The Brief It’s been 20 years since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, a catastrophe that killed 1,400 people and led to countless changes in how the country responds to disasters. RELATED: Hurricane Katrina: What happened on Aug. 29, 2005Here’s a look back at FEMA’s role in Hurricane Katrina and how the storm fueled major reforms in disaster response. RELATED: Viral video of eye-level ship highlights New Orleans' persisting flood riskFile: Two men paddle in high water after Hurricane Katrina devastated the area, August 31, 2005 in New Orleans, Louisiana. It’s true that in most disasters, people with fewer resources fare worse, but "it was really, really apparent in Katrina," Penta said. "If states are actually given more dollars (versus having dollars dangled like carrots) to manage their own disaster response, this is an option worth exploring.