PAXTON, MA. – Twenty years after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, Anna Maria College brought together emergency responders, public safety leaders, and students for a reflective discussion on the storm’s lasting impact and the lessons still shaping disaster response today.
On Wednesday, representatives from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), the Red Cross, and public safety officials who were on the ground in 2005 joined faculty and students at the college, which is nationally recognized for its public safety and emergency management programs.
Katrina remains one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in U.S. history. The storm’s landfall in August 2005 triggered the collapse of levees in New Orleans, flooding entire neighborhoods, killing more than 1,800 people, and displacing hundreds of thousands of residents. In the immediate aftermath, emergency response efforts were widely criticized as inadequate, leaving many stranded without shelter, food, or clean water.
“The lessons learned from Katrina were like no other,” said Brigadier General Lisa Ahaesy of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. “We’re still learning from them today, especially when it comes to communication, preparedness, and the importance of exercising our plans.”
Ahaesy recalled that 500 members of the Massachusetts National Guard were deployed shortly after the storm, joining a force of more than 50,000 Guardsmen nationwide. In total, about 60,000 Department of Defense personnel were mobilized to support the response.
“When disasters strike, there’s no time to hesitate,” Ahaesy emphasized. “Exercises and training matter because when you hit the ground, you have to be ready to move immediately.”
Cristine McCombs, who served as director of MEMA during Katrina, shared how Massachusetts played a role in supporting evacuees relocated to the Commonwealth. Many arrived with pets, a challenge at the time since shelters in Louisiana required families to leave animals behind.
“They had to make heartbreaking decisions,” McCombs said. “That experience influenced how we plan today, ensuring families aren’t forced to choose between their safety and their pets.”
Beyond strategy and logistics, panelists underscored the human side of disaster response—both for victims and for those serving on the front lines.
“Leadership through compassion is the only way to lead,” Ahaesy said. “At the end of the day, our ‘why’ is our fellow Americans—preserving life, community, and freedom.”
As climate change drives more frequent and severe weather events, McCombs stressed that effective emergency management depends on collaboration at every level, from federal agencies to local communities.
“The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency continues to work side by side with towns and cities every day,” she said. “Preparedness starts locally, but it often extends to helping neighbors as well.”
For students at Anna Maria College—many of whom are pursuing careers in public safety and emergency management—the summit offered not only a history lesson but also a call to action.
“They’re our future,” Ahaesy said. “We’re only as strong as the people standing with us and those who will step forward in the years to come.”
