This year marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the historic evacuation that brought hundreds of thousands of survivors to Houston, Texas. To commemorate this milestone, the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) will host Katrina: 20 Years Later, a two-part series honoring Houston’s extraordinary response to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. As part of the UHD’s 2025 President’s Lecture Series, these events highlight the city’s resilience and compassion during one of the largest disaster response and recovery efforts in the United States (US) history.
About the Series
In 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, forcing widespread evacuation from New Orleans. As a result, many displaced residents arrived in Houston, including those directly shuttled to the Astrodome. This series revisits that moment through the stories of those who lived it, led the response, and continue to carry its lessons forward today.
On August 20, Hagerty’s Senior Advisor for Economic Development, Francisco Sánchez Jr., will participate in part one of the series, titled: “Loss, Resilience, and Houston’s Response.” A proud Texas native, Francisco previously served as Deputy Homeland Security and Emergency Management Coordinator for Harris County, Texas. In 2005, while serving as the Public Information Officer (PIO) for the Harris County Judge, he played a key role in opening the Astrodome to evacuees—helping welcome more than 200,000 storm survivors to the Houston region.
Katrina: 20 Years Later offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect, honor, and learn. To explore the full series or register to attend, please visit UHD’s official website.
Francisco Sánchez Jr. is a nationally recognized expert in emergency management and economic development, with over 20 years of experience in disaster response and recovery. He most recently served as Associate Administrator of the US Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Disaster Recovery and Resilience (ODR&R), where he led major operational reforms and directed recovery efforts for several of the country’s most significant disasters. A former Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator for Harris County, Texas, Francisco continues to apply his expertise as Hagerty’s Senior Advisor for Economic Development.