Reflecting on the Two Decades Since Hurricane Katrina

By Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney

The quietest flight of my life

The morning after Katrina, I was in Vicksburg grilling hot dogs for evacuees when the call came from the Governor’s office. Minutes later I was strapped into a Blackhawk with First Lady Marsha Barbour, Sen. Charlie Ross, and a small team headed toward the Coast. For more than an hour, no one said a word — the wreckage below made conversation feel pointless. Whole blocks were gone, schools were shells, and familiar landmarks were hard to recognize.

Back then, I chaired the Senate Education Committee. My assignment became clear very quickly — get South Mississippi’s schools open again. The damage topped $900 million, and to unlock federal dollars we had to adopt and enforce modern building codes. Six southern counties moved first in 2006, and by 2014 those standards expanded statewide, though local governments could still opt out. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.

Three words that still guide me

When I took office as Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal in 2008, we built our recovery around three A’s — available, affordable, accountable. Coverage must be available so families can find it. It has to remain affordable so they can keep it. And insurers must be accountable — valid claims have to be paid. A denied or delayed claim can be as destructive to a family’s future as the storm itself.

Higher, tighter, stronger — and why that matters

Over time, we raised standards and elevations. In 2012, FEMA increased Base Flood Elevation by three feet for new or substantially improved structures along the Coast. Builders began fastening roof decks more securely, sealing the deck, reinforcing edges, and upgrading vents and flashings. Those changes weren’t just paperwork — they reduced losses. The rule of thumb is simple and proven: build better — pay less.

What our neighbors showed — and what Mississippi tried

Alabama leaned into mitigation. Beginning in 2016, they funded large-scale retrofits in Mobile and Baldwin Counties and certified thousands of homes through FORTIFIED™. Homeowners there earned meaningful premium credits for doing the hard work up front.

We pushed for something similar. In 2024, Mississippi launched the Comprehensive Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program — funded by insurers, not taxpayers — offering $10,000 roof retrofits in our lower three counties. We tested the process, strengthened 28 homes, and were ready to scale in July 2025. Then the program was defunded during a special session. The need didn’t go away — only the funding did.

If programs pause, preparation can’t

Whether the legislature funds mitigation next year or not, families still have choices today. A little time now can protect a lifetime of work later.

Before the checklist, a quick note — talk to a professional if you’re unsure where to start. You can review options in one place on the Roofing Services hub.

Five actions you can take this week

Call your agent — ask them to walk you through wind and hail deductibles, exclusions, and the claims process.
Harden the roof — explore an IBHS FORTIFIED™ roof installation or consider Retro-FORTIFIED™ spray foam upgrades to seal the deck and secure edges.
Find small problems early — book a free roof inspection after storms and fix loose flashing, lifted shingles, or blocked vents now.
Document your home — take clear photos inside and out, store copies in the cloud, and keep serial numbers for major appliances.
Plan to leave safely — write down evacuation routes, pack a Go-Bag, and set a family check-in plan.

Small steps add up — and they pay off the most when the weather turns.

What “stronger” actually means on a roof

People sometimes picture resilience as a high-tech add-on. In reality, it’s about getting fundamentals right:

Deck attachment that resists uplift.
A sealed roof deck to block wind-driven rain if shingles are lost.
Reinforced edges and starter courses where storms love to start tearing.
Durable vents and flashings — the little parts that cause big leaks when they fail.

If you want to see costs and timelines side by side, schedule a visit for roof replacement & installation and use the local guide to the cost of a new roof in Louisiana to plan your budget. If a storm has already left a mark, start with storm damage roof restoration and work from there.

These are practical upgrades — and they’re just as valuable inland as they are on the beach.

This isn’t only a coastal story

Tropical systems don’t stop at the shoreline. We’ve all seen straight-line winds and hail push far inland. Stronger roofs and smarter construction benefit the Northshore, Baton Rouge, and communities well away from the Gulf. When neighborhoods harden homes, insurers see fewer losses — and markets respond.

The next twenty years are ours to shape

I believe we’re better positioned than we were in 2005 because we build higher, enforce smarter rules, and use tougher materials. But hope alone won’t hold a roof together. I’ll keep advocating for mitigation funding because it works. In the meantime, I’m asking you to act — at your house, on your street, and with your voice.

If you’re ready to take the first step, compare options on the Roofing Services hub, line up a free roof inspection after storms, or get straight answers on roof replacement & installation. For fast help after a hit, go to storm damage roof restoration.

Call us — Slidell/Northshore: 985-643-6611. Baton Rouge: 225-766-4244. We’ll give you a clear plan, professional crews, and a roof built to meet the next twenty years head-on.