Retired Lieutenant General Russell Honoré joins the show to reflect on the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and discuss the 2025 hurricane season. He recalled arriving at the Superdome on the Wednesday after Katrina made landfall, where thousands awaited evacuation. One haunting image that stayed with him was a woman pushing a toddler in a shopping cart through chest-deep water. Honoré described the chaos caused by downed communication systems, submerged emergency vehicles, and the urgent need to coordinate evacuation and relief efforts. Working with the Louisiana National Guard and local officials, he helped develop a plan—initially sketched on the back of a piece of paper—to evacuate residents from the Superdome and Convention Center using buses and later airplanes.

He emphasized that while 80% of the population evacuated, the remaining 20%—many of whom were elderly, disabled, or poor—suffered the most. Honoré also shared the origin of his now-famous phrase “stuck on stupid,” inspired by a blues song, as a reminder not to repeat past mistakes. He stressed the importance of learning from Katrina, especially the need for early planning and decisive action.Looking ahead to the current hurricane season, which is predicted to be above average, Honoré urged residents to prepare like they would for football season. He advised stocking one gallon of water per person per day, five days’ worth of non-perishable food, and a “go kit” with essential documents, preferably digitized. He also highlighted the importance of having NOAA and FEMA fully operational, noting that early warnings and federal declarations—like those made before Katrina—can significantly improve response efforts. His final message: be prepared, check on vulnerable neighbors, and be ready to act as your own first responder. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.