When the levees broke in August 2005, the world wasn't just watching a natural disaster. It was watching a political train wreck. People still argue about who to blame. You’ve probably heard the names. You might even remember the grainy footage of people stranded on rooftops while politicians pointed fingers. But there is a weird, persistent bit of confusion that pops up whenever people talk about this.
First off, let’s clear up a technicality that trips people up. Technically, there is no such thing as a mayor of Louisiana during Katrina. States have governors. Cities have mayors. But because the crisis in New Orleans was so massive, the lines between city leadership and state leadership basically blurred into one big ball of chaos.
Ray Nagin was the Mayor of New Orleans. Kathleen Blanco was the Governor of Louisiana.
They were the two people standing at the center of the storm, often at odds with each other, and definitely at odds with the federal government. To understand what really went down, you have to look at how these two very different leaders handled the most stressful week in American history.
Ray Nagin: The New Orleans Mayor Who Became the Face of the Crisis
Ray Nagin wasn't a career politician. He was a cable executive before he took office. Honestly, that business background is probably why he sounded so different on the radio during the storm. He didn't use "politic-speak." He screamed. He cursed. He told the federal government to "get off their asses."
But before the yelling started, there were the decisions. Or the lack of them.
💡 You might also like: Brian Walshe Trial Date: What Really Happened with the Verdict
One of the biggest criticisms Nagin faced was the timing of the mandatory evacuation. He didn't call for it until less than 24 hours before Katrina made landfall. By then, for thousands of people without cars or money, it was too late.
Then there were the buses. You’ve likely seen the photos of hundreds of yellow school buses sitting in a flooded lot, submerged in water. Those buses could have been used to get people out. Instead, they became a symbol of missed opportunities. Nagin later argued that he didn't have enough drivers, but for the families trapped in the Superdome, that excuse didn't hold much water.
The "Chocolate City" Speech and the Aftermath
Nagin's legacy is complicated. Some people in New Orleans loved him because he felt like the only person actually fighting for them when the rest of the country seemed to be looking away. Others saw him as a disaster in his own right.
Then came the "Chocolate City" speech in early 2006. He said New Orleans should remain a "chocolate city" and that "it's time for us to rebuild a New Orleans that is a chocolate New Orleans." It was a moment that polarized the city even further.
Ultimately, Nagin’s story didn't end with the storm. In 2014, he was convicted on 20 counts of bribery, fraud, and money laundering. It turned out he’d been taking kickbacks from contractors even while the city was trying to rebuild. He served several years in federal prison, a fall from grace that felt like a final, bitter chapter for many Katrina survivors.
📖 Related: How Old is CHRR? What People Get Wrong About the Ohio State Research Giant
Kathleen Blanco: The Governor Caught in a Federal Tug-of-War
If Nagin was the fire, Kathleen Blanco was the person trying to navigate a bureaucratic maze that was falling apart. She was Louisiana's first female governor. She was a former teacher, known for being relatively quiet and focused on education.
Then Katrina hit.
Blanco’s biggest struggle wasn't just the water; it was the red tape. There was a massive power struggle between her office and the White House. President George W. Bush wanted to "federalize" the National Guard, which basically meant the Pentagon would take over. Blanco refused. She didn't want to give up control of her state’s troops, fearing it would slow down the response even more or set a dangerous precedent.
The "Locked and Loaded" Moment
While she was often viewed as indecisive, Blanco did have moments of intense resolve. She famously told the media that National Guard troops arriving in New Orleans were "locked and loaded" to stop the looting.
"These troops are fresh back from Iraq. They are well-trained, experienced, battle-tested and under my orders to restore order in the streets... They have M-16s, and they're locked and loaded."
👉 See also: The Yogurt Shop Murders Location: What Actually Stands There Today
It was a tough-talk moment that felt a bit out of character for her, and it showed just how desperate the situation had become. But the delays in getting food and water to the Superdome and the Convention Center ultimately landed on her desk. She didn't run for re-election. The political weight of the storm was just too heavy. She passed away in 2019, and while history has been a bit kinder to her than to Nagin, her name is forever linked to those five days of failure.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Leadership Failures
It’s easy to pick a villain. People love to blame Nagin for the buses or Blanco for the paperwork. But the reality is that the system itself was designed to fail a catastrophe of this size.
- The Levees were Federal: The city and state were blamed for the flooding, but the levees were designed and built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. When they failed, it wasn't because of a local maintenance issue; it was a fundamental design flaw.
- The Communication Gap: The Mayor of New Orleans and the Governor of Louisiana literally couldn't talk to each other for days because the cell towers were down and the satellite phones weren't working.
- The "Refugee" Label: Both Nagin and Blanco fought against the media calling New Orleanians "refugees." They were Americans. That fight over language was one of the few things they actually agreed on.
The Actionable Lessons We Can Actually Use
We shouldn't just look back at the mayor of Louisiana during Katrina as a history lesson. There are actual things you can do to make sure you aren't caught in the same kind of leadership vacuum if a disaster hits your area.
- Don't Wait for the Mandatory Order: If local officials are "strongly encouraging" evacuation, just go. Nagin waited for the legal paperwork to be perfect before calling the mandatory order. By then, the highways were a parking lot.
- Verify Your Own Communication Plan: In Katrina, the "experts" had satellite phones that didn't work inside buildings. Don't assume your tech will work. Have a "mesh" plan or a designated out-of-state contact person for your family.
- Audit Your Local "Shelter of Last Resort": The Superdome was never meant to hold 30,000 people for a week. If your city has a designated shelter, find out what the actual capacity and supply levels are. Usually, it's a lot lower than you think.
The leadership in 2005 was a mix of genuine effort and ego-driven mistakes. Nagin is gone from the public eye, and Blanco is gone entirely, but the city they tried (and sometimes failed) to lead is still here. The biggest takeaway isn't that they were "bad" people; it's that in a true catastrophe, the "person in charge" is often just as lost as you are.
Plan accordingly.
Final Facts for the Record
- Mayor during Katrina: Ray Nagin (2002–2010)
- Governor during Katrina: Kathleen Blanco (2004–2008)
- Federal FEMA Director: Michael Brown (the "Brownie" of "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job" fame)
- Primary failure point: The breach of the 17th Street Canal and London Avenue Canal levees.
To stay prepared for modern weather events, check your local parish or county emergency management office for updated evacuation routes, as most have been completely redesigned since the 2005 season.