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) hosted 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, the sessions highlighted 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. The UHD series revisited that moment through the stories of those who lived it, led the response, and continue to carry its lessons forward today.
On August 20, 2025, Hagerty’s Senior Advisor for Economic Development, Francisco Sánchez Jr., participated 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.
Reflections from the Session
During the discussion, Francisco reflected that Katrina’s legacy in Houston extends far beyond immediate emergency response—it reshaped the city itself, enriching its culture, economy, and community fabric. He also noted that today’s greatest challenge is no longer defined by a single catastrophic event, but by the steady stream of smaller, persistent disasters straining systems nationwide.
“As we reflect on 20 years, I think we need to look at what we’ve been through and where we have the potential to go,” he said.
Looking ahead, Francisco urged leaders to carry these lessons forward, emphasizing that resilience must remain central to how communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from increasingly complex and frequent disasters.
Katrina: 20 Years Later provided a meaningful opportunity to reflect, honor, and learn. Explore the entire lecture below or visit UHD’s official website to learn more.
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.