documentary, and the trailer has just been released.

Katrina: Come Hell and High Water is a three-part series that lets survivors tell the story in their own words. It will arrive on Netflix on August 27th. The trailer mixes old footage of the disaster with new interviews, showing what people went through and how their lives have been shaped since.

The series is executive-produced by Spike Lee, who also directs alongside Geeta Gandbhir and Samantha Knowles. Lee has filmed New Orleans before in When the Levees Broke, which captured the storm’s immediate aftermath. This time, he looks at the long-term impact and the resilience of the people who lived through it.

The trailer does not shy away from the hardest moments. Streets turned into rivers, houses ripped apart, and families stranded for days. Survivors speak about the fear and the feeling of being left behind. The series also addresses the failures in planning and response that made the disaster worse, especially for the city’s Black community.

But it is not only about loss; it is about hope too. The film shows how neighbours looked out for each other, shared food and shelter, and helped rebuild when there was no other choice. These moments of kindness and courage remind viewers that even in the worst situations, community can be a lifeline.

The documentary goes beyond personal memories. It includes voices from first responders, journalists, and local leaders who were part of the city’s fight to recover. It revisits the political decisions that shaped the recovery. From evacuation plans to the slow arrival of federal aid. By combining personal stories with a wider look at the city’s challenges, it creates a full picture of what happened.

One striking element in the trailer is how the survivors speak with both pain and pride. Pain for what was lost, but pride for how far they have come. They recall the nights without power and the smell of floodwater in the air. And most importantly, the struggle to find family members. But also at the same time, there are moments of joy. Like the first moments of laughter after the storm, the small steps toward normal life, and the hope that the city could be rebuilt.

Releasing the series near the hurricane’s anniversary makes it more than just a history lesson. It is a memorial for those who died and a chance for those who survived to be heard by a wider audience. It also raises questions about how prepared cities are today and whether the lessons of 2005 have truly been learnt.

For viewers, Katrina: Come Hell and High Water promises to be powerful and emotional. It is about more than a storm. It is about people and the strength to keep going when everything falls apart. When it lands on Netflix, it will invite audiences to recognise that behind every headline about a disaster, there are human lives that deserve to be seen and heard.