Hurricane Katrina: A Gulf Coast Story of Loss and Resilience | GGLG

As a co-founder of Godbey Giardina Law Group, a Louisiana property damage law firm, I have dedicated my career to helping families and businesses rebuild after devastating storms. Growing up in South Louisiana, I know hurricanes are more than weather events—they define how we live, how we work, and how we remember time.

For many of us, Hurricane Katrina created a permanent marker in our lives: pre-Katrina and post-Katrina. Katrina was one of those life changing events that time seems to stand still and you can remember exactly where you were on August 29, 2005.

Life Pre-Katrina

Pre-Katrina, life was simple, rooted in the traditions of South Louisiana. I was born and raised on an island southeast of Lake Pontchartrain, where only marshland separated us from the Gulf of Mexico.

For my family, commercial shrimpers and fishermen, storms were just part of life. We rarely evacuated. With each storm, floodwaters would rise and fall, and then the cleanup would begin. It wasn’t always easy, but like many Louisianians it was home and worth it. Driving 1991 blue Jeep Wrangler as the sun sets over Lake Pontchartrain was just one of those pre-Katrina experiences.

The Storm That Changed Everything

Hurricane Katrina was different than any other storm. My family packed as many belongings as possible into a trailer and evacuated inland. Like many other storms, we would park our vehicle on high ground. Unable to bring it with us, I left behind my blue Jeep, thinking I’d return for it soon. But after the storm, nothing was the same. Homes were destroyed. Families were displaced. Communities were scattered. My Jeep (and shrimp boat) had vanished—just one more piece of my past swallowed by Katrina’s destruction and the 18-foot storm surge that swept over our island.

Rediscovering What Was Lost

Hurricane Katrina was a storm that damaged more than property and destroyed belongings. The loss of my Jeep was minor compared to everything else Hurricane Katrina took. The day after Hurricane Katrina, I was on a search and rescue crew in St. Bernard Parish, helping residence of Chalmette and rescuing animals. The thought of seeing my jeep ever again never crossed my mind, but Katrina is one of those storms that seems to last the test of time.

On July 3, 2022 I got a call from a friend who was helping dredge Lake Pontchartrain for a marshland restoration project. I remember him asking what color was my jeep. I thought what a strange question. Well, seventeen years later—I located my blue Jeep, approximately a mile from where I left it parked. Dredge out of the muddy waters of Lake Pontchartrain. Seeing it again was surreal. It was just a hunk of metal, almost unrecognizable other than a few customizable features (you can’t keep a Jeep stock).

Sitting in the muddy brackish waters of Lake Pontchartrain for 17 years didn’t help it age well, but I could tell it was my Jeep. It represented more than a vehicle. It was a reminder of a way of life before Katrina and a testament to the resilience required to keep moving forward. Although the Jeep’s condition was forever changed by Katrina, it was still around. It was unable to be restored, but our community did the exact opposite since Katrina. Hurricane Katrina showed that our community is strong, resilient and can come together even in the worst of disasters.

I took a memento from my Jeep and it sits in my office today. A symbol to remind me of not only my experiences of dealing with disaster, but a reminder of my community and the clients that I get to serve. A community that is resilient and clients that are experiencing similar things I did. Clients that I get to serve and help through their disaster, knowing they come from one of the strongest communities around and will come back stronger and better.

Hurricane Katrina forever changed the trajectory of my life. It marked the last time I would ever shrimp commercially and set me on a path to where I am today. After serving on a search and rescue crew in Katrina, I went on to serve my community in law enforcement. Now, I continue to serve by helping those get through one of the toughest times they may experience in their life and letting them know recovery is possible.

Lessons From Katrina: Property Damage and Recovery

Hurricane Katrina was one of my first experiences with insurance companies. It is those experiences that have helped shaped Godbey Giardina Law Group. At Godbey Giardina Law Group, we work every day with families who feel the same sense of loss I felt after Katrina. When a hurricane strikes, the damage goes beyond homes and businesses—it takes away stability and a sense of normalcy. That’s why understanding your rights after a storm is critical. Insurance companies often delay, underpay, or deny valid insurance claims, leaving property owners struggling.

Although not an attorney at the time, after Hurricane Katrina, I experienced how beneficial an attorney was in recovering. I can give personal stories of how insurance companies underpay, delay or deny claims, but I will leave those for another day. As a Louisiana property damage attorney, I know the challenges firsthand and fight to ensure policyholders receive the compensation they deserve.

Moving Forward, Together

For South Louisiana and Mississippi, Hurricane Katrina wasn’t just a natural disaster—it was a turning point. And while nothing can erase those experiences, we can learn from it:

• Always document and protect your property.
• Take photographs of the condition of your property and contents before a storm
• Understand your insurance coverage and exclusions before a storm.
• If your claim is delayed, underpaid, or denied, seek legal help immediately.

At Godbey Giardina Law Group, we don’t just handle claims—we walk with our clients through recovery. Because I’ve lived it, I know the importance of having an advocate when everything feels uncertain.

If your home or business has suffered hurricane or storm damage, we are here to help you rebuild—not just your property, but your peace of mind.

Know Your Policy. Protect Your Rights.

At Godbey Giardina Law Group, we’ve built our practice fighting for policyholders across the country. We’ve seen firsthand how insurers try to sidestep accountability. That’s why we offer a free AI-powered insurance policy analysis tool on our website. It breaks down the complex language of your policy and flags key provisions. It can identify hidden gaps or unfair terms in your policy—before a disaster strikes. Just upload your policy in our secure link on our website and instantly get results.

Louisiana and Mississippi allow many provisions a policyholder may not even know they have that limit recovery. For example, your policy may have an actual cash value provisions, roof payment schedules or a cosmetic damage exclusion could prevent you from being paid a full roof replacement even if you have storm damage.

Don’t wait until a storm hits to find out what your policy really says. Know your rights. Read the fine print. And if you’re not sure, let us help.

Try our free AI policy review tool today .Click Here
Need legal help with your claim? Call us anytime. 

Godbey Giardina Law Group — Fighting for Louisiana policyholders, one claim at a time.