20 Years after Hurricane Katrina Salvation Army Recalls God’s Steadfast Presence in the Aftermath

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A Salvation Army official is remembering God’s faithfulness in light of the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history.

Jeff Jellets, the Salvation Army’s Territorial Disaster Coordinator at the time, told Premier Christian News about the scope of the destruction the hurricane left in his wake.

“You had catastrophic damage on the coast of Mississippi,” he said. “A wall of water came in and literally ripped homes and businesses from their foundations. And then you had massive flooding in New Orleans, which forced nearly a million people to evacuate. It really transitioned into a national emergency as the country tried to rally around survivors.”

The Salvation Army played a significant role in the disaster response, serving over 4.7 million hot meals, distributing millions of sandwiches and snacks, and providing shelter to thousands. Salvation Army chaplains also provided emotional and spiritual support to over 100,000 people.

The Christian organization deployed 170 feeding units, distributed tens of thousands of cleanup kits, and supported communities in long-term recovery efforts for more than a decade.

On Katrina’s 20th anniversary, we honor the resilience of survivors and the unity of communities who stood strong together. Help us carry that legacy forward—your support makes recovery possible.

Give today: https://t.co/psIwA66rUl #katrina #katrina20 #hurricane… pic.twitter.com/NMm7nNju7Z

— Salvation Army USA (@SalvationArmyUS) August 25, 2025

Overall, Jellets emphasized the importance of a spiritual response in addition to a practical response.

“Our job wasn’t just to feed stomachs,” he said. “It was to remind people that God hadn’t abandoned them.”

 

Jellets added that his faith keeps him grounded amid the challenges of their work. 

“Faith has always been a rock and a source of resilience,” he said. “We don’t always know why disasters happen, but we can be a presence for those in crisis so they’re not alone. We can listen, we can pray, and we can offer practical aid. For me, that faith that the Lord provides redemption is what kept me going.”

In light of the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, Jellet continued to pray for survivors who were affected by the disaster.

“I pray for resilience and strength, protection from future storms, and for the first responders who serve in these moments of crisis. Hebrews tells us God will not forget what you have done for his people. That gives me hope that our service, no matter how small, matters to him.”

20 years later, the memories of Hurricane Katrina remain. All week, we’re honoring the resilience, survival, and recovery of those who lived through the storm and its aftermath. Share your story using #VoicesOfKatrina. pic.twitter.com/adGgNIYrXt

— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) August 26, 2025

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/PAUL J.RICHARDS/Staff

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.