Remembering one of the most devastating disasters in U.S. history

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Aug. 28, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Twenty years ago, Hurricane Katrina forever altered the Gulf Coast, leaving 80% of New Orleans underwater and entire communities across Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Alabama utterly devastated. Convoy of Hope, a humanitarian, faith-based organization, acted swiftly — ultimately aiding over 5.9 million survivors in a response that transformed the disaster relief organization forever.

Katrina: the turning point for Convoy of Hope. In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, more than 1,300 lives were lost, and hundreds of thousands were displaced. For Convoy, the call for help was immediate and overwhelming. Within days, the organization deployed teams to the Gulf Coast, where its then two-person Disaster Services staff was suddenly tasked with leading one of the largest relief efforts in the organization's history.

"We knew the hurricane was coming ... We thought it was going to hit, so we were ready to go in right away," shared Convoy of Hope's President and Founder Hal Donaldson in a commemorative episode of Hope in Every Storm, a Convoy of Hope podcast. "To see the devastation was mind-boggling, but also to see the desperation — because people didn't see it coming. They didn't think it was going to be as big as it was. So many had lost everything."

Over the next two years, Convoy of Hope's Katrina efforts involved the following:

• More than 707 truckloads of relief were delivered from 2005 to 2007.
• Seventy-four communities across four states received food, water and supplies.
• More than 5,000 volunteers joined in the initial response, totaling 180,000+ hours in the first month alone.
• Over 100 medical personnel partnered with Convoy, providing care for 2,600+ patients.
• Nearly 2,300 families received hands-on aid with cleanup and repairs.
• Seventy-eight churches and two Teen Challenge centers were rebuilt with the help of 366 work teams.
• More than 36,000 guests attended Convoy's God Cares outreaches, receiving groceries, medical care, haircuts and other services.

In total, Convoy of Hope's Katrina response efforts touched the lives of more than 5.9 million survivors.

"When you see people's brokenness, and you have been with them and ... been that source [of hope] — even sometimes when they just needed a hug, a physical reminder, a hand on the shoulder ... just that they're remembered and not forgotten — it changes you," shared Convoy of Hope VP Kary Kingsland in the mini documentary Hurricane Katrina: A Legacy of Hope in New Orleans (20 Years Later). "I'll never forget Katrina. I don't think we're meant to forget Katrina."

"We wanted to be first on the ground and the last to leave ... That's how you give people hope, when they know that they're not alone, and they can count on you," continued Donaldson.

For Convoy of Hope, Katrina was not just a disaster response — it was a catalyst for change. From a small-scale relief team, the organization grew into one of the nation's most trusted disaster responders, now having served in more than 850 disasters worldwide.

"Katrina transformed us all," said Donaldson. "Our capacity is a lot larger than it was 20 years ago. We're always building capacity because you never know when the next Katrina will happen. When you look back over the last two decades, there have been some major disasters — Haiti, the tsunami and more. For each disaster, I found that Convoy of Hope was more ready than we were before."

Twenty years later, Convoy continues to carry forward the lessons of Katrina — expanding its capacity and volunteer bases, refining systems and, most importantly, ensuring that when the next storm strikes, hope arrives quickly.

Convoy of Hope is a global, faith-based organization that serves vulnerable communities. By partnering with local churches, businesses, civic organizations and government agencies, Convoy has strategically offered help and hope in more than 130 countries around the world. Since its founding in 1994, Convoy of Hope has served 300 million people and counting.

Media Contact:
Jon D. Wilke
jon@alarryross.com
270-293-7818

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SOURCE Convoy of Hope