Russel Honore led recovery efforts as commander of Joint Task Force Katrina in 2005 and gained national recognition. He retired in 2008 and continues as a crisis consultant advising on flooding, wildfires and security failures like the Jan. 6 attack. Thousands of New Orleanians without evacuation means gathered at the Superdome, where dwindling supplies created misery. Forecasters warned of catastrophe, but a mandatory evacuation was issued late and roughly 20% stayed, mainly poor and elderly. System failures included ambulance animal policies, prompting later federal changes to include pet sheltering.
Army Lieutenant General Russel Honore became a household name in 2005 when he led recovery efforts as commander of Joint Task Force Katrina. Nearly 20 years later, as storms grow stronger and climate disasters are becoming more frequent, Honore says the lessons of Hurricane Katrina remain urgent: local leaders fail, warnings can be too late and people without resources are often left behind.
As he flew into New Orleans by helicopter on Aug. 31, 2005, Honore said he had to keep his emotions in check as the faces of thousands of residents came into view. New Orleanians who didn't have the means to leave the city had gathered at the Superdome, one of the the city's designated evacuation centers. "It broke my heart when I saw a lady with a toddler and a shopping basket pushing the baby in the water,"
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