When Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast two decades ago, Louisiana Republican Bill Cassidy had not yet begun his career in politics. A doctor, Cassidy says he helped organize makeshift hospitals in Baton Rouge for refugees.
Two decades later and in the Senate, Cassidy says the legacy of Katrina continues to shape his perspective on natural disasters.
Katrina killed more than 1,800 people and exposed deep problems with state and federal recovery programs. Those still have room for improvement, but Cassidy said the federal government must continue to play a primary role when disasters hit.
“There are times when federal response and federal resources are required. And if you’ve lived through Katrina, and I’m sure if you’ve lived through Helene, you know that,” Cassidy said.
