The Weather Channel Reflects on Hurricane Katrina With Pair of Hour-Long Specials

The Weather Channel Reflects on Hurricane Katrina With Pair of Hour-Long Specials

As Anniversary Nears, Network Looks Back at Nation's Costliest Natural Disaster Through the Eyes of Those Who Survived it

ATLANTA, Aug. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Before Katrina, we thought we knew how bad a natural disaster could get. Before Katrina, we thought we were prepared. But Katrina changed all of that. Now, a year after Katrina, The Weather Channel visits the Gulf Coast to see how the area and its residents are faring, and how they're preparing for the next hurricane that threatens, in a week of special programming beginning and ending with two one-hour specials airing on subsequent Sundays, August 20 and 27, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Though figures denoting the economic impact of the storm can be overwhelming, the stories of those trying to rebuild their lives -- such as restauranteurs Leah and Dooky Chase and shrimper Frank Parker -- bring the reality into clear, and sobering, focus. "Storm Stories: A Hurricane Katrina Anniversary Special" tells these stories and more as it kicks off the week- long commemoration of Hurricane Katrina on Sunday, August 20 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

One week later on August 27, The Weather Channel premieres "Postmark Katrina," produced in association with the United States Postal Inspection Service. For the first time, the heroic efforts of this little-known agency in the aftermath of one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history is told on network television.

The program follows USPIS agents as they go to extraordinary lengths to recover mail from demolished postal facilities and safeguard it until it gets into the hands of Gulf Coast residents, many of them in dire need as they anxiously await their monthly checks.

From Aug. 25, the anniversary of when Katrina first hit the Florida coast through Aug. 29, when it smashed into New Orleans, The Weather Channel will feature live reports from meteorologists Jim Cantore, Jeff Morrow, and Mike Seidel as they return to Gulfport, Biloxi, and New Orleans, to provide updates on the area and its residents.

In the week leading up to the anniversary, the network will present encore airings of Katrina-related episodes of Storm Stories, its award-winning series. Airing from 8:00 - 8:30 p.m. ET/PT August 21 - 26, each episode tells the dramatic stories of those who faced this historic hurricane and against all odds managed to survive the experience.

Storm Tracker Jim Cantore is the host of Storm Stories and has covered hurricanes for The Weather Channel for more than 15 years, including live reports during Hurricane Katrina from the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, Mississippi. He along with meteorologists Stephanie Abrams, Jeff Morrow, Mike Seidel, and hurricane expert Steve Lyons are available for interviews about the anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

To schedule an interview, contact Matt Boyter (mboyter@weather.com) at 770-226-2191.

Hurricane Katrina Anniversary Coverage on The Weather Channel:

Sunday, August 20 - 8:00 p.m. ET/PT - "Storm Stories: A Hurricane Katrina Anniversary Special"

Monday, August 21 - 8:00 p.m. ET/PT - "Storm Stories: Mississippi Katrina" - On August 29, 2005, Mississippi is struck by Hurricane Katrina. It is the third poorest state in the nation. One day after Hurricane Katrina, the world spotlight is focused on New Orleans, but just across the border, Mississippi is reeling.

Tuesday, August 22 - 8:00 p.m. ET/PT - "Storm Stories: New Orleans Katrina" - Katrina was one of the deadliest hurricanes in United States history. It killed more than 1,300 people along the Gulf Coast and caused damage the scope of which has not been seen in generations; it will be years before its full extent is calculated.

Wednesday, August 23 - 8:00 p.m. ET/PT - "Storm Stories: Covering Katrina" - How do you cover the story when you're a part of it? Despite their best planning, nothing could prepare a New Orleans television station for the challenges of covering the biggest story they would ever experience.

Thursday, August 24 - 8:00 p.m. ET/PT - "Storm Stories: Katrina Students" - For two New Orleans high school students, Hurricane Katrina wiped out a senior year full of excitement and promise. Despite this, they remain committed to resurrecting their neighborhood and their school.

Friday, August 25 - 8:00 p.m. ET/PT - "Storm Stories: Kennard vs. Katrina" - August 29th, 2005. Hurricane Katrina is approaching the Gulf Coast. In Slidell, Louisiana, 65-year-old Kennard Jackley, has chosen to stay and ride it out. The retired merchant marine feels he can survive whatever nature has to offer.

Saturday, August 26 - 8:00 p.m. ET/PT - "Storm Stories: Katrina - The First 24 Hours" - For the thousands of New Orleans residents who didn't evacuate, a human drama of epic proportions is about to unfold in The Big Easy. In the middle of this drama are the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard are determined to save as many lives as possible.

8:30 p.m. ET/PT - "Storm Stories: Katrina - After The Flood" - Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans and overnight the Big Easy was transformed into ground zero of the worst natural disaster on American soil in one hundred years. Those lucky enough to have weathered the storm are now perched on rooftops, highway overpasses, or whatever patch of high ground they've managed to stake out. Coast Guard crews battle fatigue, equipment malfunctions, and the elements as they work around the clock to rescue survivors.

Sunday, August 27 - 8:00 p.m. ET/PT - "Postmark Katrina" 9:00 p.m. ET/PT - "It Could Happen Tomorrow: The Lost Episode" - Five months prior to Katrina's landfall, The Weather Channel produced a pilot episode for its new series with the premise of a major hurricane devastating New Orleans. In this updated version, the predictions from the original episode are compared to the realities of Hurricane Katrina, complete with the comments of the scientists, emergency managers, and survivors who experienced it.

Monday, August 28 - 8:00 p.m. ET/PT - "Postmark Katrina" - encore airing

Tuesday, August 29 - 8:00 p.m. ET/PT - "Storm Stories: A Hurricane Katrina Anniversary Special" - encore airing

About The Weather Channel

The Weather Channel, a 24-hour weather network, is seen in more than 89 million U.S. households. Its Web site, weather.com, reaches more than 30 million unique users per month. Its content is generally ranked within the 10 most popular in the U.S. by Nielsen//Net Ratings. The Weather Channel also operates Weatherscan, a 24-hour, all-local weather network available in 22 million households, The Weather Channel Radio Network, The Weather Channel Newspaper Services, and is the leading weather information provider for emerging technologies. This includes broadband and interactive television applications, with wireless weather products accessible through high-speed Internet services, phones, pagers, and personal digital assistants. The Weather Channel is owned by Landmark Communications, Inc., a Norfolk, VA- based, privately held media company.

Source: The Weather Channel

CONTACT: Matt Boyter of The Weather Channel, +1-770-226-2191, or
mboyter@weather.com

Web site: http://www.weather.com/

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