20 years after Katrina, St. Bernard Parish's population hasn't recovered

By Jeff Brady

Published August 22, 2025 at 4:02 PM EDT

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After Hurricane Katrina flooded St. Bernard Parish near New Orleans in 2005, residents had to decide whether they would return and rebuild. Twenty years later, about half of the residents chose to leave, but new flood protections encouraged some to return to their homes.

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Jeff Brady

Jeff Brady is the Climate and Energy Correspondent on NPR's Climate Desk. He reports on the intersection of climate change and politics to reveal whether and how the U.S. is meeting its obligations to address the breakdown of the climate. And his reporting examines who's reshaping the energy system and who are the winners and losers. A key element of Brady's reporting is holding accountable those who block or stall efforts to address climate change in an effort to preserve their business.