Never-before-heard 911 calls from Hurricane Katrina

This weekend marks the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. During the storm, 911 systems were inundated with calls from people in distress. CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann shares some of calls and the stories behind them.

[tfh]

I was so relieved to hear the woman from that first 911 call survived. People blamed them for not evacuating, but failed to realize a lot of people didn't have anywhere to go or the financial means to do so. Not everybody has a reliable vehicle or money to drive inland to stay at a hotel or even with family or friends. People also didn't think it would be as horrible as it was.

[awangie]

May the people who lost their lives in this terrible tragedy rest in peace.

[KYRAA]

This was definitely one of the worst events I’ve witnessed on tv since 9/11.

[shawdiee]

There’s no way I could be a dispatcher . I would be boohoo crying

[stephaniedelorenzo]

CBS be like "Let's take a woman up to the attic where she almost died and replay her harrowing 911 call on speaker phone"

[lauraashleigh]

The first caller was so sweet and respectful even in her time of absolute sheer panic I can’t even fathom. Bless her ❤️

[ericakenny]

I am so proud of my people. Even in the face of total destruction with no help on the way, we have a survivor's spirit!

[ItzZacC]

I almost started crying “I’m only 37 years old” just to think that she thought that would be her resting place to die alone in that attic

[AHSghost]

That first phone call broke my heart😔 I’m just happy she survived.

[awangie]

I can not imagine the pain that these operators have to go through. Thousands and thousands of phone calls come in, knowing that you can not help many of them. This breaks my heart, god bless them.

[shemekameemeebeamon]

I had no idea that lady from the first call survived... I cried when I hear that call years ago and I just knew her and those kids wasn't going to make it out. So glad they did

[riah]

"She's alive living in texas" well JESSUSSSS if she 7 still alive pray for her cause Harvey coming.

[yasamie]

it’s sad how today is the 16 anniversary of hurricane Katrina and today hurricane ida made land fall

[vfpbdtr]

This brings back very horrific memories, I survived but I lost several family members and friends, I now cheerish every moment of my life and I'm very grateful to be alive.

[nolagaminggal]

There's a heartbreaking story on one of the true scary story narration channels submitted by a 911 operator in Mobile, Alabama who received a call from a woman trapped in her attic. The operator was confused when she couldn't find the cross streets the caller mentioned. Only then did she think to ask what city the call was from and learned she was calling from New Orleans. As the systems crashed, the calls were directed to other cities. The helpless operator could only listen as the woman prayed and cursed and cursed and prayed until the line went dead. She never learned the woman's fate and ended up resigning from 911.

[SouthernGothicYT]

14 years later and I still remember it clearly. I had a classmate move from Louisiana to Charleston afterwards and he told us his cat was trapped in their house as the water rose. It still hurts my heart

[doctorju]

Listened to this all night on WWL radio after the levees broke. It changed me forever.

[vanerodriguez]

Moved from a hurricane place to tornado alley....

[psychosxum]

Thank god an bless these families. The woman who helped her diabetic mom is a trooper. The uncle who saved his sister an nieces a true hero. All of the people survived are hero’s an bless the souls we lost

[SouthernBee]

I’m crying now…. 16 years later… Hurricane Ida expected to make landfall 🥲