As the City of New Orleans approached the twentieth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina in 2025, the City Archives & Special Collections positioned itself as a leading resource for the City. This included gathering research materials for public access and city officials, serving on the City’s Katrina 20 Commission, and planning programming, outreach, and exhibits around Katrina resources.

Compiling Katrina-era municipal records proved daunting. When disasters unfold in real time, records are not always preserved and conflicting narratives can emerge. Engaging the public around Hurricane Katrina can also be emotionally challenging for everyone involved.

In this session, presenters will share their experience documenting disaster, adapting to changing avenues of information sharing, navigating the shift from physical to digital records, and participating in commemorating the twentieth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Attendees will gain a practical framework for preserving disaster records, engaging the public sensitively, and presenting conflicting narratives ethically.