Everybody in New Orleans is on full alert this time of year. The smallest disturbance in the Gulf of Mexico creates big anxiety for most people. Last week there was a strange little storm. Crossed Florida and entered the Gulf. The storm passed. It gave us some rain, a reminder of how vulnerable we still are—but no flood, no destruction. We got lucky.
But next time, luck won’t be enough.
As Louisiana soaked in last week’s tropical depression, Texas drowned. In the Hill Country, floods swept away homes and lives. And FEMA—Trump’s FEMA—waited three days to send help. Even worse, the federal disaster call center was gutted after the storm hit. Thousands of desperate calls went unanswered.
If you want to know what New Orleanians can expect the next time we’re in a storm’s path, just look west. What happened to Texas will happen here. And for us, it could be even worse.
We’re Still Living With Katrina’s Trauma
Nearly 20 years after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans remains scarred—physically, economically, and psychologically. We’ve rebuilt substantially, yes. But the city is smaller. Poorer. And in many way weaker. Our population has never fully recovered.
In 2000, New Orleans had nearly 485,000 residents. Now, we hover just over 360,000. That loss isn’t just a statistic. It’s a warning sign.
We are bleeding out. And unless we act now—at every level—this city could become unlivable for working families, and uninsurable for all.
The Insurance Market Is Already Failing Us
Let’s stop pretending the insurance crisis is coming. It’s here.
Twelve insurance companies in Louisiana collapsed between 2021 and 2023. Dozens more pulled out of high-risk areas—especially Black neighborhoods in New Orleans. Premiums are skyrocketing. Deductibles are outrageous. And if another catastophic storm hits? That fragile system will break completely.
This isn’t just about homes. This affects small businesses, hospitals, churches—our entire economy. Without insurance, people won’t rebuild. They’ll leave. And the next population drop might be so extreme that the New Orleans we know and love will be gone forever.
Related: Katrina at Twenty: What Happened to Our Poorest Brothers and Sisters
The Federal Safety Net Has Holes
And what happens after the storm?
Trump’s administration already slashed FEMA staffing, cut resilience programs, and crippled the National Weather Service. If he returns, we won’t just have to survive the storm—we’ll have to survive the neglect.
In New Orleans, where Black people still suffer disproportionately from housing insecurity, poverty, and chronic health issues, FEMA delays and disorganization will hit us the hardest.
The NWS offices in New Orleans and Baton Rouge are dangerously understaffed. The National Hurricane Center is short five specialists. Balloon launches and overnight staffing have been cut. We are flying blind into the heart of hurricane season.
This is not a local inconvenience. It is a federal failure with life-and-death consequences.
The Levees Are Better—But We Aren’t Ready
Since Katrina, the Army Corps of Engineers has rebuilt the levee system around the city. There’s no doubt those improvements matter. But they aren’t enough.
Because while the levees might hold, the Sewerage and Water Board might not. Pumps fail. Power sources are unstable. Billing is erratic. And the utility—already plagued by scandal and mismanagement—can’t handle a hard rain, let alone a major hurricane.
It’s not just about what failed in 2005. It’s about what’s still failing now.
The Statewide Risk
Make no mistake: this is not just a New Orleans issue. This is a Louisiana crisis.
New Orleans is the economic engine of the state. We power tourism, shipping, trade, and culture. If we go down, the whole state suffers. Insurance markets statewide are affected by what happens here. State revenue depends on our survival.
So where is the plan? Where is the urgency?
Elections Are Coming. Who’s Talking About This?
This fall, New Orleans voters will elect a new mayor and several new city councilmembers. These are high-stakes races.
So here’s the question we should ask every candidate:
“What are you doing to ensure New Orleans is still here in 20 years?”
Because right now, we are teetering on the edge. One bad storm, one more year of insurance losses, and one more round of federal neglect could tip us over.
We don’t just need pothole plans and festival schedules. We need survival strategies.
The Call to Action
The next hurricane will test more than just our levees. It will test our leadership. Our systems. Our will.
Black New Orleanians are still the dominant political force in the city. And Black New Orleanians cannot afford to sit this fight out. We must demand action from every candidate, from Baton Rouge to Washington. We must fix the Sewerage and Water Board. And we must repair the insurance system. We must demand Scalise and company rebuild FEMA and restore the National Weather Service to full staffing.
If not for us, then for the next generation that deserves to inherit this city—not flee from it.
New Orleans doesn’t need prayers. It needs protection.
And that starts right now.
Whew! A lot to chew on here, Jeff. Where do I start? First, when it comes to “Man vs. Nature”, nature always wins. Mother nature has an extensive resume that goes back 4.5 BILLION years. She’s good at this. You can build all the levees you want, without the marshes and cypress trees to curb storm surge and slow the wind, it’s all for naught. What does our esteemed Governor do? He pulls a DOGE move on a marsh restoration project, saying it’s too expensive. Did he offer a replacement plan? I’m going to go out on a limb and says he’ll pull a Trumpian “concept of a plan” response if asked about a plan.
On the insurance note, I know many people who have rolled the dice the past two years or so and have forgone homeowners insurance and put money in a separate account and hoped for the best. It’s really sad, but this is where we are now! The GOP party has made it clear that if you don’t have financial means, GOOD LUCK! YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN! The calvary isn’t coming to save you! For the next 42 months, this government will definitely not be FOR THE PEOPLE!! My bad, I meant to say, only for THE RICH PEOPLE!!